“Thanks for your help,” Riva told him, then wondered if she really felt grateful for having Kitty returned to them like this. Not that it was his fault.
“No problem.”
“My knight in shining armor.” Kitty extended her hand to him as if she were Lady Guinevere. “I will have to properly thank you for your chivalry later.”
“Uh, yeah.” He ignored her hand, nodding nervously. “See you all later.”
Relieved to have Kitty’s undivided attention, Riva asked if she’d been smoking. “In case you didn’t read your rental contract, that’s not allowed.” Riva picked up the alarm and reinserted the batteries.
“I was really stressing over my ex,” Kitty said. “I left the salon early. I was on the verge of a panic attack. My buddy Marty brought me a joint to help me relax. The alarm went off and Marty took it down. I guess we forgot to put it back up.”
“Is Marty the one who installed the deadbolt?”
“Yeah. That was his idea. Sorry I forgot to mention it, but I didn’t think you’d mind. I just wanted to be safe.”
“Is your ex dangerous?”
“He might be.” Kitty’s gaze moved downward. She was fidgeting with her jangly bracelet, turning it round and round.
Riva cleared off the chair and sat, carefully studying Kitty. “Please explain.”
“Well, my ex, my first husband, Danny claims he still loves me. I’ve managed to avoid him, because if he’s been drinking, he says scary stuff like if he can’t have me, no one can.”
“Some people act out of character when they’ve over-imbibed.” Riva nodded at Kitty. “Even you.”
Kitty’s expression grew cloudy. “Are ya gonna kick me while I’m down?”
“I didn’t think I was kicking you. Just calling it like I see it.” Riva was determined not to cave to Kitty’s manipulation.
Kitty’s eyes grew moist. “What am I going to do, Riva?”
“About what?”
“Everything.” Kitty let out a sob. “I’m such a god-awful mess of a girl.”
Riva studied her. Was this sincere or just more manipulation? If Laurel was right, if Kitty really was a narcissist, it was most likely manipulation. But what if it wasn’t? “For starters, Kitty, you’re not a god-awful mess. You’re more of a Kitty-awful mess. And for the record, you’re not exactly a girl anymore. Accordingto my calculations, you’re only a few years younger than me. And I haven’t been a girl in years.”
Kitty pouted. “That’s your problem, Riva.”
“I don’t see it as a problem.”
“Fine. But just because you’re content to grow old doesn’t mean I have to be.”
Riva rolled her eyes. “You know the only problem I’m having right now is directly related to you. You’ve broken so many rules of the rental contract that I’m pretty sure I could evict you this moment. Your housemates would be glad if I did. But I’d prefer to give you a couple weeks’ notice. Long enough for your ankle to heal and for you to find another place to live.”
Kitty blinked her big blue eyes and then began to cry. “Women always end up hating me. I should’ve known it would happen here too.”
“No one hates you, Kitty, but we’re tired of all the drama you bring to the house. We’re tired of your excessive drinking, weed smoking, deadbolt installing, and smoke alarm disabling. Not to mention leaving the bathroom filthy.” She kicked a shoe out of the way. “And your less than tidy bedroom.”
Kitty had tears streaming down her face now. But they seemed like crocodile tears to Riva. She wasn’t buying it. “What am I going to do?” Kitty sobbed. “I can’t live at the salon. I can’t afford an apartment ... You’re throwing me out on the streets?”
“Don’t be silly.” Riva could feel herself softening. “You must have friends? Women who work for you? Someone with a spare room you can use?”
Kitty shook her head and wiped her nose with the edge of a rumpled sheet. “No one wants me. It’s the story of my life. I overwhelm everyone, Riva. I scare people away.”
Riva considered this. “That’s kind of true, Kitty. You do frighten people.”
“Women are intimidated by me and the only men I seem to attract are the wrong ones. I don’t know what to do.”
