Emerald waved her hand over Fallon. “She’s got a real attitude and I don’t like it.”
“We were just chilling on the couch watching our program, and she comes in here like she owns the place, giving us shit,” Heidi said as she leaned against the back of the couch.
“I highly doubt that,” Sylvia said as she helped Fallon up. “What happened?” she asked Fallon.
“The same shit. It makes Heidi and Emerald feel better to pick on me because they’re so damn insecure. And Emerald, you’re so jealous of me it’s pathetic.” Fallon brushed off her backside.
“Me jealous ofyou? What a joke.” Emerald took a few steps closer.
“Why would she be jealous of you? She’s pretty. You’re not. She can walk right. You can’t. It’s a no-brainer, stupid,” Heidi said.
“Stop it! Both of you. If you keep this up, I’m going to tell Charlie. He’s not going to like what happened here.” Sylvia held Fallon by the arm. “Let’s go grab that burger now,” she whispered. Fallon nodded.
“Charlie doesn’t give a shit abouther.” Emerald’s words pierced Fallon’s heart because, deep down, she knew the bitch was right. Emerald glared at Fallon. “I had your dad’s cock way before he hitched up with Shanna. I can make him do whatever I want. You just remember that.”
“She still does it with your daddy.” Heidi snorted. Fallon’s eyes widened. “That’s right. When Shanna’s being a bitch and won’t let your dad near her pussy. Emerald takes care of it, and if she’s not around, I step in.”
Fallon wanted to smack the satisfied smirk off both Emerald’s and Heidi’s faces.I have to get out of here.“Let’s go,” she said to Sylvia as she walked away. Sylvia followed as the other two women laughed and said things to each other in hushed voices. Fallon turned around. “You need to stay away from me. I’m sick of your shit, and I won’t put up with it anymore. And I don’t give a damn what my dad does or who he fucks.”
“You bitch!” Emerald rushed toward her, but Sylvia pushed her back. Then she and Fallon headed down the stairs and out the back door.
“Emerald is such a slut. I’m sorry she said all those things to you. Don’t pay any attention to her.” Sylvia slipped into the passenger seat.
Switching on the ignition, Fallon shook her head. “I don’t. She means nothing to me. It makes her feel better to make people around her miserable. She’s a bully. I had my fair share of them when I was in school. I meant what I said back there. I’m done with her, Heidi, and Cassie. And I don’t give a shit what my dad does. I guess I’m done with it all.”
Sylvia gently patted her shoulder. “You must’ve had a hell of a good time with Diablo. You came back with an attitude. I love seeing it.”
“I’ve always had attitude inside me, but I felt alone and dependent on my dad. I was always so scared he’d make good on his promise to throw me out.” She pulled into a parking space in front of the restaurant.
Seated at a table, a ginger ale in front of her and a beer in front of Sylvia, Fallon put the menu down and took a sip of her drink. “You know, a part of me is scared to death that Diablo is just being nice to me because he feels sorry for me. I’m afraid he’ll leave me,” she said softly.
“From what I saw when we were at the diner and he came up to you, he seemed really into you. And the way he looked at you at the warehouse afterward was intense. I’ve been with more men than I want to admit to, so I have more experience in reading them than you do. Diablo doesn’t seem like he just wants to get in your pants and then move on. He doesn’t seem jerky like a lot of guys. He strikes me as someone who plays it straight.”
“I think the same thing, but you never know.”
“If you want any hope at happiness, you need to take a chance with him. Love isn’t foolproof. It can be wonderful and it can hurt, but never having it is worse. You gotta start living.”
Fallon nodded. “I know. I’ve been thinking about that. I’ve been wanting to move out on my own for the last couple of years, but I’ve been too afraid to do it. The last few days I’ve been on my own felt fantastic. It made me think that I could really do it. If I needed something, I know Diablo would help and—”
“And you got me. You know I’ll help you out as best I can. You can do this, girl.”
Fallon smiled. “After all this time, I think I’m ready. I’m going to check to see what jobs are available in Alina and apply for them. Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m going to do this.” Heat flushed her face.
“You need to. You’re going to be twenty-two this year. It’s time to spread your wings. You need to start experiencing and interacting with life. I’m so excited for you.”
“If it were up to my dad, he’d always have me with him, making sure my wings were clipped. I can’t figure out why he wants me around when he’s mean to me most of the time.”
“It’s probably a matter of control. Some people are like that. They never want family or friends to leave them until they decide they can go.”
The waiter placed a cheeseburger in front of Fallon and a half-pound burger loaded with cheddar cheese, bacon, and barbecue sauce in front of Sylvia.
“No wonder you’re so slender. You barely eat,” Sylvia said as she picked up a fried onion ring and put it on her burger.
“It’s just the way I’m built.” Fallon squirted ketchup on her cheeseburger.
“You’re lucky. I’ve been battling my weight since I was a kid. It’s a pain in the ass. So Diablo must like slender women. I heard bikers like real curvy women with big boobs.”
“Really? I’m not sure what he likes.” She glanced down at her chest. “If he’s looking for big breasts, mine are definitely not.”
