“Bunny, come over here.” Nicki patted the pool chair by where she was sitting. She tried to pass me the pipe that smelled clearly of meth, and I shook my head, pushing it away.
Continuing to sip my liquor, I watched as Marlowe placed her bottle on the ground when Dexter arrived, bringing her a fruity bottled beverage of some kind. She smiled up at him and took a sip. They carried on in casual, comfortable conversation, too far away for me to hear what they were saying. He kept fidgeting awkwardly when she casually touched him, and she blushed adorably now and then at something he said. The nextthing I knew, Dexter was leaning forward and kissing Marlowe lightly on the lips. My gaze quickly shifted to the ground.
“I didn’t know they were a thing,” Nicki said, reaching over me and pointing to Marlowe and Dex.
“They aren’t,” I said sharply before downing a huge gulp of Jager. “Let’s go get you a drink.”
Many people had moved inside now. Someone had booted up the video games, and they were playing some racing game I didn’t even know we had. “How have we never done body shots on this counter?” Nicki asked me. A few of the guys in the room shoutedyeahin agreement.
“Maybe because we aren’t in high school, Nicki.”
Her voice took on a whiny tone. “Oh come on! It will be fun.” Nicki jumped up to sit on the island countertop. “Body shots!” She yelled, and everyone cheered along with her.
Dexter walked past me and down the hallway as guys lined up to take body shots off of Nicki. I backed away to the far wall by the living room and just let whatever was going to happen happen.
“Piece of shit, put me down!” My head jerked in the direction of Marlowe’s voice. She had been picked up and sat down on the kitchen table. A guy had her petite legs caged between his much larger ones.
“Body shots, baby.” The guy said before I shoved him off of Marlowe, and he ran out the back door. She jumped down and stood behind me. Dexter stood at the entrance to the kitchen ready to swing at the guy.
“Everyone get the fuck out!” I shouted. Everyone stood still but didn’t move to leave. “I said everyone get out! Now!”
The crowd started scrambling, Dojo barking behind me. I hadn’t even realized he never left Marlowe’s side. Marlowe started to creep out from behind me. “Come on, Dojo.” She whispered.
I put my arm out, stopping her. “You’re not leaving.”
thirteen
a hint of normalcy
Dexter
My clothes were covered in dirt. Dojo had found something to roll around in and then proceeded to jump up in my lap. But it was my own fault. Marlowe kept telling me not to let him do it.
People were cheering and shouting “body shots” when I walked in. Marlowe was wiping Dojo off with a pool towel and followed in soon after. Brushing past Bunny, I went to my bedroom to change. People were still shouting out in the main part of the house, but I didn’t pay much attention. As I made my way back to the kitchen, Bunny shoved a guy away from Marlowe, and she stood timidly behind Bunny. Had that guy just done something to Marlowe?
“Everyone get the fuck out!” Bunny looked crazed as he raised his voice. My eyes shifted around the room, but no one moved. This was my house. I was staying. “I said everyone get out! Now!” His voice was even louder this time.
When the crowd scattered, Dojo began barking, and Marlowe crouched down to soothe him. She scooped up the pup and began walking. “You’re not leaving,” Bunny said with finality.
My feet carried me over to where they stood. “What happened? Are you two okay?” My hands reached out, touching each of them. Bunny pulled away from me and walked into the now empty kitchen. When my eyes met Marlowe’s, she just nodded that she was okay.
“What’s going on with you two?” Bunny asked quietly from the kitchen.
Looking down at Marlowe, her eyes widened.
“Answer me. I’m not fucking stupid.”
I took a cautious step toward the kitchen. “Bunny, you’ve been a little…”
“You’ve been a huge jerk lately.” Marlowe cut me off and shot a glare at her. She placed Dojo on the floor and walked to stand beside me. “I’m sorry, Dexter, but I can’t do this. Bunny, we have been agonizing for days wondering where the hell you’ve been. Then you just show up here tonight like everything is fucking fine. Fuck you. Do you know how worried we’ve all been? We’re your friends, Bunny. Did you not think we’d fucking care if you were just gone out of nowhere?”
She stormed off, walking down the hallway.
“What was that about?” Bunny pointed down the hallway as he took a shot from the liquor bottle in front of him.
“You just said you aren’t fucking stupid, Bunny. Figure it out.”
When I walked into my room, Marlowe was pulling on sweatpants and putting her hair up in a bun. “You care if I just stay here again? I don’t have my car. I feel bad if you have to drive me home.”
