As if on cue, Laura barreled down the stairs and headed straight for us. “Juke!” She held up a piece of paper and shook it. “What the hell is this?”
“An eviction notice,” I told her, keeping my eyes on Brooklyn.
Laura sighed heavily. “Really? You’re really doing this to me?”
I folded my arms over my chest and peered up at her. “I think it’s time, don’t you?”
“No!” She smacked the paper down on the table. “This is bullshit.”
“Why not?”
“Because I need you,” Laura whined.
Maybe a few months ago, tears in her eyes would have affected me but now…I got nothing. “You always need something. Money, a place to stay, an orgasm, a job. But I don’t have any of that for you anymore.”
“Brooklyn?” Laura glared at my friend. “Can you leave us alone?”
I shook my head when Brooklyn shot me a questioning glance. “She’s fine right here,” I said. “You’re the one that’s leaving. Pack your shit. The room will be cleaned out tomorrow and the locks will be changed.”
“I have nowhere else to go,” Laura cried. “You can’t do this to me. What about everything we’ve been through?” She grabbed my hand. “I came back because I wanted to give us a try.”
“Oh, please,” Brooklyn muttered.
Laura rolled her eyes at Brooklyn, before she met my waiting gaze again. “Juke, I was scared of us. You’ve always been so intense. But, baby, there’s no one else for me. You have to believe me. You’re the man I want.”
I snickered, pulling my hand from her grasp. “I’m sure I am, now that you have to find a place to stay.”
The mask slipped then. No more tears, no more pleading. The concern in Laura’s eyes… gone. “Dammit.” She let out a harsh breath. “Well, can I borrow a—”
“No.”
“After everything I’ve done for you?” she snapped.
“What exactly have you done forme, Laura?” I asked. “Besides eat my food, drink my liquor, sleep in my apartment, and take my kindness for a weakness.”
Laura shook her head. “No. You know we’re more than that.”
“Only when you need something.” I raised a challenging brow. “Right?”
“Forget this. I’m outta here,” she hissed.
“Bye,” Brooklyn said. “Damn.”
“Brooklyn,” I warned, pointing at the plate of food. “Eat.”
“You’re going to regret this, Juke,” Laura shouted, drawing the attention of several guests. She picked up the eviction notice, ripped it, and tossed it in my face. “Fuck you! Fuck this damn small-ass town! I hate it here anyway.”
Shit. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw several people moving closer to the booth.
Brooklyn stood. “Wait a minute. I know you not—”
I gripped her arm tightly, meeting her furious gaze and pleading with her silently not to cause an even bigger scene than the one developing.
“Fine.” Brooklyn clamped her mouth shut and plopped back down into the seat. “I’ll just sit my ass down and eat this hummus.” She picked up a carrot and bit down on it hard.
I mouthed a quick thank you to her before turning my attention back to Laura. “We’re not doing this. It’s over. Take your shit and leave.”
Laura turned on her heel and stormed back up the stairs, hurling insults at random people the entire way and tossing glassware on the ground.So much for no scene, no gossip.
