Page 52 of River Wild

I Like Your Ballsis written on the pajama top, and two Christmas baubles hang beneath the words.

Shoot me now.

It amused me at the time. It was one of the reasons I bought them.

I’m not feeling so amused right now though.

“You’re hilarious,” I mutter. “And, now, I’m going.” I turn on my heel, walking quickly to the door.

“Aw, don’t be embarrassed, Red. It’s okay to like my balls.” His laughter catches me as I pass through the door, leaving his room.

I can’t even register the fact that it’s the first time I’ve heard him laugh or that it’s a nice, deep, husky sound.

Because I’m too embarrassed.

No, not embarrassed. Mortified.

I broke into his house with a garden fork in my hand. Scared the bejesus out of him and myself. Then, stared at his penis for a longer period of time than considered acceptable. Actually, I don’t think it’s acceptable to stare at anyone’s penis. And, to top it all off, I’m wearing the most ridiculous pajamas ever. Pajamas that gave him the opportunity to ridicule me even more.

I’m such an idiot.

I practically run down the stairs and race back through the house the way I came in, weaving around his furniture, heading for the still-open back door.

“Mother-fudging nuts!” I yell, catching my foot on the same table I walked into earlier, stubbing my little toe. “That hurts!” I drop the fork and grab my foot with both hands. Tears sting my eyes.

Sweet Jesus, that really flipping hurts.

Light floods the room.

“Are you okay?”

Ugh, River. The mocker of all mockers.

I didn’t even hear him coming. He’s probably here to give me even more of a hard time.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

I let go of my foot and lower it to the floor.

I hold in a hiss of pain at the contact. My toe is throbbing.

“You’re bleeding.”

“What?” I look down, and sure enough, there’s blood coming from my little toe. Blood is on my hands, too.

Fear clamps down over my chest.

“You always make a mess! Such a fucking mess! You useless fucking bitch!”

“Red?”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to get blood on your floor. I’ll clean it. I’ll clean it now.” My heart is pounding. I immediately lift my foot from the floor to prevent a further mess, and I turn my head, looking for the way to the kitchen to get something to clean it up with.

“Red, it’s fine.” His voice is softer. Like the way you’d talk to a spooked animal.

I stare at him.