Page 134 of Fever Dream
She lowers her gun slightly, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that she’s pointed it directly at Carl’s penis.
“Fucking brat bitches,” he mumbles before turning to walk back to his truck.
But Tina doesn’t let him get the last word. “That’s right, loser. Run away from the little brat bitches.”
His face is beet red, contorted with rage when he turns back to look at her. But he doesn’t bother saying another word. He gets into his truck and flees.
Like thelittle brat bitchI always suspected existed under all that bluster.
When he finally pulls away, I can properly check in with myself.
My heart is racing. My breathing has gone shallow. And when I lift my hand to splay it on my chest, it trembles.
I jump when a hand lands on my shoulder, but one quick look to my right eases that anxiety instantly.
“You did good,” Tina says, gun propped under her arm, a wistful smile on her face. “You didn’t have to do that, but you did good.”
“He’s fucking infuriating.”
She wheezes a laugh. “Don’t I know it. Watching my daughter bring that man home was an exercise in patience. Still is.”
“Yeah,” I reply breathlessly. “That must have been something.”
“It’s hard to watch your kids make mistakes,” Tina says firmly, dropping her hand from my shoulder. “But it has to be done. You interfere too much, they resent you. You let them sink a little while in the deep end, and they reach to you for comfort. And they’ll always come back. You’ve got to let them make their mistakes, even when you know they’re dating a fucking loser.”
I snort out a surprised laugh. Somehow, I didn’t expect Emmett’s oma to be this candid with me when we barely know each other.
“Yeah, I imagine Emmett has given you a run for your money in that department.”
She smiles, kind eyes sparkling in my direction. “Indeed, he has. But you know what? He figured it out. After all, it just took the right girl to bring it out in him. And to see him now? Smitten? Well, it was worth every bump in the road.”
I blink in shock, not knowing whether I should confirm or deny anything she’s just said.
Then she pats me on the back rather roughly. I kind of suspect this is about as sentimental as Tina Brandt gets.
She chuckles as she walks away, hiking the rifle up under her arm. “God, I can’t wait to tell him about you giving Carl a piece of your mind.”
“Thanks for helping. I owe you one,” I call to her, because I have no idea how that would have gone without her interference.
She waves her hand dismissively. “You already brought my boy back to life. You don’t owe me shit.”
She walks away, leaving me speechless. And then with a racing heart and a full head, I head out to pick up my favorite bubble tea.
Because if I thought I was anxious before, I have no idea what I am now.
OFFICIAL MEMO
To:Richard Wadsworth
From:Teri Baker
Subject:Bachelor Absences
While the bachelor has been very cooperative on set, he has not been spending many nights at his cottage on set as discussed in person.
