Page 65 of Soft Flannel Hank
“Then I look forward to setting him straight,” Esther fumed as she stood up.
She straightened her clothes as if arranging armor, unlocked the deadbolt, and unlatched the chain. She opened the door and was physically maneuvered out of the way by Hank as he made space for himself to enter the motel room. He slammed the door shut quickly behind him.
“I don’t recall inviting you in, Hank.”
“It’s not safe to stand in the doorway and talk,” Hank bit out as he stared at her, fuming.
“I’m just gonna go…” Jory said, trailing off and sliding towards the door.
“Stay,” Esther and Hank both barked out at the same time. Jory sat down hard in the chair next to the door.
“I don’t know whether to shake you or kiss you,” he said, his voice thunderous in the otherwise quiet room.
“Maybe you’ll find shaking me less detestable than kissing me,” she spat.
It was a low barb and she knew it, but her aim had been true. Hank froze.
“Is that what you think?”
“Maybe I do.”
He made that huffing noise. Like a scoff, but distinctly Hank. “It doesn’t matter. I told you I would keep you safe.”
“I can take care of myself. I don’t need you.”
“Is that so?” he asked. Esther’s intuition was on fire, feeling his leashed anger rising to the surface again.
“Yep!” Esther said, sounding petulant. “Don’t worry, Hank. You’ve made itperfectly clearthat you don’t want to have anything to do with me.And I refuse to stay where I’m not wanted, especially not to indulge this fucking ridiculous hero complex of yours. You can get on with your life when I’m on the road first thing tomorrow morning.”
“You’ll be—you’ll—you’ll be on the road again tomorrow,” Hank said, gripping his hair in his fists and pacing away from her. He whipped around quickly, so quickly, and barked out, “So you’ll be on the run again.Alone.”
“I was just fine alone before I met you, Hank Dove, and I’ll be just fucking fine again when I leave!”
“And what’s your plan for avoiding the day-walking scout that’s in town looking for you?”
“The what?” Esther felt herself blanch, all the fight in her body instantly evaporating.
Hank stepped closer. “He’s got a scout in town. Not a vampire, clearly, but someone is working for him. He came up to me at the gas station today and asked about you by name and description. I don’t think he’s got any leads yet, but he’s here. And here you are making stupid mistakes because your pride’s been hurt.”
“My pride?” Esther shouted, feeling her temper break through her terror, all that dissipated adrenaline and rage regathering quickly like a storm off the coast. “My fucking pride? You don’t know what you’re talking about, Hank Dove!”
Hank stepped closer still. His big hands gripped her upper arms. Not hard enough to hurt, and she could have broken free at any moment and he would have let her go, but she could see the fraying edges of that control in his eyes as he barked, “No, Esther,youdon’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!”
“Then enlighten me!”
He dropped her arms and took a step back, swallowing thickly. “You’ve been lucky because you’re smart. But eventually, you’re going to make a mistake, and theywillcatch you. They will catch you, and I won’t be able to do a damn thing about it.”
He sounded so defeated, but Esther hadn’t tapped out yet. All of that fight still roiled in her belly.
“Don’t act like you care, Hank. You’ve done nothing but push me away since the very beginning. I finally took the hint.”
Hank looked as if she’d slapped him. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly and bit his lips. When he spoke, it was through his clenched teeth. “I didn’t push you away because I don’t care, Esther. I care too much. And you justkeep fucking leaving.” He roared the last three words.
She was stunned. Hank clamped his eyes shut again and covered his mouth with his hand.
“I can’t let myself care about you staying when you seem so hell-bent on leaving,” he whispered. “But I’ll be damned if I let you get yourself killed as long as I’m here to stop you.”
She reached out to touch him but he stepped back and turned to Jory.
