Page 84 of Under His Control
Officer Brent is over by the bookshelf chatting with a woman. Sasha and Wayne look like they’re having a whisper-fight near the TV. Ruth is perched on a chair arm, a cup in one hand while she covers her mouth with the other, giggling at something another girl is saying to her.
She gives me a smile and wave when she catches my eye. A few minutes later, she abandons the girl she’s talking to and makes her way over to me.
“Hey, remember me?”
I smile. “Ruth. AKA, Cupcake Girl.”
“Ooh, I like that! Waitress by day, fighting crime with baked goods by night!” Ruth laughs. Little does she know, she just gave me inspiration for a comic series. “It’s unfair you know my cool secret identity and I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Penelope.”
“Penelope. That’s a cute name. It suits you, just like that collar.” She smiles then eyes my forehead. “Mom told me about your accident. Your bruise looks better than when I last saw you.”
I’m about to reply when an angry voice grabs our attention. Wayne and Sasha’s fight is elevating from whispers. Sasha looks highly irritated as Wayne knocks back a bottle of beer in greedy gulps.
“…must you always embarrass me like this?” Sasha hisses.
Wayne wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, his voice gravelly. “Why don’t you just fuck off and leave me alone for once?”
“Oh my god.” Ruth’s tone is pure exasperation. “My mom and stepdad can’t go anywhere without having a fight!”
“That sucks.”
It’s not very helpful but I don’t know what else to say.
“They’re probably going to make a scene. If I go over there and try to stop it, they’ll both turn on me.” Ruth folds her arms and scowls. “I’m staying out of it. I won’t have to put up with their shitty behaviour as of tomorrow, anyway.”
With that look on her face, Cupcake Girl might be a super villain instead.
“How come?”
“I’m moving to Toronto tomorrow.” Her voice is filled with vicious delight. “I’m going to live with a friend, get a job, and enjoy a stress-free life far away from those two.”
“That sounds…”
I trail off as an idea sparks.
I could hitch a ride home with Ruth.
This feels like a sign, the universe granting me an opportunity to do the right thing—choosing my family’s safety over my self-preservation and my feelings for a man who can’t be mine.
“Can I tag along with you tomorrow?”
Ruth looks surprised and then smiles. Her lips part but she doesn’t get a chance to speak.
“Without telling me goodbye first?”
My body stiffens at the sound of Jacob’s cold voice behind me.
Oh, no.
When did he return?
I jerk my gaze over my shoulder and wilt at the glint in his eyes and his stony features.
He’s angry.
As I struggle to respond, Sasha and Wayne’s fight intensifies into a shouting match just like Ruth predicted. All other conversation fades away as everyone’s attention is drawn to the unfolding drama.
