Page 28 of Last Man Standing

“Sure. Knock yourself out, Princess.” I cross the living room and obnoxiously plant myself in the space between the coffee table and the television.

She attempts to look around me, to see her precious movie and whatever male lead she considers dreamy, but I’m just too fuckin’ big, and I wanna see her spiral a little bit.

“I like how our relationship has progressed from dueling strangers to a couple of really sexy adults who can admit sexual frustration.”

“You mentioned that. Not me.”

“And now we have cute pet names for each other. We’re basically going steady… Princess.”

She rage-chews her thumb nail. Grits her teeth. Works so hard not to let her temper fly.

“Let me know when you’re ready to climb into my bed. I’d hate to mistake you for an intruder and snap your neck before I realize your intentions.”

“Sounds dangerous,” she counters. So fucking snippy. So regal, and you can’t hurt me. My throne is way too high for the likes of you. “Probably best I just stay away altogether.”

“That would be a damn shame.” I shift when she shifts, and make damn sure I’m still blocking her view of the TV. “You’re gonna be devastated when you realize you’ve wasted eighteen nights already. We sleep just twenty feet apart, but you haven’t put my cock in your mouth even once.”

“Oh dear. So sad for you.” She flicks her graffitied hand. “Move, please.”

“Right! My bad.” I bounce out of the way like a good little soldier, but then I stride to the TV and lean around the wide screen. “Lemme just… I just need to…”

“What the hell are you doing?”

I rip the cord out of the wall and destroy her good time. “Be ready at oh-nine-hundred, Princess. We need groceries. I can’t leave you here alone, can’t send you there without your guard, and this shit ass town doesn’t deliver.”

“You jackass!” She wrenches around and watches me leave. “Fuck you!”

“Soon, Princess. Let me know when you’re game.”

11

SCARLETT

CHECKING IN

Istroll the aisles of a dinky little grocery store in the middle of a dinkier little town aptly named Mount Gaines. Just as promised, mountains surround the place in every direction, and since December is already here, those mountains glow white with thick snowcaps settled on top.

Holding my phone in one hand, I toss a box of cookies with the other so they land in my grunt-propelled cart with a noisy clatter.

“How’s it going?” Linc’s voice is tired and gritty. Guarded, though it so rarely is when we speak. “You doing alright, Little Girl?”

“Mm.” I’m inclined to bitch about my housemate, but seeing as how he walks a mere six feet behind me, I exhale a harrumph instead. “It’s alright, I guess.”

“I’m proud of you for not killing him yet.” A tense chuckle rolls along the line. “Right? He’s still alive?”

“Unfortunately.” I grab a bag of potato chips and toss them harder than I mean to, so the bag slaps Sebastion’s annoyingly broad chest and plops into the cart. Oops. “We’re buying groceries right now. He eats a lot, so there’s nothing left in the house.” I select a second bag of chips, since I’d rather not share mine with this dude. But I set mine down carefully. He can have the crushed bag. “He’s paying for these, right? I’m not bankrolling his roid hunger, Linc. I work too hard for that mess.”

“Roids,” Sebastion scoffs. “My ass.”

“I’m not paying for this. Also, Karissa called. She’s not mad I’m not working right now, but she’s gently encouraging me to get the hell off my ass and tidy her house. Have you figured this out yet?”

“Your clients need to shut the fuck up and wait. Their desire for a clean home is not more important than, ya know,” he growls. “Your life. Yes, tap your credit card for this food. I’ll transfer money across. And no.”

For a single moment in time, just a fleeting second, I hoped Linc was calling with good news. But now my bottom lip drops into a pout, and my shoulders sink. Sighing, I continue along the aisle and move into the next.

“Nothing? Not even a second note with bank account details this douchebag wants payment made into?”

“Nothing. Half the cops in this city will take my call any time of the day or night, and most of its snitches, too. I’m talking to them all, Scar, and sifting through all the noise coming back, but right now, I’ve got nothing to move on.”