Page 46 of The Carnage We Keep

Obviously, when I look up, it’s Bella’s blue eyes that I find stabbing into mine.

Well, this date just got decidedly more entertaining.

“Damiaaannoo!” Bella wails in an overly dramatic, weepy voice. “You said you were going out for cigarettes and milk, but you never came home!!”

Vivienne gasps, grabbing onto my arm as Bella collapses dramatically into the chair across from us in an explosion of fishnets, heavy eyeliner and black tulle.

“He has your eyes, Dame!” Bella shrieks, attracting the attention of every single diner in the restaurant. “Our baby has your eyes!!”

“What the fuck is going on?” Vivienne mutters, her nose wrinkling, like even being near a scene like this is highly distressing.

I mean, same, even if I am also mildly amused.

“And now I find you out with some trollop!” she crows, collapsing onto her arms across the table, jangling plates and silverware and spilling some of Vivienne’s wine as she starts to fake cry. Loudly.

“Excuse me, what did you just call me?” Vivienne says tightly.

“Forget it!” Bella howls, sitting up and draping the back of her hand against her forehead. “You’ve already taken my man, Jolene!”

“Um, it’s Vivienne. We go to school together? We were in the same intro to law seminar last year?”

Bella ignores her entirely as she drags her gaze to me and lets it sit for just long enough for me to see the glint in her eyes.

“I brought you your things!” she sobs. “Take them with you for your new life with your floozy!”

She’s insane.

I mean she’s actually, for real, insane.

Bella suddenly reaches under her seat, yanks something out, and loudly—and, um, wetly?—slaps it on the table.

I stand corrected. Now she’s insane.

I don’t know what the fuck is in the off-white tote bag she just dropped in front of me. But I do know it’s somewhat squishy, is clearly a pile of several somethings, and has an odd shape.

It’s also leaking blood.

What the fuck did you do this time, little nightmare.

Vivienne’s nose wrinkles even more as she stares at the bag. “Ew?” she says. “What the fuck even is that?”

Bella just looks right at me, that weird little psycho gleam still in her eyes, a slightly off-putting tilt to her head.

“Bella,” I growl. “What is this?”

She grins. “A bag of dicks.”

Vivienne scoffs. “Okay, hon? We are on a date, m‘kay? So, could you just take your bag of…”

“Dicks,” Bella finishes helpfully.

The blonde makes a face. “Okay, well, whatever this weird drama performance is, we’re done with it, okay? So go ahead and⁠—”

“Vivienne, I’ve had a lovely evening,” I growl, glaring right at Bella as I say it. “But I think you and I are done here.”

In my peripheral vision, I see her turn to stare at me. “Wait, are you serious?”

“I am. My appetite is gone and I have an early morning.”