Luke parked the Bronco across the street from the county jail in Mount Vernon. In the passenger seat, Kolt stared out the window and ignored the incessant squabbling between Luke and Lina.
“Chad wasn’t supposed a get out for another six months,” Lina said with a huff from the back seat.
“You ought a be happy they released him early,” Luke said. “Oh, I forgot. You can’t do that cuz you’re just using him like you do everyone.” Only reason I put up with her is cuz’a Chad. Well, that—and she does look a lot like Holly. Still, Chad needs to quit thinking with his dick and dump her.
“What am I s’posed to do?” she whined. “I don’t even know what to say to ‘im!”
“He’s your boyfriend, why don’t you kiss and make up? More likely you’ll chew his head off like them praying mantis on TV. Sucks for you while you need his trailer.”
“Quit teasing. We both know things gotta change, now your cabin’s almost ready and New Year’s coming. We got a chance to start over and do things right for a change.”
“Knock that shit off!” Luke said, whirling around in his seat and rapping Lina’s thigh with his knuckle.
“Ow!” she cried.
Kolt flinched, but continued watching the jail door for Chad.
“Keep that crazy talk up and next one’s across your mouth.”
“You think you’re so tuff. We’ll just see how you feel when New Year’s Eve gets here,” she replied. “You’ll want me then.” Rubbing her leg, she crowded the door to get out of his reach.
Luke punched the center of the steering wheel in frustration and the horn blared. Why does she keep saying that? He scowled at the imposing three-story, brown-brick building capped by jail cells.
“Where is that son-of-a-bitch?”
Moments later, all three watched as Chad, escorted by a deputy, came out of the wood-and-glass front doors. He looked up and down the street.
“There he is!” Kolt shouted with excitement, almost bouncing in his seat.
-- : --
Chad was thin and felt worn-out but tougher than when he entered. The twenty-one-year-old wore his familiar camouflage jacket, blue jeans, now baggy, and his old black boots that bore a new spit-shine. Tilting back his head, he closed his eyes and took a deep, proud breath of the free air.
I may be an ex-con, but I survived that hellhole.
When he looked up and spotted the black Bronco across the street, a huge grin transformed his face. Dashing into the street and forcing the driver of a passing car to brake and blare his horn, Chad crossed the asphalt to his best friend’s truck. At the driver’s side window, he reached in and clasped Luke’s shoulder.
“Welcome out, buddy,” Luke said, before glancing at Kolt and saying, “Take a hike.”
“But I was…,” Kolt complained.
“That’s okay, I want to jump in back with my girl anyway,” Chad said, moving to the back door and excitedly yanking it open.
“Hey, babe, come sit by me,” Chad called to Lina, slapping the seat next to him as he climbed inside and closed the door. When she slid closer, his kiss landed on her turned cheek instead of her lips. He pulled back in consternation. “What’s that about?”
Lina gave him a tight-lipped smile.
Frowning, Chad settled back as Luke started the engine. Same old Lina. Don’t know if that’s good or bad…. At least she’s here and I won’t be sleeping alone tonight.
As Luke drove them away from the jail, Chad ran his hand down Lina’s slender thigh. He felt her wince when his hand crossed a light bruise showing at the edge of her skirt.
“How’d you do that?”
“Ain’t nothing—leave it be,” she said, taking his hand in hers and placing it on the seat beside her. When Chad turned to look at her, she returned it to her lap.
“Jeez-o-Christ, it’s good to be free!” Chad shouted suddenly.
“Damn straight. Remember the way home?” Luke asked with a grin.
“Hell yeah! But I got forty bucks gate money and want the biggest cow burger the Burger Barn can fix, with tons of fries and a whole bottle of tartar sauce.”
“I’s hungry, too,” Kolt moped, turning in his seat.
“Hey, good to see you, kid.” Chad smiled slapping the boy on the shoulder. “I’ll buy your burger, but after that, I’m flat broke. I won’t have nothing except the trailer and what’s in my pockets.”
“That ain’t true. You got Lina,” Luke said with sarcasm. “But sounds to me like you could use a shopping spree tonight.”
“That’d be awesome,” Kolt said. “We’d be like the three musketeers—”
“Not you, mama’s boy,” Luke said. “Chad’s back, so you ain’t invited.”
Kolt kicked the floorboard before crossing his arms and glaring out the side window.
“First,” Chad leaned over toward Lina, stroking her thigh, “we want a little pleasure before business. Right, baby?”
-- : --
The November sun hung near the horizon and prepared to take the days remaining warmth. Less than half an hour had passed since Luke dropped Chad and Lina off at the trailer on Wa-Wilkin Road. Chad leaned against the sink with a look of disbelief.
“You’re dumping me?”
Moving to the far end of the small trailer, near the bed, Lina tried to distance herself from Chad’s crushed reaction. Why’s he always gotta over react? “I was gonna wait for ya, but a year’s a dang long time.”
“I thought we had something special,” Chad said, sounding like a little boy as he paced the floor in the kitchenette. “Hell, I just got out and I need my girl!”
“Luke and me’s got a second chance now.”
“You and Luke?”
“Yeah,” she said, drawing it out slowly. “I know. He should’a told—”
“No! You’re the one should a told me! Everything I done for you, the pot, the money, hell, even my damn trailer. And all you do is string me along for a whole fricking year!?”
“Why you gotta make it so hard on me?”
“Hard on you!” He stomped toward her. “While you was living it up in my trailer, I was stuck in a four-by-eight cell, fighting off one thug or another every day. Even then, all I thought of was you!”
“I’s the one got kicked out of my own damn house.”
His eyes narrowed. “Bet you laughed yourself to sleep every night thinking how you was screwing me.”
She looked away to avoid Chad’s eyes. “I ain’t like Holly… wanting somebody just cuz I ain’t s’posed to have ‘em. You and me cain’t be together cuz I’s meant to be with Luke. He’s taking care of me and JD now, like he should a from the start.”
Chad grabbed her by the arm and yanked her face closer to his. His hot ragged breath burst on her cheek, smelling of greasy burger.
“That’s ‘cause I made him!” Chad said through gritted teeth. “Luke can’t stand you!”
He thrust her away and she stumbled against the bathroom door.
“You’re wrong. Luke wants me,” Lina sneered. “Don’t believe me? Ask him yourself why we was sleeping together while you was locked up. Why’d he do that if I ain’t his girl? Just cuz you come back don’t mean you’re getting ‘tween us again. I won’t let ya!”