Carlson
It’s official. Suzette’s sister’s favorite pastime is gleefully envisioning me six feet beneath worm infested dirt.
Not only does she glare at me every time I blink, but as soon as we arrived at the casual diner next to the coffee shop they snuck off to this morning, Kaia practically shoved Suzette into the booth next to the window and immediately claimed the seat next to her. Luckily, since Hector wasn’t coy about panting after Kaia, I got to sit across from Suzette. Benson, Denny, and his girl bowed out of lunch. Smart.
Then, upon hearing that I didn’t like mushrooms, she insisted we get extra fungi on the two large pizzas we were sharing. Knowing it was deliberate, I didn’t object but spent a good five minutes picking off baked molds off my slices.
I was half expecting her to request an extra sharp knife with mushroom on top so she could accidentally spear me with it.
To make it even more obvious she thought I was aged brown skid mark lingering in a toilet bowl, each time Suzette tried to engage me in conversation, she blatantly and crassly interrupted as soon as I opened my mouth.
If it was anyone else besides Suzette’s sister, I might have bluntly commented on such inexcusably coarse behavior, but it was clear the siblings were close.
To top it off, the whole time Suzette sat there as though it was okay for Kaia to rudely intervene. At one point she flashed me a look in embarrassed apology, so I knew she was aware of her sister’s foul intention.
When the bill came Hector snatched it straightaway, unwaveringly insisting the meal was on him. Who was I to get in his way of trying to impress a girl? Kaia didn’t downplay her severe, censuring face though, like I was some free-loader only there to smooch off three slices of mediocre pizza and a mineral water.
“What’s up with your sister?” I ask Suzette now in a lowered voice. “She has a problem with me talking to you?”
We’re lingering in the small area where we left our cars. While good old Hector was keeping Kaia occupied near her small compact, I snagged the opportunity to pull Suzette aside.
Suzette’s gaze drops. “I’m sorry about that. She’s… protective.”
I frown. “Does she think I’m some sort of serial ass pisser?”
Her shoulders deflate with her weary exhale, but she’s still not able to meet my eyes. “I don’t want to worry about Kaia. I’d rather talk about you.”
“What about me?”
Her teeth work at biting back a small smile as her face lifts. “You were really great this morning. The game,” she clarifies at my confusion. “Where did you learn to play ball like that?”
“Juvie.”
Taken aback, she stares at me, with the pretty smile frozen on her face as she waits for the punchline.
There is none.
“Oh.” Her gaze escapes again. “What, um, what did you do? To end up there, I mean.”
I shake my head. “You don’t want to know. Besides, it was a long time ago.”
“Suzy! Let’s go.”
We both glance over at Kaia scowling at me. She’s half in her car with Hector holding the door open. I’m not sure what he’s seeing, but there’s quiet speculation as he takes in me and Suzette stealing a few minutes alone.
Suzette’s sigh breezes over my chest. “I’ll see you tonight?” she says with quiet hope.
“I’ll pick you up at six and bring you back.”
Not allowing the murdering look on her sister to deter me, I walk Suzette to the car and make sure she’s safely buckled in. Kaia doesn’t waste a second but loudly peels away as soon as she’s able.
Hector looks at me with suspicion amidst the lingering odor of burned rubber. “What the hell? Did you run over her cat or something?”
“Or something.” We both know he wasn’t referring to Suzette. “Fuck if I know. I never met her until today.”
“I don’t know, man. For a second there I thought she was going to back her car right into you. It looks like you got some shit to deal with if you’re trying to get with Suzy.”
It’s my turn to scowl. “What do you know about me and Suzette?”
“You guys are not exactly subtle.”