Page 132 of Nevada

“You’re actin’ crazy, Louise,” I hear Nevada say. “Put the gun down and we can talk about this.”

Gun? I freeze in my tracks. Holy shit.

I didn’t bring my piece, but I do have my knives.

They’re facing to the side. Nevada is standing by a car in his overalls, and a woman is holding a gun, pointed at his head. “You lied to me, Nevada. Admit it!”

“No, I didn’t, Louise. We had fun, that’s all it was. I made it clear.”

“No. No, the way you looked at me… the way we fucked… it was… it was so much more than fun.” Her hand is shaky, her voice no better. “You felt it, say you felt it!”

“This is crazy.” He takes a step and she clutches her other hand on top of the gun.

“Don’t!”

He stops in his tracks. “We can talk about this, babe. You don’t need to go gettin’ all nuts over it.” I know he’s just trying to talk her down, and imagining them together isn’t the time or the place for jealousy. She’s trigger happy, and probably crazy enough to shoot him.

Fear laces through me, but I have the element of surprise.

Out of the corner of his eye, I see Nevada’s head turn slightly. Did he see me? Does he know I’m here? Maybe he heard my car?

“I don’t want to talk. You won’t take my calls, and who’s that woman hanging around your house?”

Oh shit, she’s been stalking us at his house?

I reach inside the sheath of my boot and pull my knife out, creeping closer. “She’s nobody, babe. You know me. I don’t have girlfriends.”

“Liar! She’s been staying there. I saw her, and at the clubhouse.”

Oh God. She’s been there, too?

He holds up his hands. “Just calm down and give me the gun.”

“Not until you tell me who she is!” Her voice is becoming more erratic by every passing second.

“She’s a friend. Nothin’ more, got me?”

She lets out a strange sound, not a scream but also not a laugh, something in between. “You expect me to believe that? Did you fuck her, Nevada? Just like you fucked me?”

“No, babe. You know I’d never do that.” His tone is soft, gentle, like honey. “I care about you. If you do this, you’re only gonna hurt me. You wouldn't want that, would you?”

She nods. “Yes. I want to make you suffer like you’ve made me suffer all this time. I wanted you. I thought I meant something to you, but I’m just another notch on your belt.”

“That’s no reason to shoot me.”

Oh, Jesus, Nevada. Way to go about getting shot.

“Yes it is.”

The gun clicks. She’s fucking serious. She’s going to shoot him.

I don’t think. I move out of my hiding place behind the workbench and scream at her to stop. She turns, startled, and the gun points at me as Nevada lunges. At the same time, I throw my knife. The shot fires through the air. It sounds louder than usual in this confined space, the sound ringing through the workshop and I don’t realize until pain hits my arm that I’ve been shot.

I look up and the girl is on the floor. I managed to hit her at least, but the look on Nevada’s face; it’s a look of horror.

He runs toward me but it’s like in slow motion. I’m on my knees.

I tell him I love him. At least, I think I do.

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