Page 76 of Driftwood Daffodil

Atlee’s lip curled, “so fucking scalp him and keep it as a pet. Don’t let him touch you.” He paused to cock his head. “Did you let him touch you?”

“No,” Memphis snorted. “Cindy took care of that for her.”

When did this become gang up on Nova hour?

I turned my glare back on my best friend. “Did you have to bring her up?”

“Technically she went down…” Memphis shot back.

“That’s a low blow.”

Memphis snickered, “so is Cindy.”

Okay, that one was kind of funny. But… “You know I’ve been dealing with her since birth.”

“Which is exactly why you should’ve punched her in the face in third grade.”

“Who the fuck is Cindy?” Atlee whispered to Chuck, who shook his head.

“No one you want to know.”

I was much too involved in my argument with Memphis to care what those two were saying. “Violence doesn’t solve anything.”

“Oh but blatant ignorance does?”

“Who’s side are you on?”

“The one where you don’t date guys like Simon.”

“Can I interject here?” Atlee asked.

Memphis and I both answered with a loud, “no.”

“Woah,” Atlee held up his palms. “I was just going to say that you are way too hot for Simon.”

Okay, now he was just being insulting. “Why are you still here?”

“Well I was waiting to see what time you wanted me to pick you up, but…” Atlee settled back in the chair and his ankles crossed. “I’m kind of enjoying the show.”

Chuck knew better than anyone what happened when people got between Memphis and I. He was slicing his hand across his neck, giving Atlee the signal to shut up.

One exchanged look was all Memphis and I needed. The next second our focus was on one thing. Memphis tore apart everything that was wrong with Atlee’s style while I pointed out the ineffectiveness of his so-called charismatic ways. At one point he looked to Chuck for help. All he got in response was a shrug.

By the time we were out of things to say, Atlee was just sitting there with a blank look and wide eyes.

“Wow,” he let out a heavy breath and stood up. “So I’m gonna go.”

Memphis and I cocked a brow at him while Chuck muttered, “Escape while you can.”

When Atlee turned to walk away, I called out, “tell your friend to do his own dirty work next time.”

GIOVANNI

It was so hot out I could feel the sun bouncing off my hood warming the air conditioning blowing over my face. I suppose I could’ve parked under a tree or in some shade, but then I wouldn’t have a clear view of the church grounds where Nova was stabbing a sharp stick into the ground.

Based on the trash bag in her other hand, I assumed this gathering of pathetic assholes was some kind of clean up. And I meant pathetic assholes.

The only two men there had been struggling to pick up the same log for over twenty minutes. I had to stop myself twice from yelling at them to put their back into it. They were still doing a better job than Novalee, who didn’t appear to be doing her job at all.

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