Page 15 of Darlin'

Oh, God...okay, moving on.

I could...teach him how to do a handstand? A little flexibility training? It's important to be agile in his line of work, right? Easier to...escape law enforcement? On second thought, maybe not. I don't want to be an accomplice. No way. Okay, maybe I can teach him to twirl a baton? A little party trick? Recite Shakespeare with accurate pronunciation? Ride a horse? Say the alphabet backward? Paint by color? Show him how to make a mean margarita?

As I run through all my evidently useless skills, my chest grows heavy with hopelessness. There's nothing. I have nothing?—

"No fucking way, dude." Jesse's thundering voice slices through my thoughts, and I snap my attention to the bathroom door. "Absolutely not."

Uh-oh. He's here.

Turning off the tap, I hop out of the shower and wrap the towel around my body as I intensively eavesdrop on his conversation. Great, he's already in a foul mood. I'm starting off at a negative one, and I haven't even pleaded my case for free room and board yet.

"Why can't she stay at yours?" he barks, pausing before adding, "Lucky's a little bitch, Rad—"What?! Rad? He's talking to Beau?"He won't fucking try anything..." A pause. "I don't see how that's suddenly my problem."

Tripping over my own feet, I scramble to unlock thedoor, bolting out and running toward Jesse. He paces around the kitchen, phone pressed against his ear.

"Is that Beau?!" I ask in an eager tone, startling Jesse as he turns around, mouth slightly agape as he stares at me, the tip of his tongue flicking against his lips. "Give me the phone!" I charge toward him, holding out my hand in desperation. "I want to talk to him! Give me the phone."

Beau. He could be the answer. He'll have a solution. He was always good at innovative problem-solving.

"Your sister's awake," Jesse says into the receiver, gaze flitting across my impatient features as I tirelessly try to snatch the phone from his hand. Jesse dodges my attempts, circling the dining room table as he chuckles. "Yeah, I don't think she wants to talk to you."

Dickhead!

"Give me the phone! Beau!"

"Yeah, I don't know, brother." Jesse glances back at me, smirking, as I chase him around the kitchen like a herding dog who's seen better days. "I think she's a bit mad that you weren't here to welcome herunannouncedarrival." He pauses, shooting me a lopsided smile as I continue to shout Beau's name. "Yeah, I think that's stupid, too."

"Jesse!" I whine, gripping the unraveling towel as I struggle to overpower him. Did he grow overnight?! In both directions? Holy hell! "Give me the phone, for Pete's sake!" I raise my voice, shouting, "Beau! I'm here! I'm not mad at you! Beau!"

"Yeah..." Jesse turns his back to me, extending out his right arm as he blocks my advances like a freaking linebacker. "What can I say? Must be a woman thing, huh?"

"Give me the damn phone!" I snap, smacking his shoulder repeatedly. He doesn't flinch, my hand tingling. What is he? Iron Man?! "Jesse!"

"Yeah, I'll tell her to call you when she's calmed down," he says, spinning out as I grab hold of his red flannel shirt. He smacks my hand away, waving his index finger at me as he feigns a pout. "Yeah, okay."

He grins when I cross my arms and stand in front of him, smoke blowing from my ears. What game is he playing here? Is he just trying to piss me off?

"Just get back here in one piece," he continues, lowering his voice as he leans against the kitchen counter. "Tell Jo and Jimbo to take back roads. Tiny heard chatter that there were a couple of renegade snakes in the desert. I don't want to rattle them too soon." He pauses, nodding. "Sounds good, brother. See you soon."

When he hangs up, Jesse flashes me an amused smile and sighs. "Damn, I'm hungry." He reaches into the grocery bag on the kitchen table and unpacks a carton of milk and a box of Froot Loops. He grabs two bowls and spoons from the drying rack and I stare at him, bewildered at his totally unacceptable and deceitful behavior. He raises a brow, acting dumbfounded by my reaction. "What's wrong, princess? Found a pea under your mattress?"

"What theheckwas that?!" I shout, snatching the box of cereal from his hand mid-pour. "Why didn't you let me talk to Beau?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Jesse shrugs, giving me a sly grin. "Can I have my cereal back?" Hepauses, cocking his head. "Unless you want some." He slides a bowl toward me. "Ladies first."

"I don't want any flipping cereal!" The box crushes under my vice grip, and Jesse laughs. "Why are you being such a tool? I just wanted to?—"

"A tool?" He dramatically grabs his chest. "Wow. Words hurt Savannah. Words hurt."

My jaw clenches. "Not as much as a kick in the shins!"

"Now," Jesse says, hesitantly reaching for the cereal, "didn't your parents ever teach you that violence isn't the answer?" His lips twist up as he pries the dented box from my rigid fingers, examining the damage. "Then again...theydidraise a cereal killer."

"I—" Unbelievable. Is this real life right now? Is he seriously making dad jokes at a time like this? "I don't even know what to say. What...what is happening right now?"

"Well,I'meating breakfast, andyou're"—Jesse shrugs, pouring milk into the bowl—"you'rehaving a tantrum."

My jaw drops. "A tantrum? A tantrum?!"

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