Page 32 of Hodge
“That doesn’t include me.”
“You’re a bastard. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I do, but this is what I could do for you. This is how I could make things better for you.”
“What if I didn’t want it? What if I wanted the fucking money!” I scream at him as he bends down and picks up the knife. He cuts the rope holding me in place and lets it fall to the ground. I step back as the guys all turn and head back inside.
“Fuck the money, Kemah. Your life is more important than money.”
“Says who? The man who is afraid to live?”
“You don’t know shit,” he says, pointing at me now.
“Oh, come on, Hodge. Everyone can see it. You’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.”
“Yeah, you are. You’re scared to let someone in. You’re afraid they’re going to run just like she did, but you know what? She was a coward, Hodge.”
“Watch what you’re sayin’, Kemah.”
“She was. She couldn’t even face you to tell you she wanted out, so she just ran. And look what that got her.”
“I mean it, Kemah,” he warns me, but I don’t stop.
“I came back, Hodge. You said yourself that meant something.”
“I was wrong.”
“No. Now you’re the coward. You’re the one who’s afraid to tell the truth.”
“What truth do you want, Kemah?” He roars at me.
“You feel something even if you don’t want to admit it.”
“You want me to admit it? Is that what this is?” I nod my head. “Yeah, I feel somethin’, Kemah. Does that make you feel better? Huh? But you know what? I’m not about to ruin another fuckin’ life because I have feelin’s!”
“Then why did you do this?”
“You said it. You said you had nothin’ and now I’m givin’ you everything, Kemah.”
“Everything I didn’t want! This is your life, Hodge! Not mine!”
“Now it’s yours too. Whether you like it or not. Money or no money. This is it!”
“You’re a selfish bastard for doing this.”
“Why? I just gave you everything you needed,” he says before turning and walking away. I stand in nothing but a fucking thong and a t-shirt when Remy walks up slowly to me.
“This is a bad time of year for him.”
“Doesn’t mean he had to do this,” I tell him as he nods his head.
“Hodge has always tried to do the right things for people. In his head, this is what’s right.”
“Well, he fucked up.”
“Not in his mind, he didn’t.”
