Page 21 of The Most Dearest
My treatment was amazing. The stress of the last few months drained from me with every minute of pampering. Emma would love how soft my skin was. I felt clean, fresh, and relaxed. The total had only reached $350, so I grabbed a facial scrub from the stand to bring it to $400.
“That'll be $398 please,” the elegant woman at the registered informed me.
I handed over my gift card, looking around for something worth $2 so I didn’t waste anything. Of course, nothing was $2 in Pure & Fresh! Oh well, I'd just put the remainder toward my next treatment.
She ran the card. “Ok, the balance is $396. Will that be cash or card?”
“No, the card is worth $400,” I argued.
“I can see that, but the balance remaining is only $2. The bulk of the value was used yesterday.”
Juliet was also a bitch apparently. I handed over my card, furious that I'd been so gullible. I should have known better.I bet the coven was in my house, cackling over their wines at how stupid I was. As a newly unemployed man, this was not something I should be spending my money on.
It turns out the coven was one witch short. Miranda and Emma sat in the living room with Cordy and Damon, peacefully watchingSons of Anarchy. Cordy and Damon were on the sofa, while Emma and Miranda sat on the floor together. “Emma, we’re not up to that episode yet,” I said, feeling unreasonably hurt by this form of betrayal. Maybe the coven wasn't one witch short after all.
“We haven't watched any of it in days, Harrison. I'll watch it again with you later.” She shrugged, taking a handful of M&Ms from the bowl Miranda passed her. She was taking snacks from the woman who called her Alvin and made her life hell? Well, I guess it was mostly my life that Miranda had made hell, Alvin, shit I mean Emma, was just a bystander who copped some leftover snark. Hang on, what was that smell? Emma shifted to grab more M&Ms, and I saw black paws beside her. What the fuck was that mutt doing in my house?
“Cordelia, we have a no dog rule in this house,” I said sharply. “Get him out of here.”
“Don’t blow a gasket. First, it’s a she, Harrison. And second, this is my house, and I have no such rule.”
Emma watched Jax Teller with a lustful gaze and absentmindedly patted the mutt’s head. “He's hot, yeah?” Miranda asked Emma, referring to the screen. “Hell yeah. Who doesn't like a tatted badass?” Emma replied.
Could anyone even see me? I lost my job today and Emma was watching television with my enemies like it was no big deal. I felt completely ignored. Things were spinning out of control. This was my fucking house. Alvin curled around my legs, so I nudgedher with my shoe to push her away. She showed me her asshole, as per usual. Cat hair was everywhere. I found a ginger hair stuck in my eyebrow last night when I went to do my skincare routine. Ouch! I looked down at Alvin. She fucking scratched me. I peered down and Alvin hissed at me, curling her back into an arch. My good pants had a claw mark that would no doubt make them ladder.
“Miranda, I guess you’re happy with your little antics today. You cost me my job! Your little girl actions have had grown up consequences. Don’t think that I—"
“Oh, fuck off. You do like teen boobies, Barely Legal Larry. This was bound to happen anyway. Brian is a good man and would have been looking for the first reason to sack your perverted ass.”
I stared at Emma. How did Miranda even have all this information? She didn't know all the reasons I'd been fired. Emma looked away guiltily.
“Emma, let's go out for dinner,” I ordered.
“Can we just order in? We're getting to the season finale,” she said to the screen.
“No need to order in. I've made a huge lasagna,” Cordelia offered. “Miranda did the salad.”
“You made that salad? The one with the fetta and pear?” Emma turned with wide eyes. Oh, so a fucking salad makes her take her eyes of Jax Teller, but not me?
“Yeah, it's one of my specialties. I can teach you next time if you want. It’s really easy," Miranda responded.
“Oh, I'd love that. I'm trying to learn new stuff. Mom never lets me in the kitchen at home.”
I stared at she-devil Miranda. Cam wasn't here to save her hide this time. We still had another matter to discuss.
“Miranda, thanks for the gift card. I assume that was your handiwork!”
“If by ‘my handiwork,’ you're asking if I bought that gift card, then no. Jules and my parents did. But if you're asking if I spent most of it, then the answer is yes. Being a girl can be expensive, Embarrison. You should know that. Jules and my parents wanted to reward me for the restraint I've shown recently. And I kindly asked Jules to give you the balance as a thank you for the entertainment you provide. I'm sorry if Juliet somehow misled you into thinking the card was purchased today as some kind of reward for being fired.”
“What gift card?” Emma asked. I shook my head. I was over this and didn't want to look like a gullible dick in front of Emma.
“I'm going to bed. I feel sick,” I announced to no one in particular given that everyone's eyes were now on muscle-bound “bad asses.” No response. Fuck this. I wouldn't eat their damn lasagna. Miranda would probably find a way to put laxatives in my serving. I'd hide in my room and have a cup of noodles later. Even she couldn't tamper with a sealed noodle pack. I'd started buying the cups with the plastic around them because the last thing I'd do was let immature Miranda into my head.
Chapter 22: Cordelia – Nettie’s birthday
The cat will mew, and dog will have his day
Hamlet, William Shakespeare
