Page 174 of Restless
“Stick it up farther, Ry,” Ransom encouraged. “You can pull a few boogers out.”
Mom wrinkled her nose. Ryder didn’t follow Ransom’s instructions, so Ransom pulled the straw out of Ryder’s nostril and inspected it.
“That’s disgusting,” Rebel complained as Ransom sniffed, then threw the straw on the table.
“This not table talk,” Dad said. “Throw that fuckin’ straw the fuck away.”
“This isn’t anywhere talk, Daddy,” Rebel said, watching Ransom shove his chair back, grab the straw, and throw it in the small trashcan by the server. “It’s barbaric.”
“You’re such a girl, Rebel,” Ransom told her with disgust, reseating himself. “I’m glad I don’t have a pussy to get grossed-out so easily.”
“You don’t even have a fucking brain, so why worry about your genitals?” Rebel said sweetly, studying her nails.
“You and Aunt Meggie do look a lot alike,” Tabitha said, a thoughtful look on her face.
“If you just noticed, not only are you a stupid bitch, but a blind one.” Rebel snapped her brows together. “A refrain in the past hour, since I do believe I pointed out the same thing a little while ago and yet you refuse to shut the fuck up.”
Dad sighed and scratched his jaw. Mom patted Rebel’s hand and shook her head when Rebel looked at her.
“I’m just trying to make small talk.” Tabitha sounded hurt and remorseful. “I don’t mean any offense.” She smiled at Mom. “You still look so pale, Aunt. You’ve aged ten years in the last two weeks. Don’t get me wrong. You’re still a pretty woman.”
Face reddening and eyes darkening, Dad jumped to his feet and pointed at Tabitha, so angry his finger trembled.
Mom stood, too, and rushed to Dad’s side. “Christopher—”
“Diesel, if you don’t get this cunt the fuck outta my fuckin’ face, you bringin’ pieces of her home.”
Tabitha paled.
Mom tried again. “Christopher.”
“I’m not listenin’, baby. No bitch disrespectin’ you in front of me, but especially in your own fuckin’ house.”
“Please!” Tabitha cried. “I just wanted to suggest a place I know for Aunt Meggie to rest.”
“Let me guess,” Rebel said sarcastically. “Your fucking cabin.”
“It isn’t my cabin. I don’t have the money to own a cabin. It’s a cabin of a friend’s dad, where I took a break from the hustle and bustle of life. It rejuvenated me. I admit it was several years ago, so it might’ve been sold by now, but that was the only point I was making.”
Dad studied her. “What the fuck game you playin’? This ain’t the first fuckin’ time you tellin’ Megan to go to a goddamn cabin.”
“It’s no game. I swear! I’m speaking as a concerned d-daughter-in-law.”
“If Megan goes, I will go with her,” Dad said.
“That’s all the better,” Tabitha said, her smile brightening.
“What the fuck that mean?”
“Nothing, Uncle Chris,” Tabitha said quickly. “I just meant you’d get much needed rest, too.”
Dad stared at Diesel, who gave Tabitha a small smile.
“You’ll be in the middle of nowhere with no connection to the outside world,” she said. “You will feel refreshed and new when you get back to civilization.”
“Let Riley check out the cabin,” Ransom suggested. “If she’s telling the truth, you and Mom can go.”
“Check out the cabin?” Tabitha laughed. “What does that mean?”
