Page 74 of Guilty Minds
“Remember that night?”
He snorts. “As if I could forget it.”
"Yeah, so that night he got stopped by the cops, and he thought I was the one who called them on him."
He looks dumbfounded for a second before letting out a full belly laugh. "You? Call the cops?” And he starts laughing louder.
“Imagine my surprise.”
“I hate to say it, but he got himself into trouble on his own later. Nothing to do with you but with the cop he beat up.” Mark’s remark sounds reasonable.
“Yeah, it’s not that simple.” I shake my head.
“Why? He beat up that cop for no reason, and they charged him for it.” He insists.
“That was the cop who stopped him, you know that, right?”
“I’ve heard, yeah.” He nods.
“He had his reasons. It’s… I can’t tell why, but he had a good reason to be upset over it. Like a really good reason.” All the humor evaporates from my tone, and he senses it.
“Did someone get hurt?”
"Yeah," I whisper.
He nods and takes a sip of his coffee. “I can understand that.”
“Yeah.”
“Wait.” He puts the mug down. “Who called the cops? I sure as fuck didn’t, and neither did you." I give himthe look. “Oh fuck. Do you think she did?”
“Who else was there?” I ask, sighing.
“Holy crap.” He rubs his beard. “That’s so messed up.”
“Tell me about it.” I think for a second. “Actually, tell me one thing. What did you all find so attractive about her that you could only think with your dick the moment she appeared, huh?”
"Availability," Mark answers without a second thought.
“Huh?”
“She was always available, and she knew tricks.” He shrugs.
“Ew.” I scrunch my nose.
“What? You asked.”
“The firehouse order is ready!” Marina’s voice booms from the kitchen. I’m going to fetch the food and pack everything up for Mark to go. When I return and place his order on the table, he gives me his card.
“Be careful with him, alright?” He says quietly.
“What do you mean?” I do know.
"You know what I mean. That sort of hate doesn't just disappear. He learned to live with that, and now he doesn't know how to exist without it. Just be careful, Kayla. I don’t want to see you hurt.” His eyes are troubled with worry for me.
“Thank you, Mark. I will.” I pass his card back to him.
“See you around.” He takes the food and goes to leave.
