Page 30 of Grotesque
“Cool. Now let’s get to Henry’s, we’re going to be late,” Quint said.
Their footsteps started to recede. I stuffed the book in my bag and downed the rest of my wine. I followed them down the aisle. I had no idea what I was going to say if I confronted Quint, but I knew fordamn sureI was going to let him know I had heard every single word he said.
“The crazy ones are always the best in bed. Just fuck her once and then drop her. Might as well.” The man, it was the same one I had met at the bar my second night in town who’d commented on my tattoo. Jeremy! “Text her. See if she wants to come to Henry’s party.” Jeremy nudged Quint’s denim clad shoulder. “I know she’s your sister, but Katelyn–”
“That’s enough,” Quint snapped. “This chick is actually crazy, and I don’t want to hear you talk like that about my sister.”
The saleswoman flashed a big smile at the men when Jeremy tossed the book on the counter.
Everything I wanted to say died on my tongue. I twisted the wine glass in my hand and walked up next to them, pausing next to Quint and sliding my glass across to her. “Thank you,” I said sweetly.
The air took on a charged quality the moment I felt Quint’s attention fall on me. I didn’t deign to look at him. He saw me, and it was enough. It was enough to know that he knew I had heard him and that I was pissed.
“Oh shit,” Jeremy half whispered half laughed.
“Sorcha,” Quint stammered, but I was already walking out the door.
The bell clanged a second time as someone rushed out behind me. I lengthened my stride when I heard Quint running to catch up.
“Sorcha,” he said and reached for my elbow.
I turned on my heel. “Yes?” Remain aloof and disinterested. Don’t let him see that you’re hurt or angry. Indifference, I found, was an effective trigger that pissed most men off.
“Hey, um—” he looked from me to somewhere over my head and back again, “—you just walked right out without saying anything.”
I cocked my head. “Was I supposed to?”
Quint’s brow furrowed, the lines around his mouth tightening.
“I heard everything you said about me, so I don’t think there’s anything left for us to talk about,” I clarified. I turned away abruptly, planning on making a beeline for my car, which was six blocks up.
He cursed under his breath before following. “I didn’t mean any of that.”
I laughed. “You’re right, I probably imagined that whole conversation.Crazy Sorcha.” I made a mocking gesture with my hands.
“I was trying to get Jeremy off my back,” he pleaded. “You know I don’t think you’re crazy.”
“I just caught you talking shit about me. Ever heard of integrity? I uprooted my entire life to come out here and I’ve had nothing but problems since. You seemed like a good thing, but I was wrong.” I walked faster, trying to outpace him, but his legs were much longer than mine.
Quint rounded in front of me, effectively taking up every inch of the sidewalk with his broad stance. “I’m sorry, Sorcha. I swear I didn’t mean it. Some friends of mine are having a party tonight, why don’t you come with me and I can make it up to you? Let me prove I didn’t mean any of it.”
“So I can continue to be the butt of your jokes? I don’t think so.”
“If you knew Jeremy you would understand. Sometimes you just have to say whatever to make him happy, so he’ll shut up.”
“And that makes it ok?”
“No, it doesn’t and that’s why I’m trying to apologize.”
I was so full of rage at this point I was seeing red. I bent down and rolled up the cuff my pants and thrust my ankle out, revealing where bruising in the clear shape of a handprint marked me. I jerked the collar of my shirt to the side in another quick motion, flashing the bite mark, that was healing slowly. “Proof that I’m not crazy, you asshole.”
Quint’s eyes widened. “What is that? Who did that?”
I stomped my foot back on the concrete. A sharp pain radiated up my shin, making me clench my jaw. “Who do you think?”
He lowered his voice. “He attacked you? When? Why didn’t you call me? Did you call the cops?”
I scoffed in an attempt to force back the tears burning behind my eyes. “Don’t look so concerned, Quint. Lying doesn’t look good on you.”
