Page 54 of The New Year's Party
Just like SARS. Things doomed to repeat themselves. Phelps would get away with it, just like the professor. Unless...
What if Olivia told Bennett that her so-called “cheating” with Phelps had not been consensual at all? That his best friend had assaulted her? Would he believe her? She had only just confessed to Bennett hours ago about the cheating. Would he question her quick revision? Wonder why the story had already changed?
“Like we need more problems other than our current POTUS,” said Bennett with a laugh.
And if Bennettdidbelieve her? Would he storm out of the party, Olivia in tow? Tackle Phelps? Cut ties with his best friend?Kill him?No. She was thinking crazy. She didn’t need Bennett to do anything. Didn’twanthim to do anything, except support her, believe her. But however Bennett reacted, she could not let things repeat. Professor Larkin had gotten away with it. Phelps could not.
“Trump is a genius,” declared Ted, walking toward them. Wow. Olivia hadn’t noticed he’d gone off either.
“What?” exploded both Doug and Allie.
Ted laughed. “A psychopathic genius. The problem with the liberal party is, they’re constantly underestimating him. They think he’s a glorified idiot, but...”
“I have to take a piss,” announced Doug.
“Hillary would have been so much better,” said Allie. “Icried when I saw the election results.” She turned to Olivia. “How did you feel? You have daughters.”
Olivia’s mind sluggishly turned from the events of five years ago to election day, fall of 2016... She’d felt violent that morning. She remembered thinking she’d like to kill Trump if she had the chance, for the sake of her daughters. He’d bragged about grabbing someone’s pussy, right before the election. When that came out, Olivia had thought with relief,Well, now he’s shot himself in the foot.She was so confident America would pick Hillary she didn’t even stay up to see the election results. Then, he was elected anyway.
No one cared about sexual assault victims. No one would care about Olivia.
“I was... upset,” she said vaguely.
“I’m just gonna go over there,” said Doug.
“Hillary would have been boring,” said Ted. “And this is a liberal speaking. People couldn’t care less about policy. People want to be entertained!”
“How many times do I have to tell you to shut up, Kristos?” said Phelps. “No one wants to hear your political takes tonight. Now someone take this goddamn gun and shoot some fucking Santa plates.”
“I’m up next,” said Jenn, stepping forward with a fierce edge and grabbing the gun.
“Nowthat’sthe energy I’m talking about,” said Phelps.
Ted sidled up to Phelps and spoke in what he likely thought was a low voice.
“So... your hot date. Allie...” His voice lowered into an inaudible mumble. Phelps laughed sharply. What were they saying? Didn’t matter. Olivia wasn’t interested in hearing some kind of gross male discourse about how hot Allie was.
Olivia watched Jenn raise the gun and wished her problems were as simple as a sexually adventurous husband. She would gladly figure out Bennett in a dress.
A strong sound of rustling came from the cornfield that abutted Phelps’s backyard. The corn stood pale and tall in the dark, sparkling in the moonlight.
“Uh... guys?” Olivia said. Everyone’s attention turned to the corn.
A patch of stalks shook violently, scattering wetness. There was a grunting sound. Olivia backed up a step. What wild animals were native to northern Indiana?
“What the—” muttered Phelps as the corn shook even harder.
“Oh, my God...” moaned Bunny.
Just as Olivia took another step back, Jenn took three swift steps forward. She pointed the BB gun into the corn and shot. Pumped, and shot again.
There was an explosive shout from the corn, then a long groan. A human groan. Someone pitched forward, out of the corn and into the mud.
Chapter 26
Bennett
A body hit the ground with a thud.
