Page 9 of The Leaves In Autumn
“No, smartass. I ran into Merlin’s wand at a carnival.”
“What a dork. Were you blindfolded at the time?”
“As opposed to your sharp skills of avoiding the boogie board and table that you saw on the daily?”
I carefully get upright and stand next to him. His eyes are as red as mine.
“Okay. I wasn’t going to include this, but you need to be taught a lesson. Not every wound is visible.”
I lift my schoolgirl skirt and turn my back.
“Don’t get excited. This is strictly for your education.”
“Wait! Let me sit so I can get a closer look. I see you aren’t wearing your granny panties tonight. Thanks.”
Revealing my ass is always a good time. Usually, it is reserved for sexual partners, but in this case I am making an exception. It’s funny and will shut him up.
I pull down my panties just enough to expose the scar and dented flesh between the top of my cheeks.
Over my shoulder, I see his hand start to rise to touch. He thinks better of it.
“What’s this one from?”
“A raccoon bit me. Came from behind when I was a little kid. I had to get rabies shots. Still remember the pain.”
“At least he had good taste.”
I lower my skirt and turn.
“Now what do you think? Still think I’m a crybaby, or what?”
But the expression on his face isn’t respect for my life skills or strength of character. He is somewhere else.
“Nice ass, Boom Boom.”
CHAPTER 3
Aargon
“Pass me a sugar.”
I toss the packet across the booth and get back to breakfast. Catching the waitress’s eye for a refill is impossible. Making eye contact with anyone is not on her radar. Balancing four plates full of food is the task at hand.
Van wears the same look he used as a kid whenever he didn’t like what was on his plate.
“This place is not going to make it much longer. Look at this.”
Saturday’s Special gets pushed forward in protest over the word special.
“Your eggs are overcooked by an hour.”
“They’ve sucked the life out of them. How difficult is it to scramble eggs?”
“Ask for something else.”
“No thanks. I don’t want what they’re selling.”
My last bite of French toast is delicious, but why rub it in.
