Page 61 of Hiss and Make Up
“This is Freddy Alvarez,” Marc said. “He brought me dog food, for the mutt you somehow left behind last night. That means he’ssupposedto be here. Want to tell me what the hellyou’redoing here?”
“Helping?”
He laughed, although it was clear he didn’t find the situation funny. It was a pained, desperate laugh. A waving-the-white-flag laugh. “Could have fooled me.”
She poked two fingers into his shoulder. “Hey, it was a solid plan. At least until you two showed up. Freddy should take you to the hospital before you scare the actual arsonist and ruin my trap.”
Marc’s eyes widened in disbelief. He glanced at Freddy, who hung his head and stifled another laugh.
“Don’t look at me, man,” Freddy said. “She’s your cute face.”
Sierra looked back and forth between them.Hiscute face? Marc had obviously told him about her, but she assumed he’d told his buddy about the colossal mistake he’d made with her. Or how to get rid of her. Freddy kind of looked like the type of guy who’d carry his own travel container of baby oil to slick himself up and keep anyone from getting a good grip on him.
Maybe that’s why they were friends. Maybe she’d misjudged Marc. Maybe she’d wrongly assumed he’d be anything like the guy she remembered.
But Freddy had called herhiscute face. It implied ownership. Possession. Not something Marc wanted to let go.
Sierra couldn't tell if that implication was a reason for excitement or terror.
Marc shook his head, wincing against the pain again. For the second time in twenty-four hours, he said, “Go home, Sierra.”
Okay, he was mad. He had a right to be mad at her. She’d hit him with a pot. But he still needed her help, and she wasn’t about to let this go. The only problem now was how to help without inviting more of his wrath.
Although, his current mood seemed pretty low on the wrath scale. He was sending out more of an annoyed vibe. Or defeated. Not by some psycho arsonist, but by her.
“Can I at least drive you to the hospital? You really should get that looked at.”
“I’m fine.”
“She might be right, man. You should get that looked at.” Freddy reached out to steady Marc as he tried to stand again. He was much more solid on his feet this time, but that knot on his head looked ugly.
“I’m not going to the hospital.”
Freddy side-eyed his friend. “I should make you sign some kind of release form.”
“I’mfine.”
“Someone needs to watch you. Aren’t you supposed to stay awake or something?”
“Now you want to babysit me?”
“Me? Hell, no. Besides,” Freddy said, nodding at Sierra, “I’m guessing she makes a much better nurse.”
“Did you see what she did to me? You want to leave me alone with her?”
Sierra glared at him. “I should have swung harder.” She put the pot back in the cabinet and slammed the door shut before she really did decide to knock some sense into him.
He must be brewing a massive headache. Sierra hoped he had some pain medicine at the house. Freddy could stay with him while she ran out to get some. Or he could go while she stayed. Either way, she wasn’t leaving Marc alone.
He could be mad at her or shut her out or even file assault and trespassing charges, but she wasn’t leaving him concussed, pissed off, and alone.
“Fine.” Marc glared at Freddy, then turned back to Sierra. “Let’s get you out of here before you do some real damage.
* * *
Freddy waited until Marc disappeared to give Sierra his number.
“Thanks.” She typed it into her phone and sent him a text so he’d have her number.
