[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
knocking Tom backward as his ex and her boyfriend moved into the
house and closed the door behind them. Tom regained his balance and
folded his arms across his chest.
What the hell do you want this time? he asked, trying his best to
look intimidating.
Chris looked him over, from head to toe, then sneered. I hear
you re a homo now.
Tom felt heat rush to his cheeks, despite his fighting against it.
What do you want?
Yeah, that s what I heard, Chris repeated, as he walked about
the room. He here now?
He s out.
Perhaps he was imagining it, but Tom could have sworn a look of
relief flashed across the man s face.
Good, Chris said, nodding.
We re here to discuss the house, Sarah said, her arms folded as
tight as Tom s.
W we ve already had that talk. Tom tried to keep his voice
steady, but with Chris in the room and Grant nowhere to be seen, it
was a lot harder. It s my house, not yours.
104 JC Holly
I contributed to the payments, she replied. I ve talked to a
lawyer about it.
You contributed nothing. Not once. You expected me to work
and pay for everything, then come home and cook and clean.
Oh, so I should ve been the little housewife, should I? She
sneered. I had a life too, you know.
Tom couldn t help but glance at Chris. So I found out.
Chris didn t like that, apparently, and moved closer. Fuck you.
I believe that s Sarah s job.
He didn t know where the words had come from, but he instantly
wished he hadn t said them. A smart mouth was all well and good
when relaxed on a sofa, but not when facing off against a large and
angry man.
Watch your fucking mouth, Chris snarled.
Or what? You ll try and hit me again?
It was no good. As much as Tom s brain tried to tell him to
simmer down, the rest of his body was starting to heat up at the
indignity of the scene. The girlfriend he d loved, who
unapologetically cheated on him, was trying to extort money from
him using her brain-dead boyfriend to intimidate meek little Tom.
Only meek little Tom had had enough.
Listen to me, both of you, he said, his voice low. This is over
with. Done. You re not getting a penny from me without a lawyer,
and if you d really seen one you d know you don t have a leg to stand
on. He opened the door wide. Now get out before I call the police.
Chris walked to the door and kicked it shut, the wall almost
rocking in its frame. We re not going anywhere. You re going to
give us what we want, or I m going to get angry, and your little
boyfriend isn t here to help you this time.
The first indication that the man had thrown a punch was a shriek
from Sarah, telling Chris to stop. A second later Tom felt a pain in his
lower ribs, and realized the man had hit him.
Cabin Fever 105
Something snapped. At that moment, a moment when normally
he d apologize, and bow and scrape to try and get out of the situation,
Tom s brain finally agreed with his body and said no more.
With a clenched fist he swung at Chris s jaw. It was a wide, slow,
and clumsy punch, but the man hadn t expected it to come at all, and
could only stare blankly as it connected with more force than even
Tom thought he was capable of. Chris s head snapped to the side and
he staggered sideways, bounced off the wall and fell onto his ass.
Sarah cried out again and ran over to the fallen man and tried to
get him to his feet, but Tom was there first and pushed her aside. He
bent and grabbed Chris by the collar and hauled him to his feet, then
pushed his face against Chris s.
Listen to me carefully, he said, his voice eerily calm. You just
punched me, and I defended myself. There will be a nice big bruise on
my ribs to prove it, too, so if you try and persuade the police
otherwise, you ll be screwed.
The man s eyes were still only half-focused, so Tom let him slide
back down the wall and turned to Sarah, who was staring with wide
eyes. His adrenaline was starting to wear off and he could feel his
hands start to tremble, so he spoke fast.
This house is mine, he said. And Grant s, if he ll have me. You
come here again and your boyfriend will be up on two assault
charges. One for the other day, and one for tonight. Do you
understand?
She gaped, then nodded.
For what it counts, we had a good time at first, Tom said. It
turned out badly, but there were good times, so I don t wish you
harm. Just stay the hell away from me.
His speech done, he moved back to the door and opened it once
more. This time the pair left, Chris with his arm over Sarah s shoulder
for support, and didn t look back. Tom slammed the door shut behind
them and rested his head against the cool wood.
106 JC Holly
Again, someone knocked on the door, only this time Tom didn t
jump. He pulled the door open, expecting Sarah back for a final dig,
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]