After Hours (InterMix)(86)

“Thanks for the lift,” I spat, shoving the door open. “See you at work.”

“You’re wel—”

I slammed the door on his reply. My hand shook so hard I could barely fish my keys from my purse. I stomped toward the entrance, punching the walkway with every step.

When I got up to my room, all I wanted was a beer and an early night. But first things first, I had to make sure Amber was okay. Marco had finally gotten bested by a bigger bully than himself, and on his own playground, no less. Who knew if he’d be left humbled or livid by the turn of events.

I sat on my bed and dialed, hunched over, rubbing my forehead.

Amber answered after half a ring. “Hi,” she huffed.

“Hey. I just wanted to make sure everything’s cool over there after—”

“Excuse me? How about an apology?”

My head snapped up. “For what?”

“For sending that Kelly guy after Marco, roughing him up like some thug when he didn’t do anything.”

“I didn’t ask him to do that! And Marco did do something—he shoved me into a car, if you haven’t forgotten.”

“Don’t you try that, talking all judgmental, like you didn’t start that fight. Like you’re not f*cking a married man. Which is so much worse than—”

“What? No I’m not!”

“Well you want to, I can tell.”

“No, I mean he’s not married. He just wears a ring bec— It doesn’t matter why. It’s a long story.”

Silence, for a blessed moment. Then, “It is so out of line, you letting him get all up in Marco’s face, when he’s been working so hard to be better for me and Jack. Like he doesn’t have enough shit he’s trying to work through. Like it’s even anybody’s business but ours.” When the two of them got fighting, it was the entire neighborhood’s business, whether anyone wanted to hear it or not. Marco broadcast himself on thumping speakers, be it a domestic dispute or the awful, thrashy rap-rock music blaring from his truck.

“I’ll have you know I didn’t let him get in Marco’s face. I begged him not to. But he knew how I got my black eye.”

“You just can’t resist butting in, can you?”

“I wasn’t trying— Jesus, f*cking forget it. I didn’t ask him to do that. But it’s all stuff I’d have happily said to Marco, if I had a dick and weighed twenty pounds more than him and stood a chance at getting heard. And no, I can’t not butt-in. Not if it’s about you and Jack.”

“Get your own life, Erin.” Mean words, but they came out lame and petulant, and I could tell the fire had gone out of her, too.

“You guys are my life. Get used to it.”

Some noises in the background, Marco’s voice, unintelligible words in a bored tone, which gave me permission to relax about Amber’s safety. Hell, they were probably united against me and Kelly now, all boo-hoo bonding over the night’s drama.

Amber’s muffled reply came through. “I don’t know. Check the freezer.” A pause, then, “Erin, I have to go.”

“Am I still watching Jack on Monday?”

An angry sigh, and she hung up on me.

I tossed my phone on the bed, grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.

Better.

A bit better, though I wouldn’t have minded a benzo jab. I hated these stupid, fiery Mom-feelings. How nice it’d be to just get knocked out, wake up confused but docile. A beer would have to do. I pulled a can out of my little fridge and cracked it open, found my laptop and checked the day’s news headlines, needing a diversion. After that I scrubbed my face and brushed my teeth, relieved by the routines and the normality. My surge of Mom-angst subsided as it always did—just in time for the damage to register and leave me humbled.

As the rage lifted, I had to concede my anger toward Kelly. I was pissed off at Marco for being a tyrant, and I’d transferred that hate onto Kelly, for using that same physical intimidation to accomplish what I couldn’t.

It still annoyed me that he’d brazenly ignored my demands that he not get involved, but I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t happy with the results.

I waited a half hour, until I’d showered and officially calmed down, and I texted him. Shouldn’t have blown up. Way more pissed at Marco than you. Still annoyed you butted in, but thanks for caring. E

Five minutes later, my phone rang. Kelly’s number.