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“We’re all whores to you,” Alyssa said, pointing a fingerhis stepdad’s way. “All we have to do is exist and we’re whores until we’reunder the thumb of some man, and you know what, then we’re whores when it’sconvenient. I don’t like Nicole. She does not dress well.”
“Hey,” Nicole said.
Alyssa shrugged. “Girl, you showed up in a crew neck men’sshirt, mom jeans, and freaking Crocs. You were unfashionable even for this partof the world, and that is hard to do. I’m offended you dress like that and getcalled a whore. A whore should at least wear a damn V-neck. And some fuck-meheels.”
“I’ll be sure to get her some,” Josh said with a chuckle.
Nicole’s nose wrinkled. “I’m not really a heel girl.”
“No, you like bare feet, baby,” Josh whispered.
Because subs got to pick. Heels or bare feet. He liked Nic’sfeet. He liked to rub them and tickle them and suck on her toes.
This wasn’t so bad. How had he thought for a second his Nicwould wither under the pressure?
Of course he was surprised at her ally. Her mean-girl ally.
“Maybe this town ain’t worthsaving,” his stepfather stated and then strode out of the place.
“Good riddance,” Christa called out.
Pastor Mike was on his feet, hand reaching out to Grim, whoshook it. “Hey, are you okay? I know we’re all laughing about that drama yourstepfather played out, but it also had to hurt.”
It weirdly hadn’t. Having Nicole stand up for him hadsettled his heart. “I have a dad. Two, actually, and they love me. I don’t needthat man in my life. I wish there had been something more for the woman whogave birth to me, but she made her choices.”
“And Abigail Barnes-Fleetwood made hers,” Pastor Mike saidwith a nod. “Good. You three, if you need anything, you let me know. I mightnot live your lifestyle, but I don’t believe love is degenerate.”
“I wish you would tell Pastor Fred at the Baptist church,”Alyssa said under her breath.
“You come by any time you like, Alyssa, and we’ll talk aboutGod,” the pastor said and rejoined his wife.
The patrons of the café went back to their meals, but therewas a buzzing through the space that couldn’t be denied.
“You three sit down and enjoy your pie,” Christa ordered.“This is on the house.”
“Chris…” Josh began.
She waved a finger. “Nope. I know you’re a little moneybags,but I get to give gifts too, and there is no greater gift than my lemonmeringue pie.” She frowned at Alyssa, who was still standing there. “You goingto cause trouble?”
“No, ma’am,” Alyssa replied, sounding humbler than Grimcould remember. “I would never endanger my momma’s ability to get your Saturdaymorning cinnamon rolls.”
Christa nodded and walked away.
Alyssa took a long breath and faced Nicole, who was tuckedin beside Josh now. “Nicole, I would like to apologize to you. It has recentlycome to my attention that I can, on occasion, be less than fair to the peoplearound me.”
Josh’s brow rose.
Alyssa frowned. “Fine. I can be a bitch. I thought I couldhave my cake and eat it too, and I wasn’t in a relationship with Josh for theright reasons.”
“It wasn’t much of a relationship,” Josh corrected.
“Who told you he’s thinking of firing you?” Grim asked.
“He’s not going to fire you,” Nicole argued.
Alyssa shrugged a slender shoulder. “My mom, and she told meI would deserve it and made me go and spend time with this therapist in Tyler.I hate the whole examining my own actions stuff. It’s awful. But I meant what Isaid to your stepdaddy. One of the things I’m working on is the fact that whenI don’t stand up for myself, I tend to put my anger somewhere else. Like onNicole. But I’m not going to feel bad for saying what I did to Ezekiel Smith.”
“You shouldn’t,” Grim replied. “You keep standing up to him.He has no right to make you or any woman feel uncomfortable.”
