Page 8 of Torqued

“What did you do to Margo?” Crank’s eyes widen, he looks from her to me, waiting on one of us to answer.

“I happen to mention that we like to pick up random women- “

She spins in her seat, shooting daggers at Crank. “Rondos. His word was rondos. So, do you like to pick up rondo women with Mister Lick it -n- Stick it over here?”

“Lick it -n- Stick it? What the fuck, Margo? Have you gone mad?”

She turns, shoving her finger at me. “Shut it! I’ve had enough of y’all’s shenanigans today!”

“Pretty sure this is a bro code violation. I mean, I need to double-check how many points this will take, but yeah, this is a definite violation.” I smash my mouth into a thin line.

Her head whips around like a freaking possessed demon. She grits her teeth, and I shudder. “I am not a man! I have tits and …”

“Don’t! You’re going to scar me for life! What the hell is wrong with you?” I’m shook. Margo has never been so angry in our lives, something must be bad, or she’d have told me already.

Margo stares out the side window, chewing her nail. She knows I hate that, it’s her nervous energy. Her coping mechanism if you will. We’ve been friends for so long, I can read her like a book. But it’s harder when she’s hiding something.

“What is it? Don’t say nothing, we both know that isn’t true.”

Her leg begins to trot. Still, she won’t look at me. “They brought Lane up. He’s on the way now.”

“I thought as much.” I’m trying to appear calm, but I’m a nuclear power plant inside. I’m ready to burn the damn place down. Fine, if that’s what they want, I can’t change it.

“I’m sorry, I know how much you wanted this.” She takes my hand, pulling it to her lap. Margo isn’t the type to show love, I think it’s the way she was raised, but she’s letting me know she loves me right now.

Crank sits forward. “We were right yesterday.”

“Apparently.” Right now, I’m a man of few words. My biggest questions are the who’s and why’s? Then, it’ll bring us to the how in the hell they knew and who told them?

“Malcom Home Improvement,” Margo mutters. “That’s who sponsored him.”

I grip the wheel tight, turning my knuckles white. “Son of bitch! How in the hell did he land them? I’ve done everything but sleep with one of them.”

“Are you sure you didn’t? It would explain what’s wrong.” Crank chimes in and chuckles. Margo glances over at me, snickering. And these people are supposed to be my friends.

I whip my head around quickly before focusing on the road again. “Y’all can walk anytime you want. Okay?”

“Awe, sweetie.” Margo runs her hand down my face. “Did we hurt da wittle baby boy feelings?”

“Screw you both!” They cackle, filling the truck cab with laughter.

Crank falls over in the seat. “I can’t with you two!”

“I hate you,” I mutter. “I hate you both.”

“Oh, c’mon! You know we’re kidding, and it was better than getting all depressed about Shifter. Your time is coming, and it’s gonna be bigger and better.” Margo leans over, kissing my cheek.

I reach for her hand, kissing the back of it. “Thank you.”

“Nothin’ but love, man!” Crank lays over the back of my seat, slobbering on the side of my face. He’s holding on for dear life, and all Margo does is laugh. He finally falls back, and I wipe my face.

“Dear Mother of God! Did you use tongue on me?”

Margo collapses against her door, clutching her stomach. “He totally used tongue!”

“Mother fucker! I’m gonna kick your ass the minute we stop!” I swing my arm behind the seat, hitting his leg.

“Oww! You big bully.” When I look back, he’s rubbing his leg.