Page 46 of Tony

Tony scoffs.

I kick out at Tony, trying to hit him in the shins with the tip of my cowboy boot.

“That’s enough, killer,” Vann says, pulling me back. “He’s leaving.”

Tony straightens his jacket, then looks at me. “What the fuck, Belinda? You hit me in the mouth!” He dabs at his bleeding lip with a fingertip.

“You told him we—” But I can’t even say it. I’m humiliated. Again. Because of these two men. I point my finger in Tony’s face. “Get the fuck away from me! Go home! You got what you came for!”

His face falls. His mouth goes tight. “Rosalie—”

“Don’t,” I snap. “Don’t you dare.”

“I didn’t come here to fight with you, OK? I just—”

“I don’t know what you’re doing or why you’re here, Tony! But here is what I do know—this has nothing to do with me! This is all you. You’re in some… some kind of crisis and you’re using me as an excuse. Just… please! Go! Away!”

Tony throws up his hands. “Fuck it. Fine. I’m gone.” And then he turns and walks around the corner of the garage, disappearing from view.

Vann follows him.

“Vann!”

He doesn’t stop.

“Vann!”

“I’m just making sure he leaves,” Vann replies. He stops at the far corner of the garage and stands there for a few moments. Then he turns back to me.

I shake my head.

“What?” he asks.

“You need to go home too.”

“No,” he says, quickly walking towards me.

His long legs cover the distance between us surprisingly fast. And the next thing I know he’s right in front of me. I take a step back, hit the bottom step of the stairs, and then step up. This makes me taller. Not as tall at Vann, but taller. So I don’t have to get a crick in my neck trying to meet his eyes.

“I need to explain. I didn’t get a chance earlier and—”

“I don’t require an explanation, Vann. We’re not together. You can fuck anyone you want. Even if it’s a girl you don’t actually want.” I shrug. “What do I care?”

He just stares at me.

“What?”

“Why do you care?”

“I don’t!”

“Then why did you get all upset at work last night?”

“It wasn’t about you. It was about Tony.”

“Because he fucked you in the alley? Right before you saw me with Soshee?”

“Can we just… not talk about this?”