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Charlie pinched his nose. “You don’t have to have money for it. Your landlord should fix it.”
“Yeah, right. He doesn’t fix anything I ask him to. I do it myself.”
“That’s against any lease agreement.”
“Well, I’d love to sue him with my massive amounts of excess money. But I’d rather use that for something, I don’t know, like food.”
“If you fell,” Charlie said, slowly. “I’d be held liable.”
“I wouldn’t sue you if I’m the idiot that went out to the roof.”
“I’m supposed to take your word for it?”
“Well… yeah.”
Charlie shook his head. “You’re impossible. Just … stay off the roof from now on.”
Violet grit her teeth but nodded. It wasn’t an unfair request, but she felt like she had been chastised like a child.
Across the room, the cat she had done it all for made a happy noise from where it was eating. Both Charlie and Violet turned. In the midst of their fighting, they had forgotten it was there.
“What about the cat?”
“I’ll deal with it,” Charlie said.
What did that mean? Was he taking it to the shelter? Was he letting it back outside in the cold?
“No, I can deal with it,” Violet said. At least if she did, she would know the cat was safe. “I … did all of this anyways.”
She turned, going to go get ready. She hated leaving it at this, but she was in the wrong and she knew it. Normally she would want to have the last word. But here? Now? She couldn’t. She was in his territory, not her own.
“That’s it?” Charlie asked. “You’re not going to fight back?”
“On what?” Violet asked. “The cat? It’s your house.”
“On anything!” Charlie said. “You’re going quiet and agreeing with me, which you never do.”
“I don’t see how that’s going to help anything.”
“What does that mean?”
“I can’t exactly fight back, Charlie. I’m staying here for free. If you kick me out, I’m homeless, in case you didn’t know. I’m not gonna annoy you or get in your way any more than I have to.”
“I told you I wouldn’t hold it over you.”
“It doesn’t matter!” Violet said, her voice loud. “You hold the cards here. This is your house. You can do what you want, and I have no say in it. You don’t like me, and I’m staying in your home, so I know I’m already on thin ice. My only other option is my car and if I push you too far then I’ll be sleeping in it.”
“I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“What evidence do I have that says otherwise? When are we ever nice to each other?”
“Is it not enough that I help you?” Charlie asked.
Violet could only stare. Why would he help her if not to hold something over her head? After all, he started all of this. He was the two-faced liar. Why the hell would she ever trust something he said?
“Okay," Charlie said, sighing. “So, you can’t believe I would help you. Great. Do you ever try and trust people, Moore?”
“I do, and then they hurt me.”
