Page 18 of The Hangman's Rope
I got up and went to the door, unlocking it. He slid inside and handed me one of the paper cups of coffee from the Mickey Ds down the street.
“Fuck my life.” I winced at the light streaming in between the slats of the venetian blinds.
“Surprised you aren’t bursting into flames,” Specter cracked, dropping into my recliner.
“Like I haven’t heard every night shift and vampire joke there is,” I groused.
Specter grinned. “Saying I need to get some new material?” he asked.
“Please and thank you,” I muttered, lowering the rim of the paper coffee cup from my lips.
“Good?” he asked.
“Shit’s too fuckin’ hot,” I bitched. “So, I don’t fuckin’ know yet.”
“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the couch this morning,” he said. “Not sure how the fuck that even happens. There’s only one side to get off and on from.”
“Long fuckin’ night,” I said with a sigh.
“So, where’s zombie girl?” he asked.
“Her name is Lorelai, and she’s in my room, sleeping,” I said.
“Excuse the fuck out of me, butLorelaiis in your room and you’re out here? What the fuck is that, over?”
“Chill,” I said. “She’s been through enough and I’m honestly not interested in making things worse or more complicated than they already are.
“You’re a better man than me,” he said with a huffed laugh.
I snorted indelicately.
“You good if I get on out of here?” I asked. “I got shit to do.”
And, honestly, the sooner the better. I didn’t like the idea of Specter being on babysitting duty. He had more than a few rough edges that still needed sanding out.
“I’m good, bro,” he said, pulling the lever on my recliner and propping his feet up. “Get on out there and soak up some fuckin’ Vitamin D. Enjoy the sunshine.”
I shook my head. “The day star is trying to kill me. I’m sure of it.”
He snorted and picked up my game controller.
“Fuck off, do what you gotta do. I’m on babysitting duty until you get back.”
“K,” I said. “Don’t be a fucking dick when she wakes up,” I cautioned him. “Or you’ll deal with me in a fuckin’ foul mood. Girl’s been through enough.”
He paused in what he was doing and eyed me, suddenly paying real close attention and all serious. Good, I meant every word coming out of my mouth. He upset her, and we were fighting.
“You like her or something?” he asked.
“She’s not a bad girl,” I said. “What I’m trying to do is keep things above board and her cooperative. Shit’s already off to a bad enough start, but I’ve built some rapport with her. Don’t fucking ruin it.”
“Copy that,” he said with a nod. “I’ll be nice.”
“For real, be nice and not your fuckin’ version of it.”
“I said I’d fuckin’ behave. The longer you stand there flapping your jaw at me, the longer it’s gonna take for you to get your ass back here. And I, for one, have some other shit to fuckin’ do today other than wait around for you.”
“The fuck your unemployed ass does,” I said with a scoffing laugh.
