Page 41 of The King Contract
She’s quiet as she watches me, before lifting her lip slightly on one side. “You weren’t really going to punch the guy, were you?”
“Fuck yeah, I was. He deserved a good slap. Punching people is a bad habit of mine.”
“He must have known that,” she muses. “He was trying to get a rise out of you. Out of both of us.”
“He had it coming,” I assure her. “Stop beating yourself up. No pun intended.”
She manages a tiny smile before closing her eyes. “What if someone saw? What if there’s footage? He knows who I am. He could press charges, and he’d have every right. He could?—”
“You’re spiralling,” I cut in, and she smacks her lips together. “Look at it this way, if you hadn’t slapped him, I would’ve punched him and then we’d be in a world of trouble. You saved me from making a complete ass of myself and hurting someone.”
“Maybe we should’ve stipulated the use of violence in the contract,” she says. I smile at her, and she finally releases a grin. It removes some of the tension in the cab, and I turn the car on, the engine roaring to life.
I pull out of the parking space. “You regretting that contract yet, Maelstrom?”
“King, I regretted it before we even started.”
I bark out a laugh.
The sound of Millie’s hysterical giggles is the soundtrack for our drive home.
15
MILLIE
Don’t argue with me
I love the warmer,humid months, but they come with hazards. Violent storms, deadly fires and right now? Floods.
A dangerous weather event is predicted for later today after three days of consistent rainfall. Part of me itches to throw on my rain gear, grab my camera and set up a spot to take photos of the rolling storm clouds, but I know that’s stupidity talking. Roads are under water, people have been advised to lock away outdoor furniture, and some homes have even boarded up their windows.
Growing up on the eastern seaboard, I know how wild tropical storms can get. They’re no joke, with people getting caught in flash flooding and experiencing severe damage from weather events every year. Ellis and I are closing Beans until the storm passes and locking everything down before we head home.
“That’s good enough, El,” I tell her, deadbolting the last window. “We need to get home before the weather gets any worse.”
Ellis closes the back door after bringing in the last of the outdoor furniture. “I really hope this storm doesn’t screw us.”
“We’ve got insurance,” I remind her. “If anything comes flying through those windows, we’re covered.”
“The insurance company always makes you fight for it,” she grumbles. “I’d rather not have to deal with any of that.”
She makes a valid point. We’ve spent our fair share of time on the phone with companies over the years. Paperwork for guardianship of Donna, Donna’s medical claims, getting our information on this lease. They were time-sucking, soul-destroying experiences.
Maybe you could slap them to speed things along?My subconscious has not stopped scolding me for my antics a few nights ago. I can’t believe I was so reactive. I’ve never been physical with anyone like that before.
I clear my throat. “How many people would you say you’ve given a good smack to in your time?”
“At least five incidents I can think of.” Ellis purses her lips in thought. “Matty Jenkins when he made fun of you. Bethany Butthole in grade nine. What a mole. I was in an all-in brawl at the underage disco?—”
“Ah, yes. I remember. Donna was so pleased.”
Ellis grins. “She grounded me for three months. I’ve slapped several men, all of whom either pinched my ass or a friend’s. God, maybe it’s in the double digits.”
Ellis has never shied away from a fight. She might look like a stereotypical Gold Coaster, with long, platinum-blonde hair and fake nails, but she’s scrappy as hell.
“You don’t regret it?” I ask, leaning down to pat Winston, who’s collapsed at my feet. “In this climate, with everyone crying out about assault and all that?”
She shakes her head. “Every single one of them deserved it. I’d do it all over again. Everysingleone.” She tips her head, surveying me with narrowed eyes. “Why?”
