Page 42 of Demo
“Oops, shit!”
And just like that, we were good.
***
I’m a little nervous as I pull open the door to the newspaper office. I’m not sure what Lizzie has told these guys about our situation, buuuut judging by the daggers Dee is firing at me with her eyes, I’m guessing it’s not good.
“Hey, D—”
“Leave.” She has her arms crossed over her chest as she leans back in her chair, chin down, eyes up, glaring at me. Damn, she’s got that glare down pat.
“Look,” I lean my elbows on the counter as I hunch over it. “I didn’t know about the issue with the, you know, error, until today. I just wanted to stop in and see Lizzie. I know it’s got to be killing her.”
Dee lets out a huff. “She’s not here.”
“Oh. Damn. Is she out on assignment?”
“No, limp dick. She’s—”
“Hey, there, Knox. Long time, no see.” I look up to see Monty approaching. His hand is outstretched, and he greets me with a handshake. Thank God it’s a warmer reception than I got from the Ice Queen over here.
“Hey, Monty,” I say as I take his outstretched hand. “I was just looking for Lizzie, but—” I look over at Dee to see her still staring at me, arms still folded across her chest, “I guess she’s not in.”
Monty and Dee exchange a look before he puts his hands in his pockets and looks at the floor, before looking back up at me. “Lizzie is on suspension.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah,” Monty responds. “She’s not very happy about it.”
“I can imagine.” After a beat I add, “Maybe I’ll swing by the house.”
“The fuck you will!” Dee pipes up.
“Dee,” Monty chides.
“No, Monty! Lizzie is having a bad few fucking days right now, and she doesn’t need you,” she points a finger at me, “coming around when she’s down, trying to make her feel better. Just go home, Knox. Or to Jenny’s, or whoever else’s bed you crawl into these days.”
Ouch. Pinching my lips between my teeth to prevent myself from slinging back any insults to Lizzie’s best friend, I simply turn and head out the door.
“Knox, wait up!” I hear Monty on my heels.
“Nah, man. It’s good. I get it. Lizzie and Dee are tight, and I hurt Lizzie. I would be the same way if someone hurt my brother.”
“Yeah, well, Dee has a way of making insults even morecolorful, I guess you could say.”
“Got that right.”
“Look,” Monty says as we come to a stop in front of my truck parked on the street. “I don’t have to tell you that Lizzie can take care of herself, right?”
I look down at the keys in my hand, then back up at Monty. “No,” I say as I let out a breath. “She never needed anyone. She never needed me.”
“That’s not what I was trying to say—”
“It’s good, man. I gotta go.” I open my truck door, but Monty puts a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. It reminds me of something my dad would do.
“She might not want to need you,” he says to me. “Or maybe she really doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be there for her—with her—anyway. Just give her a little time. She’ll find her feet. You both will.”
I nod my head a few times. “You’ll look out for her when she won’t let me do it?”
