Page 75 of Penny For Your Thoughts
My snarly boyfriend unlocked the apartment and shoved a wooden Darcy inside. The kid stumbled over his busted sneakers.
“Take off those disgusting running shoes. In fact, give them to me. I’m throwing them in the garbage.”
“You can’t. They’re all I have.”
Diem didn’t care. He grabbed the runners the second they were off Darcy’s feet and tossed them into the hallway, slamming the door and locking the dead bolt as though that might prevent Darcy from retrieving them.
Unleashed, Echo ran into the kitchen,woofing for food. I volunteered to feed her but kept a wary eye on Diem and his hostage because I didn’t care what anyone said. Darcy was not here willingly, and my boyfriend had officially lost his marbles.
At this rate, they would be sharing a jail cell.
Still hugging his backpack, Darcy glanced around our modestly decorated apartment, seeming unsure where to put himself. A frown slowly formed, pulling his brows together. “Do you twobothlive here?”
“Yes.” Diem stormed down the hall toward the bedroom. “I’m finding you something to wear, and you’re taking a fucking shower. Move it.”
Darcy and I briefly locked gazes before he scrambled after Diem. Not wanting to miss a thing—and moderately concerned for Darcy’s well-being—I dumped a scoop of food into Echo’s dish and hustled after them. This was better than reality TV.
Darcy stood outside our bedroom, his expression morphing from confusion to disgust as he took in the lone bed and dressers while Diem dug through a stack ofmyclothes.
Then, because the kid clearly had a death wish, he opened his mouth. “Oh my god. You’re fucking gay.” Darcy shot me a look of disgust before turning to Diem, who had found joggers and a graphic tee I rarely wore. “You’re fucking homos.”
Diem bristled.
“Oh, buddy.” I sighed, patting his shoulder. “I will say nice words at your funeral.”
Diem turned from the dresser and stood to his full height before stalking toward Darcy. “You got a fucking problem with that?”
I put myself between them and faced off with my surly boyfriend. He might scare most people, but he didn’t scare me. “Guns, if you spill blood on these carpets, we won’t get our deposit back. Think before you act.”
I spun and pointed my finger in Darcy’s face. “And you. I don’t know why my insolent boyfriend decided to bring you here, but he must have had a good reason, so filter your fucking mouth and stop acting like a shit. If even one homophobic slur leaves your mouth, I will cut your tongue out and feed it to the dog. Understand?”
Darcy’s cheeks blazed, and he backed up a step, running into the wall. “We’re cool.” Darcy’s gaze flitted from me to Diem. “If it helps, you don’t look gay. I would never have guessed.”
I sighed. “Sweetie. Let me ask you something. Does Diem look like a man who could snap you in half like a glowstick?”
“Yes.”
“Does he look like a man with a deep well of patience?”
“No.”
“Does he look semi-psychotic right now?”
“Y-yes.”
“Remember that each and every time you open your mouth, okay.”
Diem reached around me and wrenched the kid’s backpack from his arms and replaced it with a pile ofmyclothes. “Go shower.”
“Hey. That’s my bag. Give it back. I have my own clothes.”
“And if they’re as clean as the ones you’re wearing, I’m either washing them or burning them. Go. Shower. You fucking stink. And wash your hair, or I’m shaving it off.”
Darcy looked like he wanted to argue, but he glanced in my direction and bit his lip, scooting down the hall instead and vanishing into the bathroom. He slammed the door and engaged the lock.
When I heard the shower run, I rounded on my boyfriend, who opened his mouth to speak.
I cut him off. “What the fuck is going on? He’snotstaying here.”
