Like a Fox on the Run, стр. 119
“I don’t think so. They got punched in the face tonight. They’ll lick their wounds and regroup come morning.” He tried to convince himself as much as her. “Guys like these, they don’t go off half-cocked. They like to make sure the odds are in their favor before they ever make a move. By that time, Cutter should have a safe house for us to move to.”
“Cutter? Really? You just sink deeper and deeper …”
“What was I supposed to do, Lulah? Someone was hurting her. I didn’t intend for all this to happen.” He knew anything he said was futile at this moment. It was a waste of breath. He wondered why he said anything at all. Just let her vent.
“You never intend on anything happening, Tiger. That’s the problem. You’re always at the wrong place at the wrong time. And then you’re fighting somebody else’s battle.”
“Sorry if I have a problem with assholes and rapists.”
“Of course you do! And it’s Tiger to the rescue! I suppose the fact that she’s exotic and unique played no factor in your decision.”
“Not at the time, no.”
“And afterwards? She just decided to tag along?”
“Where else was she gonna go?”
“Nowhere! That’s the point! She’s a freak, Tiger, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Well, may—”
“She’s … a … freak! She’s got dog ears, a tail and a wet nose. She belongs in a circus. Or a back-alley sex show on Mars.”
“Jesus. Lu! I’ve never known you to be this cruel.” He was puzzled by her behavior. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. Of course! “You really are jealous.” A smile crossed his face that enraged her to the point that she almost hit him in the mouth.
Yet, she found herself at a loss for words, as she fought to come to grips with her own realizations. Oh, my God! I am jealous! I’m jealous of a friggin’ mutated bag of fur, buns and boobs! How sad has my life become? She suddenly realized she was trembling from the emotion of it.
“I saw how she looked at me,” she admitted. She paused, dreading the question she knew she had to ask, for she knew the answer might destroy her. “Have you slept with her?”
Suddenly Tiger felt as if snakes were crawling all over his body and he was sinking in quicksand. His mind raced for some answer. He knew he couldn’t lie to her. She would immediately see right through it. He would have to be honest with her.
And yet, a weak and unconvincing “No” mewed out from between cowardly lips.
Now came the stare down, as Lulah probed his eyes and face, looking for the slightest sign of deceit. Tiger fought back the panic, trying to stay calm. Easy. Keep it cool! There’s no going back now! Why didn’t I just tell the truth? That she used pheromones on me! That I was helpless against her! Yeah right! She’s really gonna believe that! Oh shit! She suspects something! Stay calm, dumbass! You’re gonna blow it! Stand firm. This ain’t working! Yes, it is! Just hold her gaze. Don’t even blink!
For what seemed like an eternity, they both held their ground, although, Tiger’s position was tenuous at best. Thankfully, she finally gave up and let it go, changing the subject. “She thinks you belong to her. She sees me as a threat.”
He breathed a mental sigh. Yet, the guilt that washed over him for lying made his stomach nauseous. Had he got one over on her? If so, there was certainly no joy in the triumph of it. He felt like the sorriest man who’d ever swung a rod. More than likely, she’d seen right through him. Maybe she’d just decided it wasn’t worth adding to the fight. Deep down, it troubled him, not only that he’d been a no-account liar, but also that she’d let him off the hook so quickly. Was she finally giving up on him? Could he blame her if she was? It made his heart hurt to imagine it.
“She’s no danger to you. She’s not like that,” he tried to reassure her.
“It’s not just about that …”
“What is it about then?” The more they talked, the more confused he was getting.
“You’re kidding, right?” Men. Is he really this clueless? “You really don’t get it, do you?”
He wasn’t clueless. It became clear instantly. It felt like a punch in the gut. “Look, Lu … listen, I never meant to hurt you by coming here.”
“I know you didn’t … I should’ve never got my hopes up.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She turned away. There was no use in playing games anymore. Why not be real for once? Just once? She sighed in resignation. “It means … I’m a fool.”
Tiger rolled his eyes. Awww, damn! Here we go! “You’re not a fool, Lu.” He took a step forward and put a hand on her shoulder. He’d hoped she might turn around and face him. She never moved. She only continued to stand there, deflated and dejected.
“I am a fool. I’m a fool twice over.” She looked to the night sky. “I spent my twenties waiting for something to happen … something that I knew in my heart wasn’t ever gonna be. But I hoped against hope.”
“Now hold on! That’s not fair,” he objected. “Let’s not rewrite history. You were the one who decided you wanted to move on. Not me.”
Now she turned to face him. Only now, he was wishing she hadn’t. “What choice did I have? What choice did you give me? All you wanted to do was gallivant around Sol. Excuse