Page 143 of Remiss

“Big Joe—”

She hit him again. He wasn’t about to stand there and get his ass beat, so he turned and sprinted away. He reached the door and felt so much relief, he slowed down. She whacked his ass.

“Motherfucker, you walk the fuck out that door, don’t ever darken it again. Face your fucking punishment like the big man you fucking are.”

“You want me to let you beat me black and fuckin’ blue?” he snarled, angry, guilty, and fucking annoyed that she was right.

“If I want to beat you fucking unconscious, I expect you to take it in the same manner you handed your bullshit to Meggie.”

“I said I was fuckin’ sorry!”

“Not enough!” She whacked the back of his fucking thighs. “You, motherfucker, need a fuckin’ gatekeeper to keep you from fuckin’ up.”

“Beatin’ my ass ain’t no fuckin’ gatekeepin.”

She hit his ass again, but this time she swung that motherfucker so many times, Christopher wondered when he’d be able to sit afuckingain. She only stopped when she broke the motherfucking handle.

“You fucking lucky I don’t feel like getting another broom from the closet. Now, sit down and eat.”

He limped around and gave her an incredulous look. Folding her arms, she smirked at him, huffy, puffy, and sweaty, but so motherfucking proud of herself.

Mort, Grant, and Knox gaped in shock. Val had moved to the other side and resumed eating.

Roxanne pointed to a stool. “Sit.”

“How?” he grouched.

“The same fucking way your wife did after you broke her fucking heart.”

“Ain’t stopped her from sittin’. Her fuckin’ ass wasn’t on fire.”

Roxanne stiffened and dropped her arms to the side.

Before she picked up the broken stick and fucked him up, he hopped his ass to the stool and sat, unable to stop the groan that escaped him. Gritting his teeth, he dropped his aching head into his palms.

The door opened. Just as he’d welcomed the warmth a little while ago, the bracing chilliness felt as good washing over his heated skin.

“You aren’t ready,” Kendall said.

“I didn’t eat,” Zoann added. “I thought we would eat at the diner.”

Christopher stiffened. All he needed was for those two to discover what the fuck he did. Their curiosity was hard to miss, though he didn’t want to raise his head and rattle his brain. But they had that nosy bitch tone, when a motherfucker was trying to sound fucking normal and anxious to know what the fuck they’d walked in on at the same time.

A tap on his shoulder made him lift his head.

Kendall’s eyes gleamed. “Act like a spoiled manchild, get your ass beat like one,” she said and thumped the side of his head, then stalked away.

Zoann put her arm around his neck. He gave her a wary glance. Smiling, she leaned in and kissed his cheek, so he relaxed a fraction.

“If I was Meggie, I would’ve fucking broken your goddamn jaw with a fucking chair. All the fucking things you said to her. The way you hid what happened to Rule, fuckhead. How dare you!”

Sinking her fucking claws into his cheeks, she then pinched the fuck out of him.

“OUCH!” he screamed, grabbing his cheek and feeling the warm blood dripping over his skin.

“Did you try to talk to this motherfucker, Matthew?”

Val slowed his chewing, glanced from Bitsy to Christopher, and swallowed.