Page 142 of Rock Giant

“More like you’ve realised we’re fucked.The Ghost Boys are fucked.You fucked us, so now you’re moving on to more fertile ground.I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that he’s loaded.”

“It hasn’t anything to do with him.He’s done with me anyway.No, Nash, the truth is that I’m breaking up with you because you’re an arse.You’ve always been an arse, and I’ve been too fucking stupid to realise it.”

“You’re breaking up with me.You’re...breaking...up...with me.The fuck you are.You’re mine.You’re wearing my fucking ring.”

The bus came to an unexpected halt throwing them against one another.They fell hard against the seating.

“Fag break,” their driver announced.

She’d entirely forgotten they weren’t alone, and that Raoul—or was it Ray—had been privy to their every word.

“I’ll give you kids five.”The driver’s cab door slammed.

On top of her, Nash grabbed her face and forced her to face him.“You’re not ending us.You’re not, Jo.We’re not breaking up.You’re not ending anything.”He slammed his mouth against hers.

Jodi shoved against his chest.“Get off me.”

“No.No.We’re not over.You’re not dumping me for that prick.We can figure this out.We can—”

“I don’t fucking want to figure it out.Stop touching me.Stop—” She couldn’t get her arms free and into a position to shove him off despite a weight advantage, but then he’d always had spaghetti arms, and an unfailing ability to know exactly where to apply pressure.

A shadowy form dropped onto his back.

Nash yelped, his eyes going wide.He twisted away from her attempting to reach over his shoulder.“Fucking cat.I’m going to wring its fucking neck!”He let go of her and made a grab for Flugwhump’s hissing form now a metre or so further along the leather.

Jodi scooted into the corner of the seating away from him.Blood stains were leaking through the cotton covering his back where Flugwhump’s needle-like claws had lacerated him through his shirt.Nash made a dive towards her cat, resulting in a mad scramble.Her shadowy baby’s nimbleness was unfortunately eventually overcome by Nash’s size advantage.He grabbed Flugwhump by the scruff of his neck and held him aloft as if he’d just claimed his opponents head on a battlefield of yore.

“Let him go.”

“Oh, I’m going to let him go, all right.”

Keeping the squirming cat at arm’s length, he made his way to the bus steps.

“Put him down, Nash.”

Nash hit the door release, then hurled her saviour down the steps.

Jodi’s heart lurched up her throat and practically out of her body.He had not just...She hurtled off the seat with the velocity of a bullet and hit him with the full force of her fury, driving him with an impressive thwap up against the dash and windscreen.“You fucking monster.You fucking...evil...”She cracked his head against the glass again for good measure.“I can’t believe you hurt my cat.”Then she was flying down the steep steps towards the tarmac where Flugwhump had landed in a squalling heap of black fur.

“That’s right, chase after the fucking cat.That bastard animal just ripped my back open.”

Aye, in defence of her.Jodi didn’t bother wasting her breath making that point.

Flugwhump spat at her when she tried to pick him up.He arched his back and his tail stood erect as if he were about to shoot poison darts from it.“It’s okay.It’s okay baby.Did he hurt you?Are you hurt?”Was he avoiding putting a weight on his back leg?Oh, God.Oh, God.What if he needed a vet?

“You always loved that fucking moggy more than me.”

“Is that any wonder considering what a bastard you are?”She stilled a moment, arm outstretched, then pulled it into her body and tugged the engagement ring from her finger.“Here, take your shitty love and shove it up your arse.I don’t need you and your fucked-up manipulative crap.I was a fool to think I ever did.”She threw it at him and noted with grim satisfaction the score the diamond left across his cheek when it hit him.

“Bitch!”Nash gripped the handrails and swung himself down the steep entry steps.Jodi didn’t wait for his feet to hit the tarmac.She bolted alongside Flugwhump, the pair of them heading straight for the nearby building.

Whatever service station they’d stopped at was unfortunately closed.It was only as she ran, she realised there were no other vehicles, and the lights were out in the building that claimed to be a hotel.

A missile sailed past her shoulder.What the actual fuck!Was he throwing rocks?

“You’re fucking irrelevant.You’re irrelevant, Jo.You were only ever part of this tour because of me.You wouldn’t have got near Rock Giant if it wasn’t for me.”

This wasn’t anything to do with Rock Giant.