Page 40
Shane felt slightly awkward walking into Jerry’s place on Christmas day, but he didn’t have anywhere else to go. It was early, and he put on a pot of coffee, trying to piece together what the fuck had just happened.
He could see where Cary and Laney had gotten their inhuman good looks. And he now understood where Laney’s notable presence stemmed from. But that woman was a hurricane the likes of which he’d never seen. She’d torn apart the house in a span of like ninety seconds, so thoroughly dismissed Shane he had to check to make sure he wasn’t invisible, and despite her cheerful tone had managed the most insults in the fewest amount of words that he’d ever witnessed.
“Thought I smelled coffee,” Jerry said with a yawn. “Been makin’ my own coffee a long time… I think it’s my favourite part a’ ya bein’ here.”
He poured a mug and sat at the table, taking in Shane’s face. He sipped quietly, patiently waiting for Shane to talk.
“Laney’s mom came home, today,” he finally said.
Jerry whistled. “An’ how’d that go?”
“I feel like I’ve been struck by lightning.”
“Yup, that’s Linette.”
“Cary brought her home.”
Jerry bit his lip. “Now that’s unusual. Them two avoid each other like hookers an’ church. Cary don’ like Linette bein’ around. Gets in his way too much.”
“Yeah. I can see that.”
Jerry snorted, but then drummed his fingers on the table. “I take it that’s where you disappeared to all day an’ night?”
Shane blinked, detecting a note of worry in Jerry’s voice. “Uh, yeah… I’m sorry, Jerry, I didn’t think to call you or…”
“S’ok kid, I figured as much,” he said, waving him off. “Jus’ if you think of it next time, gimme a call okay?”
A warm, tingly feeling skittered around in his gut. He’d never admit it out loud, but it was the best Christmas present he could have asked for, Jerry worrying about him. It reminded him that family didn’t always just mean blood. That Shane had… people. And that Linette or not, it had been the best twenty-four hours of his life, starting last night in the car with Laney…
“You wanna get drunk and watch Die Hard?” Shane blurted.
Jerry smiled and grabbed a bottle of whisky off the counter, pouring a heavy handful into both of their coffees. “I can’t think of a better way to spend Christmas, kid.”
Shane went into his room and stripped out of his jeans and into a pair of sweats. Then he placed the 8x10 drawing from Dustin on his dresser and frowned. He knew what was bothering him about it.
Beautiful as it was, it had the distinct feeling of an epitaph.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40 (Reading here)
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120