“I don’t have a fucking choice, do I?”
“We always have choices,” she snapped, mystified by his behavior. “You don’t want to be involved, then don’t.”
“I’m sick of all these fucking functions,” he complained. “Christenings for the kids. Bachelor party for Digger in three weeks. Wedding for Bunny and Digger in three weeks.”
Cash sipped his beer and grinned. “Baby shower for Bunny in five weeks.”
“Fee, what the fuck you doin’ here in all this bad goddamn weather?” Christopher asked, walking into the main room.
“I was hunting down this one,” she explained, jabbing her thumb in Stretch’s direction. “For the meeting for Ryder’s christening.”
He grunted and Fee giggled. “It won’t be so bad.”
“The fuck it won’t. In the next fuckin’ weeks, I’ma be in church more than my ass been in a fuckin’ while. Two fuckin’ christenins and a fuckin’ weddin’. We got big fuckin’ houses and a fuckin’ clubhouse.”
“I’m with you, Prez,” Cash said, raising his beer. “Every time I set foot in a holy sanctuary I worry the walls will cave in on me.”
“You should,” Fee teased before she thought better of it, then hurried away before anyone commented.
The return of Potter forestalled any meaningful conversation between Cash and Stretch. Since the day when Slipper marched them from his room, they hadn’t had a meaningful conversation.
“I’m out,” Stretch said, sliding to his feet and grabbing his cane from where it leaned against the bar. He’d made himself scarce for days.
Cash wasn’t sure if he should be grateful or concerned. Fee had brought out the best in Stretch and Cash didn’t want to trample his confidence by forcing talk about stupid Slipper, so he just let him be. He didn’t try to talk about the suggestions Stretch had made regarding their relationship. Or the fact that Fee might be pregnant. For once, he was allowing Stretch to take things at his own pace.
“I’ll see you at the meeting,” he called to Stretch’s retreating back.
“Potter, leave,” Outlaw said, once they were alone.
Unease hit Cash as the Probate made haste to leave him alone with Outlaw.
“You fuckin’ Fee again,” he spat.
Cash expected—and received—a punch. Outlaw had picked up on the tension between him and Fee, even before she’d fired off her parting words. A moment passed before Outlaw had his nine pointed a Cash’s head.
He swallowed. If he died, at least this time, he’d made up with his mother. Stretch and Fee knew how he felt. He didn’t want to die, but he was prepared to do so. If only she was there to witness her brother’s rage, see firsthand why Cash always pussied out on telling Outlaw about them.
He drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Once he spoke, he didn’t want to see when Outlaw pulled the trigger. “What happens if I change?” He had already. He would’ve thought Outlaw had noticed. Stretch suggested they wait until after they got everything in place with Fee before opening up, so he wouldn’t admit to anything, since the man still seemed so against him. “I’ve stopped fucking the Bobs. I’ve stopped fucking everyone.” Except Fee and Cash.
“Stopped fuckin’ the Bobs?” Outlaw’s harsh laugh grated on Cash and scared the fuck out of him. “You’d have to stop fuckin’ Mary, Perry, Sue, and Lou, and we all fuckin’ know that ain’t happenin’.”
“That’s between Fee and me, just like who you once fucked is between you and Meggie.” In his own way, he was telling Outlaw to 1.) back off; and 2.) that he wasn’t interested in anyone else. He hadn’t fucked anyone other than Fee and Stretch in months.
Outlaw dragged Cash to his feet and jammed his gun against the bridge of his nose. “Listen up, motherfucker, you ain’t me. You get shit done, but for the entire fuckin’ time I been knowin’ you, you ain’t give nobody e-fuckin-nuff respect to think about what the fuck you do so it ain’t gonna fuckin’ hurt them. That’s why the fuck shit didn’t work out with you and Stretch. You brought Fee in and fucked up even more. Think I don’t know what the fuck you been doin’?”
Fuck, of course he knew!
“Tell me I’m fuckin’ wrong. Tell me, if what I think fuckin’ happened, wasn’t cuz you didn’t wanna fuckin’ face your feelins for either Fee or Stretch, so you got them into a goddamn threesome. Tell me I’m fuckin’ wrong.”
What was the point in denying shit?