The bag was kind of big for that, but Cade was more concerned with if they were going to have to share that with Martin. He knew better than to ask. He nodded his agreement as he backed out.
They got a large pepperoni pizza then Cade drove them back to Suds 'n Duds.
Martin was right where they'd left him. The paper bag can of beer was gone, but he still held the phone like the lifeline it probably was.
They climbed out, feet hitting the ground in unison. Without saying anything, Emily-Jo brushed past Martin then went inside. She was all business as she moved her wet stuff to the dryer, fed the machine. Once back outside, she went straight for the open box of pizza Cade placed on his tailgate. Martin had popped open a Bud and was already half way through a slice.
She took a seat on the corner of the tailgate, pulled a slice from the box. Cade watched her curve her tongue around the pointed end then gently pull it into her mouth. Why bother hiding his stare? They all knew where this was headed. Even Martin, who had mostly dropped the pimp act. He had to know that once those clothes came out of the dryer, two of them were going one way and one was going another.
Martin downed the last of a beer, tossed the empty can into the back of Cade's truck bed then reached for another, popped the top and looked over at the girl. "That account is paid. Deal's set for tonight."
Emily-Jo's lips pulled back. Cade's muscles twitched again, his stomach tensed and a shudder went up his spine, tickled each vertebra, sent tremors across each rib. The corners of her mouth fell but the after effects of the shudder went deep and did a number on his guts.
She asked Martin, "How many?"
"Two." He grabbed another slice, ate nearly half with a single bite. Blood-like smears slashed across his small, puffy cheek.
"That's all?"
"Said they wanted four if we can, but two is alright." The man took another bite, creating matching smears of sauce on the other cheek.
Cade wished for a napkin.
"Delivery tomorrow?" she asked. After a sip of beer, she added, "In the morning, right?"
"Yeah," he replied, finally trying to wipe away the mess around his mouth. The result of his handiwork was a vague red haze covering half his face. "Before noon." Only he didn't say it directly. He stretched the words out in a way that made the hairs on the back of Cade's neck lift, stand on end. And that shiver. It was back too.
About a half hour later, the pizza box was empty; Emily-Jo's clean clothes were folded and stuck in the backseat of Martin's Cadillac Eldorado. Cade's clothes were stashed behind his truck seat. Eight of the twelve cans of Bud were empty. Divine intervention had somehow cleaned Martin's face, and the man was amazingly cheerful about climbing into his car alone. And without any of the extra cash he'd seemed to be so interested in earning earlier. If Emily-Jo wasn't finally seated beside him, those legs within an easy arm's reach, Cade might have bothered to wonder why Martin was okay with how things had turned out. As it was, all he cared to think about was the girl beside him, the beer in his hand, and the minutes until the two of them reached their destination.
The swamp.
No, he didn't know why she wanted to find a place to park out there, in the damp, overgrown mess of nowhere, but what did he care?
"Any place in particular?" he asked.
She gave him a detailed set of directions. He drove while she picked songs on the radio. About a half hour later, she pointed to a two track.
"Pull in there, go about twenty yards and park on the side."
He did.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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HorrorOn the floor of Cade's truck were three cans of Reddi Wip, two chocolate and one plain. There was also a pile of Taco Bell trash and an empty fifth of Jack. A lavender thong hung from the truck's shifter, his t-shirt was twisted around his left fore...
