Remember that time I was chased by a leprechaun and he stole my cupcakes and you weren't mad at me for an evening posting?

Yeah...good times.


Chapter Twenty-Nine: Pitchforks and Panic

Fate is funny sometimes. It's got this way of messing with your head. Seems like every time you finally feel like you've got control over everything, Fate has plans to change all that you were thinking.

She's an ornery bitch who only pops in when Luck has given up and Chance has decided kicking your ass ain't working.

And that's when it stops being so funny.

Alice and I stroll through the town square, shivering 'cause it's getting way too cold to be walking around barefoot. This nail polish I'm wearing is too cool to be hidden away in shoes and socks, however.

Rockstar Galaxy.

It's midnight blue with gold and silver speckles that shine even on the dullest of days.

"Why'd she call for?" Alice winces as she stubs her toe against the sidewalk. She's not paying attention to where she's going.

I shrug and keep my voice low, as if talking about Mama is a big secret.

"Esme said Mama was in some sort of trouble and needed Esme to wire some money to her. She didn't know Daddy and I were at the house. Hell, Esme said she never even asked about me. Esme told her she wasn't wiring her anything and Mama hung up the phone after that. I was just bawling my eyes out 'cause I heard her voice through the phone. Seemed like she was right in front of me, yet so far away. Daddy let Cadillac and me hang out afterwards 'cause I was so upset. I reckon he's not happy with him, but after that whole phone call, I think he'll let it slide. No cryin' over spilt milk, you know? What's done is done. Cadillac and me, we're happy. He keeps me going. Daddy said I'm still allowed to date him, but Esme can't be giving out my pills like a drug dealer anymore."

Alice giggles and squeezes my hand. "Hang in there, Bella. As long as your mama stays put and you can keep seeing Cad, ain't no reason for you to be sad."

"You're right. I'm trying to stay happy. I can't let that woman get the best of me."

"That's the spirit!" Alice skips and pulls me along with her. "C'mon, I'm hungry. Let's get some barbeque."

.

.

.

"Can I get a full rack of ribs, a chopped brisket sandwich, a side of coleslaw, waffle fries, an extra pickle, and a large pop? Wait–add some cornbread too. I can't eat ribs without cornbread."

Alice spins in circles on the stool and plays with a straw while I stare at her in awe.

"Alice, do you have any money?"

"Nope." She pops her 'p' extra loud and twirls the straw around her finger.

"And you expect me to pay for all of that?"

"Yep." She pops again.

"Right. What if I told you I'm not paying for all of that food?" I call her bluff as she sticks her bottom lip out.

"C'mon, Bella," Alice pleads. "I'm starvin' over here. Ma's cooking them nasty radishes again and I hate radishes. I promise, I'll pay you back."

The lies she tells are so incredible not even the cashier believes her. She blows a huge bubble with her gum and stares at me. "And you, child?"

"Just a pulled pork sandwich for me. And a sweet tea, please."

"Coming right up." The lady's nametag reads Sally, and she looks awfully familiar.

"Don't I know you from somewhere?" I ask.

Sally has sweat pouring down her face as she shrugs her shoulders. "It's Forks. Everybody knows everybody, doll face."

She writes our order down on a slip of paper and tucks the pencil behind her ear.

"Wait!" I cry out, a little too loudly. "I do know you. You used to work at the ice cream stand."

"That'd be me," she replies, handing the order slip to the back kitchen.

"Whatcha working here for?" Alice asks.

"Almost winter. Ain't gonna be no ice cream for a while. And Dirty–he's the owner–he's relaxing now. Retired after he got in trouble for buying alcohol for some little girl."

"You don't say," Alice replies, being a smart aleck.

"Yessiree." Sally chews her gum as she cleans up Alice's straw papers. "Kind of stupid if you ask me. I don't know why an old man like himself would get caught up in some mess like that."

Sally pours our drinks into Styrofoam cups and we sip on them slowly.

"You wanna hear a secret?" Sally leans forward, ready to spill.

"Always," Alice grins.

"So you know the girl I was just talkin' about? Well, I heard Dirty was sleeping with the girl's ma, who was a stripper. Can you believe that? A stripper! And old man Luke–you know, the geezer with the bad back that lives on Goffman road–his sister's friend's cousin, Jane that I go to church with, said she saw the stripper at Dirty's house the other day. And she would know, 'cause she wouldn't lie even if the devil was stabbing her with his pitchfork."

My eyes grow wide. "That ain't true. The stripper is gone. She left town."

Sally throws her hands up defensively. "I'm just repeatin' what I was told."

"Order 13 is up!" The cook from the back yells that our food is ready. Sally rings up our order and I pay for the expensive meal, lost in my own thoughts.

I take the huge bag in my hand as Sally looks at me suspiciously. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you look just like the lady Jane described."

I lower my eyes. "Forks is bigger than you think. Maybe everybody doesn't know everybody."

. . .

"It don't make a doggone bit of sense," I say, lying back on Cadillac's sofa. "Why would she say that? Esme saw the number on caller ID. It was definitely an Arizona area code."

Cadillac dismisses my thoughts with a wave of his hand. "Dimples, you can't be listening to old folks' gossip. Some people just like to listen to themselves talk. 'Sides, Esme called the police. They've got her number, but the phone's been disconnected. Don't worry, they'll catch her sooner or later."

Cadillac rubs my legs. I know he's telling me what he thinks I want to hear. I don't know whether I hope Mama gets caught or if I hope they never find her, 'cause if they find her, they'll find Brady. That's enough for me to want her to stay gone. I'd suffered enough in the past few months. I didn't need either one of them ripping apart this happy life I had.

I glance at my cell phone on the coffee table, as if willing it to ring. Not that it would since Mama doesn't have my number, but maybe she missed me; maybe she wanted to say she was sorry for everything and that she should've never left.

I'm trying to rationalize my thoughts when Cadillac lifts up my chin, staring at me with worried eyes. "You okay, Dimples?"

I nod with a sad smile. "I'm all right. Just wondering about everything and nothin' I guess."

Cadillac shifts his position on the sofa and pulls me on his lap, nuzzling my hair. "Don't be thinking so hard, baby bird. You keep inhaling all them bad thoughts and they're gonna get caught in your chest like phlegm. It'll only make you sick."

I inhale his words instead, as if they're medicine to my soul. Cadillac turns my head back towards him, kissing my forehead … then the tip of my nose … and finally, my lips.

No matter how many times we've kissed before, he always leaves me breathless. I feel an ache between my legs, a feeling stirring inside of me. He gets me going, even when he's not trying.

Soft lips leave mine to graze the spot just below my ear.

"Think of me, Dimples." His nose skims my flesh, tickling and brushing along my shoulder. His fingers sweep over my tank top straps, pulling them downward.

Cadillac nibbles across my shoulder as his hands reach my breasts, rubbing my nipples. Kiss. Bite. Kiss.

"Think of how much I love you." My voice catches in my throat as the pads of his thumbs flick back and forth. He's too soft and too rough, too quick and too slow.

I'm selfish. I want it all, in every way that I can have him.

Bite. Kiss. Bite.

Cadillac's hands move downward, pulling on the drawstring of my tiny shorts. He slips one hand inside, teasing the ache that has yet to cease.

"Open for me, Dimples."

I oblige as he coaxes my legs to spread wider. They shake, anticipating his touch. His fingers trace over my clit, and my hips move on their own accord. I move in a circular motion, wanting him to touch everything.

Kiss. Bite. Lick.

His warm tongue runs across my neck, making me shiver from the opposing temperatures. I lean my head backward, unable to sit upright.

"Think of me inside of you." His finger slips in me, pumping gently in the slowest of motions. My cheeks flush as I squeeze around him.

"Think of me giving and all you gotta do is take." I scramble to grab onto his thighs, grasping the thick material of his jogging pants. I can feel him harden beneath me, but he keeps the focus on me.

I circle my hips, fucking his finger as he slides another one in, stretching me. I don't know how I'm holding on, how I'm not falling apart right in his lap.

My heart is in a delicate and fragile place, yet somehow, he keeps it beating. Little by little, he knows how to make me forget everything bad. I ain't never loved before him, and I don't recognize these feelings–overwhelming and powerful, forceful and passionate.

I whimper as he thrusts his fingers deeper, curling to spots I couldn't find on my own. I rock against him, riding waves that leave me drowning.

"Think of me when you come." I squeeze my eyes shut, surrendering to his husky voice. It's smooth and gentle, grating and hoarse. My eyes are closed, but I don't see darkness. I see light and Cadillac, colors and happiness.

I breathe heavily as I ride out my orgasm. Cadillac pulls out his glistening hand with a twinkle in his eye.

He licks his fingers, sucking on them seductively.

"Cut it out," I laugh, pushing him down.

I fall over him, my legs straddling his hips. I run my fingers through his hair with one hand and use the other to outline his jaw and the coarse stubble that darkens his face.

"You gonna take your pants off now?" I ask.

Cadillac grins, sweeping away my hair. "Eager beaver, aren't we?"

I giggle, kissing his cheek. "It's your fault, you know. I was all sweetness and lollipops until you came along."

I reach between us, trying to tug at his pants.

"Lollipops, huh?" Cadillac licks his fingers again. "Mmm, raspberry. My favorite."

It just makes me laugh harder and we fight over his bottoms. I get them one inch down and he tugs them two inches up.

"All right, Cadillac. Here's the deal: give me the cock and no one gets hurt."

"Are you threatening me?" He asks in mock shock. "In that case, you get nothing!"

In a swift movement, he slides from underneath me and jumps up, running to his bedroom. I squeal, chasing after him. He chuckles, lunging and rolling onto the bed just as I reach out for him.

"Too slow, Dimples. I'm starting to think you don't really want it."

I huff and cross my arms, giving up. "Fine. I'm not gonna sit here and chase you around your apartment just for some dick. I have standards, you know."

Cadillac's eyes flash as he walks to my side of the bed and pushes me down softly. "You give in too easily. I was gonna let you catch me."

I grin and smile widely. "I know."

Figuring out my deceptive plan, Cadillac tickles me and squeezes my sides. "You tricked me? And there I was, feeling all sorry for you."

"All part of my plan," I grin.

Cadillac leans forward, melting our lips together. I hum underneath him, enjoying the way his tongue lingers and pushes against mine.

But Fate, she has plans herself. Evil and malicious, she steals laughter and robs kisses.

She replaces joy with fear and pleasure with terror.

Cadillac and I are too wrapped up in each other to see the figures looming over us.

When I finally notice, I scream at the pistol pointed in our direction.

"Get up," the voice commands.

I listen.

My heart beats erratically, fearful of the situation Cadillac and I are now in.

There are only two things in this world more frightening than Fate, and their names are Mama and Brady Fuller.