"When I was
younger, we'd call that tactic 'cruising for a bruising,'" Mr. Myerhausen
remarked as the Pittsburgh contingent moved away to refresh their drinks.
Ken turned and saw
Allistair creeping through the crowd. Ahead of his nemesis, Jo beat a hasty
retreat.
"You have my
permission to break something vital," Mrs. Myerhausen growled. Her husband
gaped at her for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Jo slipped into one
of the side rooms, Allistair right behind her.
"Excuse me, sir."
Ken hurried after them. Mr. Myerhausen chuckled, and it warmed him to know the
old man approved.
Halfway around the
perimeter of the room, a red-nailed hand latched onto his arm and pulled him
off balance. Ken muffled a curse and caught himself before he swung and popped
Brittney in her heavily made-up face.
Tears made her eyes
seem twice as large and her bottom lip quivered. "Ken, how could
you?" she wailed in her baby-doll voice.
Ken looked around.
People were watching, just as he had always feared. However, the looks of
disgust were cast at Brittney and the pity was aimed at him. He had always
thought it would be the other way around. He laughed as he realized what an
idiot he had been for so long, restrained by his fear.
"How can you
laugh when you hurt me so badly?" She yanked back her hand as if burned.
"What did I do?
Besides sign the divorce papers you filed?" He turned his back on
her and continued across the room.
"I just wanted
you to prove you really loved me." Her high heels clattered on the tiles
as she followed him.
"Oh, yeah,
that's logical," someone muttered from behind Ken.
The crowd parted
before him, making him wonder what sort of expression he wore. He picked up the
pace, and Brittney kept up. How did she manage to run on those toothpick heels?
Those claws latched onto his arm. He turned, twisting to free it.
"Ken, honey, you
have to listen to me."
"No, I don't.
We're not married anymore." He tried to step around her. Brittney slid
over, blocking his path.
"But I want you
back!" She grabbed onto his arms again.
"I don't want you
back." He jerked free.
Brittney stumbled
backwards and hit the wall, only three feet away. "You'll pay for
that," she snarled, all the helpless squeaks and wails gone. "I'll
have you thrown in jail for beating me."
"Is that what's
under all that makeup? Allistair's been beating you, but you're afraid to
report him to the police?"
"Allistair
adores me. He would never lay a hand on me."
Mr. Myerhausen caught
up with them, with his wife right behind him. "Then why are you chasing
Mr. Jenkins? Haven't you heard the old phrase, what goes around comes
around?"
"You don't
understand," Brittney wailed, switching back to her helpless mode.
"I understand
completely. I may be old, but that helps me see far more clearly than
manipulative, self-centered witches such as you give me credit for." His
chuckle was cold when Brittney gasped. Her eyes widened and she went pale under
her heavy makeup. "Ken, my lad, we should rescue your young lady and have
these two party-crashers handled by security." He caught hold of
Brittney's arm when she tried to slither past him, and gestured for Ken to lead
the way.
No comments:
Post a Comment