Second Base by Raven ShadowHawk Read Free Book Online Page B

slapped her. She scrambled to her feet and shoved him in the chest. ‘You were watching? What’s wrong with you?’
    ‘That’s what you like isn’t it? An audience? Sharing? I don’t see why all these other people can be involved but I’m not good enough to—’ he looked away.
    Silence loomed, broken occasionally by the low boom of bass from the speakers within.
    ‘Baby-girl, what is this idiot talking about?’
    ‘Shut up, Papa!’ As she finished speaking, Karen had no idea who was more shocked, Robert or herself. But the word was out now and she couldn’t take it back. She faced the easier target. ‘Pete, we need to talk about this, but not now. Do you understand? Not now .’
    He wiped his mouth. ‘When then? You never talk to me any more. Every time I’m in the room you make an excuse to run. I’m not the one who hits you, so why am I the monster?’
    The world shrank to a tiny dot. Low buzzing filled her ears. Karen gasped, but the breath caught in her throat to leave her dizzy and light-headed.
    Robert swelled like an overripe fruit. He jerked the hat off and tossed it on the ground. ‘Hits you? Who? Does he mean the skinny little Silver Fox in there?’
    ‘Shut up! Fuck, just go away, Robert, please.’ Switching back to his true name meant nothing. They both knew it.
    ‘Is that man hitting you?’
    ‘Go away!’
    He gave a curt nod. ‘Go away, you say. I’ll go, but we’ll talk. No one hits mi baby-girl, understand? I’ll break their spine first.’
    ‘Papa, please!’ Desperation changed her pleas. ‘Leave me alone.’
    ‘We’ll talk,’ he muttered. ‘And I’m watching you, too.’ With a last hard glare at Pete, he returned to the house.
    Pete stared at his toes.
    Karen slapped him, one solid crack to the side of his face. ‘What the fuck?’ she roared. ‘Are you insane? Do you go blurting everybody’s sexual deviances to their parents?’
    ‘Sorry, I—’
    She hit him again. ‘No, Pete. No ‘sorry’. I have too much going on right now to stand here and hold your fucking hand while you crush on me. This is the way it is: I’m with Dan, not you. The relationship Dan and I have is exactly that, his and mine . What we choose to do with it is none of your fucking business, is that clear?’
    ‘But he’s so selfish. It’s always about him—does he even care what you want?’
    She hit him a third time, a full punch that made her entire hand throb. ‘Fuck you,’ she snarled. ‘You don’t get to ask that. Get out. You’re not going back in there, just leave. Use the back gate.’
    ‘Karen—’
    ‘Get out! And take your book.’ She whirled away from him, yanking open the door in time to hear a loud shout came from the living room and the crunch of breaking glass.

Chapter Six
Dan
    Dan reached the door to the kitchen as Cindy arrived on the other side. She saw the tea, frowned and shoved him back into the room. The door slammed. ‘What’s going on with you and Karen?’
    He put the mug down and shoved his hands into his pockets. ‘Nothing. Why?’
    ‘She’s out there moping like a kicked puppy. I know you guys have your problems, all couples do, but I can’t handle seeing her like that. She’s like a sister to me. If you’ve done something, I swear I’ll rip out your pubes and use them to stuff a cushion.’
    ‘Colourful and direct as ever, Cindy. I haven’t done anything. If she hasn’t told you herself then she’s not ready for you to know.’
    ‘Bullshit. She tells me everything.’
    ‘Maybe she needs time to deal with it first.’
    ‘Was it Robert?’
    Dan’s hands tightened in his pockets. ‘You know about him?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘She told me he was dead.’
    Cindy’s eyebrows shot up toward her hairline. ‘Yeah? Fucked up.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘She sometimes might wish he was—the way he treats Charlaine—but the creep is very much alive. And he’s taken a shine to your mother.’
    He raised his hands. ‘I’m trying not to think about