“I’m not sure how this decision concerns you,” Mable narrows her eyes at him and I can’t help but squirm. I see Cody flinch out of the corner of my eye, but he covers it well.
“That’s unfair and you know it,” he says softly. I feel a tingle along the back of my neck but don’t have time to put any thought in it because Joe chooses that moment to pipe up.
“I think the Mayor is correct. This is too sudden. You’re not thinking clearly, Angie. You’ve obviously been brain washed by this…this…sex fiend!” He shouts. I cringe and try and slither under the table but Cody stops my progress. One look at him confirms he’s smiling like a loon. Bastard.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I hedge, hoping Joe will realize his faux pas, but he just keeps getting more and more angry.
“I fucking heard you,” he thunders. While I was sitting in the kitchen with your nut bag aunt.”
“This is true. I was pretty impressed,” Aunt Mable tells the table at the same time the Mayor shouts at Joe.
“Who are you to call anyone a nut bag? Actually, who the hell are you anyways?” He asks. “Actually, I don’t care. But if I ever hear you make threats or unsavory comment to Mable ever again, I will call the sheriff and have your ass thrown in jail.” The room was quiet for a bit until Holt chimes in.
“I’m the sheriff and things have been a little slow lately. I’d do it just for entertainment value,” Holt says honestly. I’m so stunned at the crazy turns this evening is taking that I’m shoveling in my dinner hoping no one will direct the conversation back to me. Unfortunately, my luck is still a flaming pile of Steve’s crap.
“You should slow down on the potatoes, Angie. Actually, you shouldn’t eat them at all if you ever want to shed some of that fat,” Joe says to me. And you could hear a pin drop.
“I think it’s time for you to go,” Holt says quietly, but firmly. “If you’re nice I’ll drive you to the airport. If you continue to be a jackass, I’ll take you straight to jail.” Joe just stands, dropping his napkin on his plate and follows Holt out the door. We all sat there in silence for a few minutes before I turned to Cody, not quite meeting his eyes.
“I’d like to go now,” I say softly, humiliated.
“Nonsense!” Principal Reynolds booms. “What you need is tequila,” which magically manifests in front of me. I immediately shoot it back and Cody’s grandfather fills my glass back up. I shoot that back too.
“I think I’m ok now,” I rasp as the booze sears across my chest.
“Not yet but you will be soon. What an asshole. Let’s get the cake, love. We’ll all feel better with cake,” his grandfather says. I’m not so sure. I’m feeling a little green around the gills.
“Definitely. What her ass needs is cake. What a moron. I would feed an ass like that every day,” Cody’s dad says as his wife slaps his chest. “What? It’s a fantastic ass. Mark my words, son, don’t let her lose that ass.” My face is beet red and I will never be able to look anyone in the eye ever again. I feel Cody’s body shake with laughter next to me.
“I won’t dad. In fact, I had that very thought the first time Angel joined Holt, Sam, and me for pizza at Father’s,” he tells the table. I just throw my head back and laugh because every word he spoke rings absolutely true.
