I shoved a finger in his face. “Don’t you talk to me about stomping off when things get tough.”
“I know. I know. Please. Let me just try and explain myself. It’s been a long day and my thoughts are muddled.”
“You think I didn’t have a long day too?”
“I didn’t say that!” he yelled. His voice was deep and coarse with anger. Noticeably so. I had to say I was weirdly getting off on it. He was always set to calm, quiet, or some setting in between. I liked kick-starting his engine.
But I was still mad.
He took a deep breath and lowered his voice. “We both had long days, okay? I know that. Let’s talk before we separate saying something we don’t mean.”
I made a sour face because there he went making sense again, not wanting to shout and scream. I guess it was the mature thing to do. But dammit, I wanted him riled up.
“You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to say mean things and then make me feel like I’m being emotional and overreacting.”
He started to speak but I cut him off.
“You don’t get to come to my home and lift your nose at the way I live. I didn’t ask you to come here. I didn’t ask for your opinion or judgment.”
He fisted his hands and punched the air so fast I would’ve thought I imagined it.
“Goddammit. I know that! I’m trying to tell you I’m sorry but you aren’t letting me get a word in edgewise and now I’m shouting for your whole goddamn neighborhood to hear!”
He really was shouting now. He was red in the cheeks and his voice cracked. Maybe I was a drama queen because I’ll be damned if it wasn’t hot.
Instead of admitting it, I tossed out a hand. “So talk.”
“Y’all better do something,” Mrs. Albensi shouted through the screen of the window. “You’re upsetting my kids.”
Ford turned on his heels to look in the direction of the voice before looking back to me. Moxy sat on the window flicking her tail and eavesdropping. That cat was always getting out.
“Go back to bed, Mrs. Albensi, we’ll quiet down.” I gave a tired wave.
“Y’all better. And who is that? I don’t know that man.”
“He’s a friend.”
Ford lifted a hand and waved tentatively.
“Mm hmm, friend, I’m sure.” Judgment was clear in her tone.
“Goodnight, Mrs. Albensi.”
“‘Night. Make sure you tell your daddy to turn down that television.”
“I will.”
“Don’t make me call Sheriff James. His boy and my nephew are friends. He’ll be here if I call.”
“I know, ma’am. We’re going in.”
Ford stepped toward me and whispered, “I know I’m tired, but is that cat talking?”
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw Ford’s eyebrows rise in confusion. He frowned at my smile and that made me start laughing. I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe. And Ford’s face went from confused to smiling to chuckling with me.
“Come on.” I pulled him up the stairs and into the trailer.
He hesitated at the door. “Are you sure?” He flicked a glance behind me. “What about your father?”
