“I made dessert.”
Chapter 48
Cori
Before I can get up to get the chocolate trifle from the fridge, Dax sticks his entire hand in the bowl of jambalaya and eats it. He licks his palm and does it again.
“Take the rest of that for Selene,” he taunts.
“I’ve about had all I’m going to take from you.” Dax’s mother reaches across the table and hits him in the head with her knuckles.
Dax leaves the table, takes the dessert from me, and puts some in two serving bowls. He gives one to his mother and puts the other at his seat. He returns, sticks his hand in the bowl, and fills mine.
“Here,” he says.
Haddie rises from her chair and starts hitting him all over his chest and back. He moves away from her and sits.
“I’m not eating that after you touched it.”
“Oh, come now. You’ve licked every inch of my body. What’s the big deal if your food touches my hand?”
“You’re disgusting.” I grab the bowl and dump the contents in the sink. I run my fingers through the discarded dessert and wipe it on Dax’s cheek. He wipes it with his hand and sucks it into his mouth.
“Licking is all fine and good, but I hope you two are doing more than that. Licking alone won’t get me any grandbabies.” I start to cough at the statement, but I don’t respond. Instead, I stick my finger in Dax’s bowl. He snatches my hand and licks the finger before releasing me.
His mother shakes her head at us and eats her dessert, while I go without. I start to clear the table when everyone finishes eating.
“I’ll take you home, Mom,” Dax says. “And I’ll go look for Finch after.” Haddie gets her things, and instead of walking out alone, Dax lifts me, puts me over his shoulder, and walks me to the garage. He throws me in the front seat and closes the door.
No one speaks in the tense ride to his mother’s house. Once she gets home, Dax drives out of her neighborhood. He doesn’t speak to me, and I cross my arms and refuse to say a word to him.
Instead of driving back home, he turns into Selene’s neighborhood. My head whips around, but he doesn’t look at me. I pull my phone out of my pocket to warn my cousin, but he snatches it and tosses it into a dark corner in the back of the car.
He parks in an empty spot in front of her house before he drags me out of the car.
“Selene,” I start to yell, but he covers my mouth with his hand. I bite it, and he yelps.
He wraps an arm around my waist and lifts me off my bare feet while I do everything to escape. It’s futile. The man is freakishly strong.
He kicks Selene’s door so hard that it hits the wall. She’s in the middle of her living room, and lets out a scream. Finch, dressed in a pink tutu, barks and runs to Dax.
“I knew it,” he says. “Your little performance didn’t fool anyone.” Dax looks down at Finch, gets on his knees, and rubs her behind her ears. “There’s my girl.” He hugs and kisses the top of the dog’s head. “Daddy missed you.” He hugs the beast again. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to Mommy about this. She can’t continue to treat you this way.”
“I am not that filthy thing’s mommy.” I suck my teeth and look away in disgust.
“No. You can’t have her back. Cori said I could have her. She’s mine.” Selene reaches for Finch’s collar, but Dax gets between them.
“Touch her, and I’ll pick you up and drop you in the dumpster out back.” Selene gasps but takes a step back.
“Fincherellla, come!” Selene commands. The dog looks from Dax to Selene, but she doesn’t move.
“Finch,” Dax announces. He whistles, and the dog follows him to the broken door.
“No!” Selene screams. “You can’t take her.” She jumps on Dax’s back and bites his shoulder.
“God damn it,” he yells. He carries Selene out through the sliding glass door and makes good on his threat. He opens the trash can and dumps her in it.
“It stinks in here!” Selene yells.
