Page 134 of Property of Whiskey

Fuck.

Twila appears in the hallway wearing only a shirt and panties, hair thoroughly fucked, bare feet planted like she came out here specifically to make sure nobody can pretend she did it by accident.

Her eyes land on Beth.

Then they drop. Straight to the inside of my left forearm. They stay there one beat too fucking long.

Ah, shit.

Beth sees her. Recognizes her immediately. Everybody in this county knows Sheriff Dix’s daughter.

“Deputy Dix?”

Twila smiles. It ain’t friendly.

“Hi.”

I close my eyes.

There goes the neighborhood.

Beth looks at me, then Twila, then back at me. “What the hell is she doing here in my house?”

Twila crosses her arms. “I’m askin’ myself that.”

“Twila.”

“What?”

Beth’s mouth opens. “You’re sleeping with a cop?”

Twila answers before I can. “He kidnapped me first.”

Beth goes white.

I look at Twila. “Not helpful.”

“What? We’re bonding.”

Beth takes one step backward. “What?”

“It’s complicated,” I say.

“Complicated?”

“Very.”

“Does Holler know you’re in bed with a pig, literally?”

“None of your business.”

“Does Legend?”

“Same answer.”

“Does Sheriff Dix?” Beth looks like she walked into an alternate universe. Then anger replaces shock. “So this is why I can’t see Wren? You found her another mama?”

“No.”