Page 27 of Sling’s Awakening

Big Man Lawn Care

“Get it right or take a hike.”

What the fuck?

I laugh to myself.

What kind of slogan is that?

Enough to make me inquire.

I grab my phone off the cushion next to me and dial the number that’s on the ad. After four rings, they pick up.

“Big Man Lawn Care,” a deep voice sounds through my phone.

Jesus Christ. Does he mow more than one type of lawn? Perhaps a bush?

“Hello?” he asks.

I clear my throat from being caught off guard. “Uh, hi. I’m calling because I saw your ad online for lawn care. I was wondering if you had any availability?”

“When do you need it done?”

“Um, in a week?” I say, but it comes out sounding like a question.

Who let me be in charge of a whole ass house? No one told me I would have to deal with this kind of stuff when I bought the place. I thought it would be all about painting walls and decorating. You know, the fun stuff.

“How big is the yard?”

How the hell should I know?

“Um, I honestly have no idea,” I tell him, wincing as I probably sound like an idiot. “I live in a subdivision.”

He coughs, but I can tell he’s trying to cover up his laugh. “That won’t be a problem. Give me the address and I’ll send a guy over next week.”

We settle the billing and the frequency before hanging up. Turns out, the guy from the club was overcharging me by an insane amount, making me feel like even more of an idiot. If I ever see him again, I’m going to chew his ass out.

Not even one minute after hanging up with him my phone rings again. I look at the screen to see that it’s Crystal calling.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Hey, Ginny. I’m really sorry to bother you on your day off, but we’re out of vodka. A whole case is missing, and Russ is freaking out. He wants to know what you did with it.”

My face scrunches up. What I did with it?

“I have no idea. Last night when I did inventory, it was there. Are you sure it’s not hiding behind another box?”

“No, it’s not. I moved everything around just in case,” Crystal answers before lowering her voice. “He’s being real weird, Gin. I know Russ has always been a little off, but this is different. He’s on edge and his fuse is about to blow. He made Curse cry and then sent her home and told her she can’t dance tonight because he won’t have a girl on his stage with a puffy face.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I ask, shocked.

Curse is one of our best dancers. People come from all over just to see her dance, so for Russ to completely take her off tonight is… crazy.

“It’s nuts here, Ginny,” Crystal continues to whisper into the phone. “Something isn’t right.”

Fuck.

This isn’t good.