Neither one had heard me open the door. I guess that’s because the A/C unit was much louder than before. To my right was a shelf unit that held the TV. I slammed my books down as hard as I could on it.
Grizz opened his eyes, and Willow stopped and turned around to look at me. Grizz grabbed her by the hair and said, “Finish.”
She gave me a toothless smile and went back to what she was doing.
I turned around and ran out the front door, and before I even knew where I was heading, I was pounding on Grunt’s door. He opened it and I fell into him, wrapping my arms around his back. I wasn’t crying, but I was on the verge of tears. I didn’t know why.
Why should I care what Grizz and Willow were doing? I certainly hadn’t done anything like that with him, and I had been telling myself for the last month I didn’t want to. So why this feeling of betrayal? No matter what I told myself, the truth was it stung.
“Hey, hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Grunt asked as he held me closely. “Kit, what’s wrong, what happened?”
All of a sudden something dawned on me. There was no way in the world I was going to tell Grunt, or anyone for that matter, that catching Willow performing oral sex on Grizz bothered me. Absolutely no way. I caught myself then and stood back. Thank goodness there were no tears yet. He had his hands on my shoulders.
“Nothing’s wrong really.” I stammered. “I walked in on Grizz and Willow and I’m embarrassed, is all.”
He gave me a look that said he knew I was lying, but being the gentleman he was, he didn’t press.
“You know, he’s been waiting for you awhile. I’m the only one who knows that. I don’t even think Blue knows. Grizz is very prideful. And he’s only human and she’s only too willing. Besides, he was drinking before you even came out to the pit. He’s probably pretty hammered by now.”
“I know. Like I said, I’m just embarrassed. Let’s forget I even came here.” I paused. “Ummm, how long do you think I should wait before I go back?”
My inexperience was showing and I started to blush. Before Grunt could answer, his door flew open and Grizz came in.
“Thought I’d find you here. Let’s go.” Grizz nodded toward the door.
I immediately pulled myself together and said a little too haughtily, “Just wanted to give you some privacy.”
With that I strode past him and was reminded of my first night at the motel. The night I replaced Willow and she’d proudly flounced away from the pit.
I went back to our unit and changed into my nightgown. I washed my face, brushed my teeth and hair and climbed into bed. I’d taken the borrowed books into the bedroom with me. I picked one up and pretended to read. I looked away as he undressed and slid in next to me.
“It shouldn’t have bothered you, Kit.”
“It didn’t bother me,” I replied too quickly. “I was just embarrassed to interrupt, that’s all.”
I was lying on my back and he was on his side facing me with his head propped up on his right hand. He raised an eyebrow.
“Didn’t bother you, huh? So I guess I could’ve been getting head from Willow this whole time and it wouldn’t have bothered you?”
I looked straight at him. “How do I know you haven’t been doing that with her this whole time? What’s it to me? None of my business. I’m sure you do what you want anyway.”
“Damn right I do what I want.”
I didn’t say anything and continued to feign interest in my book.
“Look, she followed me back to number four and asked to use the phone. You know how Willow can be. I guess she had something to prove and I was horny enough to let her. That whore doesn’t mean anything to me.”
“I don’t care if she means anything to you.” I looked at the pages of my book coolly. “Of course, it was really rude of you to let her do that while I could have been in the other room.”
“But I knew you weren’t. I watched Grunt’s room all night. I knew you hadn’t come out.”
“How convenient for the two of you.” I kept my tone even. “Well, like I said, I don’t care. So keep doing what you want. Doesn’t matter to me.”
I turned back to my book and tried to concentrate on the pages.
“Doesn’t bother you, huh?”
“Nope. Doesn’t bother me at all.”
“You sure about that?”
“Yes, I’m sure, Grizz. Why would you even think something like this would bother me?” I asked a little too smugly.
“Because your book is upside down.”
With that I slammed my book shut and sat straight up to face him. “Gosh, Grizz, of all the girls, it had to be Willow? I mean, even Chicky and Moe would’ve been easier for me to handle because they don’t hate me. I’m sure she thinks she has one up on me now. Not that I care. I don’t know. I guess it’s a woman thing. I don’t expect you to understand.”
“So it would’ve been okay if you came in and it was Chicky or Moe?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t fathom my own reasoning. Was I upset he was engaging in sexual activity with another woman, or was I upset because the other woman was Willow, a woman who had become my instant enemy?
“You want Willow gone? If you want her gone, all you have to do is say so. You’ll never see her again.”
“Yeah, Grizz,” I said quietly. “I want her gone.”
That was the end of the conversation. We both fell asleep, and when I woke up the next morning he had his arms wrapped around me. I had my back to him and I started to gently lift one of his heavy arms off of me. Then I stopped myself. I closed my eyes and fell back to sleep.
Grizz was true to his word. I never saw Willow again.