Sixteen
Iwakeup to Honeycrisp growling. A second later the rest of the dogs start barking. My heart jumps in my throat and I automatically reach besideme.
“Silas—”
“I know,” he says with a groan. He’s already moving. I squint as he turns on the bedside light just in time for Honeycrisp to join in the barking frenzy. She’s standing at the foot of the bed, bracing herself, pointing her whole body toward the door. I look over and Silas is digging through the back of his closet. He pulls out ashotgun.
“What thefuck?”
“It’s not loaded. Stay here,” he says. I want to follow him, help if I can, but I’m too scared. Honeycrisp isn’t helping the situation. She’s completely flipping out and she’d guarding me. It’s nothelping.
“Honeycrisp, come here.” She looks at me and does a double take before she sits beside me. She chills out a little, but she won’t stop growling. Hank, Morty and Gala are still going nuts out in the hall. There are even a few weak barks fromJoe.
“Quiet. Go sit. Sit!” I hear Silas say. The dogs hush immediately. “Who is it?” The response is muffled but a few seconds later I hear the dooropen.
“Where’s Liz?” Fuck. It’sScott.
I don’t think, I just jump out bed and rush down the hall. Honeycrisp is right beside me. Sure enough, Scott is standing there in the foyer in front of Silas. They both look at me. The difference between them is so stark and clear, especially under the creepy yellow light that shines in the hallway between the dining room and the TV room. Silas is in his boxers, no shirt, his feet bare. Scott is still dressed from work in a pressed, custom suit. I feel like I haven’t seen him in months even though it’s only been aweek.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I hear myselfsay.
“I came to get you. I thought you were sleeping on the couch,” he says to Silas as he glances into the TV room, then back at usboth.
My brain rushes to come up with an excuse, but I haven’t even processed the how and why of Scott being here. I’m not quick enough to spit out an answer. I’m not quick enough to stopSilas.
“I’m not,” he says, direct and plain. It’s like I can see the realization spread out over Scott’s face. I can see him connecting the dots. His mouth opens like he’s about to say something and then he starts laughinghysterically.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me! The two of you?! The two of you are fucking!You’re. Fuckinghim,” he says gesturing between us. Hank barks at the sound of his raised voice. Silas doesn’t try to quiet him down. Instead he hauls off and punches Scott right in theface.
“Silas!” I yell. Before I can come between them, Scott recovers and rushes him. They slam into the wall and Silas catches the corner of the door jamb in the back, but that doesn’t seem to faze him at all. He lands two more quick punches to Scott’s side. I have to break this up. I foolishly try to get betweenthem.
“Stop!” It doesn’t work though. Scott shoves me back. He doesn’t hurt me. I only stumble a few feet before I catch myself on the front door. It doesn’t matter though. Honeycrisp is on him. It happens so fast. She gets him by the arm, a deep growl coming from her. Scott yells out, the pain and fear on his face obvious before he kicks the hell out of Honeycrisp. She lets out the most sickening yelp as she skids across the woodfloor.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I say. Silas and I immediately rush to her. She tries to get up twice, but givesup.
“She fucking bitme!”
Silas glances up at him, then runs his hand over Honeycrisp’s side. I want to cry when she lets out a sad whimper. “She didn’t even break your skin,” he says. I look up and see he’s right. She got a piece of Scott’s suit jacket. She scared him, she didn’t hurthim.
“We have to go,” Scott says tome.
“Tell me what is going on,” I say as I stand. I remember he’s actually here for a reason. “Did Tillery findsomething?”
“This isn’t aboutTillery.”
“Thenwhat—”
“They’re firingyou!”
“What?” Silas and I bothsay.
“Murrell is canning you. He kept pressing me about where you were and when I finally told him, he told me he wants me to deliver you to the office tomorrow morning. So we. Gotta go. Come on and get your shit. You can say goodbye your boyfriend.” Silas starts to stand, but I put my hand on his shoulder. He holdsback.
“Deliver me?! For what? What the fuck is goingon?”
“Something about conduct unbecoming. He wouldn’t tell me more, but you need to get your shit and we need to go. I’ll be in the car.” He doesn’t even look at Silas again. Scott just storms out the door and slams it behindhim.
“Fucking hell,” I sigh and then I crouch back down next to Honeycrisp. “Is sheokay?”