Broken Memphis Read Free Page B

waving me off. "The kid and I are talking."
    He taps Lula's hand, and she finally looks at him. "It was crowded over at Darby's place, but you can have your own big girl room. I never had my own room when I was little. Always had to share it with stinky Ford."
    Lula smiles at the stinky part. She looks around as Pax fills her head with the fantasy of pink. Even though he's always been a rude fucker, I can't deny I've nursed a crush on Pax. Now, though, I fucking hate him.
    "She needs to eat breakfast," I say, shoving him aside and taking her down from the bed. "You have bread. I'll make us toast."
    Pax follows me out of the room then grabs the loop in my jeans and makes me stop.
    "We're gonna out to eat. Don't be a bitch."
    Spinning around, I glare at him. "Don't you F U C K I N G call me a B I T C H, you S T U P I D A S S H O L E."
    Smiling, Pax leans in close enough for me to feel his warm breath on my skin. "I can't spell for shit, so I have no idea what you just told me."
    My rage makes me shake. Sensing my anger, Lula wants to cry. I set her on the couch and turn on cartoons.
    "Wait here while I talk to Pax outside. I'll be right back, and we'll have breakfast."
    Lula watches me shove Pax out the back door and onto the deck. I shiver at the late autumn weather then smack his arm.
    "You F U C K I N G suck."
    "What is your problem? And feel free to stop spelling so I can figure out what you're bitching about."
    I want to punch him, but I don't because he's Pax. I can never tell if he's really so dumb that he doesn't even know he's dumb. If he's that stupid, I don't feel good about messing with him.
    "We're not staying here."
    "Why?" he says, crossing his arms over the strong chest I used to fantasize about. "It's nice here. Look at this fenced yard. A kid could have fun out here. Get a swing set and shit. I'd have killed to have that as a kid."
    "Me too, but that's the point. She won't have it. You'll have it. And what happens when you stop doing whatever you're doing now?"
    Deciding I don't care if he doesn't know he's stupid, I shove him without much effort. Sitting on the deck's steps, I mutter, "You're messing with my kid's head."
    Pax sits next to me. "I'm trying to be nice."
    "No, you want something."
    "To fuck you. No biggie."
    Rolling my eyes, I shove my elbow into his gut. He grins at my lame attempt to hurt him.
    "I could explain, but you'd have to fucking promise not to tell anyone."
    Glancing sideways at him, I realize he's serious. "Okay."
    "Pinkie promise this mutherfucker."
    "Stop cussing so much," I say, even while linking my pinkie with his.
    "I like cussing."
    "Me too, but I don't want Lula cussing."
    "You worry too much."
    Sighing, I shiver again from the cold. "So what's your big secret?"
    Pax gets up and opens the door. He tells Lula we're almost done then shuts the door and returns.
    "Here," he says, handing me his jacket.
    "Thanks, but you ought to wear a hat over your damp hair."
    Pax grins at my concern but doesn't go back inside. Instead, he sits next to me again.
    I slide into his jacket then frown. "Spill your guts."
    "I'm lonely."
    "B U L L S H I T."
    "Girl, I seriously can't spell for shit. Every time you spell something, it's gibberish to me."
    "I don't believe you're lonely."
    "It's true. Ford ditched me. Now, he vacations with his new family, and they didn't even invite crazy Uncle Pax along."
    "Did you want to go?"
    "No, but they should have asked," he says, nearly pouting.
    "Wait, I thought Shay asked."
    "She doesn't count."
    Struggling against the urge to laugh at him, I only nod. "You're like a little boy."
    "You mean adorable?"
    "No, stupid."
    "And adorable."
    "You're a little adorable, yes."
    Pax scoots closer to me, and I pretend he's just cold. Thinking of him wanting to be closer for any other reason makes me too nervous.
    "Last night, I thought of you being in that dollhouse with all those hookers and their kids and Darby. Then I thought of me being all alone here, and I figured I