The Late Night Horror Show Read Free Page A

expression staying blank a moment longer. Then a corner of her mouth tilted upward in a cautious smile. “Okay.”
    She returned the CD to the rack.
    “Happy?”
    “Yes. Look—”
    “I’m sorry I’m mooching a drink off you, okay?”
    Kira smiled and felt something inside her relax. “Okay.” Then she frowned. “But what’s this about Greg hitting you?”
    Lashon took another sip of her drink, wincing as her lips pursed around the thin straw. She licked her lips after releasing the straw. “Okay. I sort of lied.”
    Now we’re getting to it. About time.
    Kira leaned against the counter. “So there was no physical abuse at all.”
    “Didn’t say that. There was. I hit him.”
    Kira gaped at her. “What? Are you fucking serious?”
    “Yeah.”
    Kira was reeling.
    What…the…FUCK?
    “Why? What did he do?”
    “Nothing much.”
    Kira didn’t know what to say. She just continued to stare at her friend in openmouthed astonishment.
    Lashon’s expression now was somber, instead of carefully blank. “It was all my fault. It was around finals time. I was so stressed the fuck out. And he was just frustrating me, pissing me off no matter what he did or said. Finally I just snapped and hit him.”
    “When you say you ‘hit’ him…”
    Lashon shook her head. “I know what you’re thinking and I’m not talking about a slap or any fucking little love tap. I punched him. In the face. As hard as I could. I mean, I really let him have it.” Moisture brimmed in her eyes. She made no move to wipe it away. “And, shit, I did it more than once. He just took it. I wish he’d hit me back.”
    Kira felt sick. “Jesus.”
    “Yeah. I chipped one of his teeth on my engagement ring.” She held up her left hand and wiggled the bare fingers. “Which, by the way, I no longer have.” She laughed softly as a tear rolled down her face. “So, no, I haven’t patched things up with Greg. Or, rather, he hasn’t patched things up with me. And I don’t blame him. I don’t know how to explain it. I just had a…mental break, I guess.”
    Kira couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It went against everything she’d ever assumed about her friend. She would never in a million years have guessed Lashon possessed the potential for that kind of violence. And yet, there was none of that sense of awkward falseness she’d exuded before. Her gut told her this wasn’t just more bullshit. It was the truth. Which was so fucked up on so many levels she couldn’t even begin to wrap her head around it. “I just…I guess I never suspected you had that kind of rage inside you.”
    Lashon wiped tears away. “I’m just lucky he didn’t call the cops. Do you hate me now?”
    Kira shook her head. “I…no. I’ll be honest, I don’t understand this. It disturbs me, but I care about you.”
    Lashon smiled. “At least someone does. Are you…afraid of me?” She laughed too loudly then. “Hell, I know I’d be if someone unloaded a story like this on me.”
    Just say it. What she needs to hear.
    “No. I’m not afraid of you.”
    Lashon looked grateful. “Oh good. I’m glad. That means a lot. You’re the only person I’ve told. It feels good to sort of…confess. Now if I could just stop feeling like I should step in front of a speeding bus and be done with all this misery.”
    Kira flinched. “Don’t say things like that.”
    “Don’t tell how I really feel, you mean?”
    Awkward silence time again.
    Kira glanced at her iPad, noticing the horror festival’s site for the first time since Lashon walked through the door. “Go out with me tonight.”
    Lashon smirked. “What, like on a date?”
    Kira turned the iPad toward her. “I’m checking this out later. Jason and Monroe are going, too.”
    Lashon glanced at the screen, then looked at Kira, a corner of her mouth curling up. “ Those guys.” She rolled her eyes, but her attention returned to the screen. She touched the screen and navigated to the page for Blood Lust .