That Thing You Do (Crystal Lake 2)

“Chess and I…” Nate looked away and took a few seconds before he swung his gaze back. “Moll, I was on my way outside to call you because I was tired of checking my phone every two minutes, and I hadn’t heard from you all day, and she got in the way.”

“I know what she’s like, Nathan. You forget that.”

“I don’t think you do, but it doesn’t matter, because you’ve got it all wrong.”

“She gets in the way, you push back.” Even Molly knew she sounded like a lunatic, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.

“You would want me to push Chess?”

“Yes,” she replied harshly. “As hard as you can.”

“You really don’t like her.”

“No. I don’t.”

Nathan rubbed the back of his neck while studying her a little too intensely. He was amused. Laughing at her. Dear God in heaven, she wanted to smash her fist into his perfect nose. Which, by the way, had been broken at least twice, so it had no business looking so damn good.

“Moll,” he said softly, cajolingly. She could tell he was trying not to smile, and that infuriated her.

“Don’t ‘Moll’ me. You have…” She had to take a moment and get some more of that air into her lungs, because she could barely speak. “You have no idea what I…” She swore and looked away.

“Then tell me.”

She whipped her head back around, and along with the stars that blinked in front of her face, she saw black. Not a pretty night sky kind of black either. This was black tinged with red, because, man, was she angry.

“I went to Estelle’s today, Nate. Estelle’s.”

The two-syllable word stretched out to at least four, and, coupled with the fact that her voice had risen two octaves, she sounded crazier by the minute. She didn’t give a rat’s ass. It felt good to let loose. To let the old Molly out to play. The one who was unapologetic and said exactly what was on her mind.

He looked confused and took a step forward, but she held up her hand, which stopped him in his tracks.

“I don’t know what that is,” he said, watching her carefully.

The anger in her shimmered and expanded. It sank into every cell of her body. It was the kind of anger that took hold and wouldn’t let go. The kind you had to act on or it would fester. It was the kind that fueled rampages and…and crimes of passion and road rage. And just now, it fed the rage that had simmered all damn day.

“I’m not surprised you don’t know what Estelle’s is because a man would never put himself through the things that go on behind the doors of that place. It might look calm and serene on the outside, but let me tell you, that’s a big fat lie.” She moved forward and thumped him on the chest. “It’s the kind of place I thought I’d never visit. The kind of place women go to have eyebrow hair yanked out and then they have it tattooed back on. Tattooed eyebrows are a thing. Did you know that?”

He said nothing, so she thumped him again.

“It’s the kind of place that has walls in these beautiful shades of blue and cream and yellow. You know, colors that are supposed to make you calm and relaxed and serene. The kind that make you think of gardens and puppies and rainbows. It’s creepy. Honestly, they should have bowls of Prozac at reception, because I think every single woman who goes to Estelle’s on a regular basis needs some of that stuff.”

She shook her head. “I went there because of you.”

“I didn’t tell you to go to Estelle’s.”

She ignored him. In fact, the sound of his voice made her angrier. “The woman at the reception desk is a client of mine. Yeah. Just last week, I cleared the anal glands on her Pomeranian. Because that’s what I do. I’m a veterinarian, not the kind of woman who goes to Estelle’s. I let them take me to this little room in the back, and then they made me take my clothes off, Nate.” Her eyes widened and flashed. “All of my clothes. And then I lay down on this table, and this sweet little lady with soft brown hair and big blue eyes walked in, and I thought, this isn’t going to be so bad. What can she do to me?”

Breath ragged, she fisted her hands in indignation.

“I’m gonna guess it was very bad.”

“Am I still talking? Pretty sure I’m still talking.”

“Carry on.”

“I asked for a little bit of waxing because the shaving thing was becoming a royal pain in the ass. And that’s your fault, by the way. It’s a lot of work sleeping with someone again, and I’m too busy for the details. I don’t have time for those kinds of things. Not when I’m bottle-feeding puppies and dealing with Fred Nagel’s dog every other day.”

“He eat another carpet?”