Big Bad Beast
Page 70
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CHAPTER 25
D ee woke up on Fourth of July morning alone. But on the pillow next to her was a note and a granola bar.
Had to run into town with Stein for more breakfast fooddamn lions! Well be back soon. Please eat this until I return. Im afraid youll start feeding on your own muscle mass if you dont get some food in you.
Chuckling, Dee sat up and ate her granola bar. She was nearly done when she heard the howling from beneath her window.
What? she asked her cousin once shed opened the window.
Couldnt you put on a T-shirt or something?
Its not like you havent seen my tits before, Sissy Mae.
Thats not the point. Theres a time and place!
When did you become Sally Etiquette?
Just get your suit on. Were hittin the beach.
I just woke up and
Not a request. Just move your ass, cousin.
Fine.
I know its fine. In fact, it better be goddamn fine!
Heifer.
Rich mans whore!
At least mine can cook the food he eats. And replaces it, too.
Now see, Dee-Ann Smith. That was just mean!
Ric adored farmers markets. Fresh produce and dairy and relatively friendly people, and a healthy mix of full-humans and shifters. It was perfect. Even his cousins constant complaints couldnt bring him down.
Do you think Dees more a roses kind of girl? Or lilies? he asked.
Stein stared at him. Honestly? I think a machine gun and ample ammo is more your scary girlfriends speed, cousin.
See how you are? Ric shook his head. She keeps telling me I shouldnt be so tough on you, and here you are, talking shit about her.
I wasnt talking shit about her. God, please dont tell that woman I was talking shit about her.
Shes liable to cut my head off and wear it on her jacket as a brooch. And you are being too tough on me. I havent had a moment to relax or enjoy the pool, get in a little tennis, nothing, since Ive become your indentured servant.
You owe me, Stein. Dont forget what you owe me.
How can I? You wont let me.
Is it so impossible for you to realize that you have to work your way back up? That youre still not going to get a kitchen when you havent been trained?
How is washing dishes and scrubbing floors training?
My best cooks started off washing dishes and scrubbing floors.
Theyre also not blood relations and theyre mostly immigrants. Ric faced his cousin, butdidnt say anything. He let Abby do the talking for him. Shed tagged along with them for the trip since shed been up bright and early, eating food shed dug out of the trash.
Why she felt the need to do that when she had an entire refrigerator of fresh food at her disposal, Ric had no idea. Although they were low on things because of the cats, they still had food.
Abby snarled and snapped at Stein, nipping at his feet and forcing him to back up several steps.
This is Abby Vega, Ric told his cousin. Im thinking right now she does not like you.
Great, Stein sighed. Im stuck on the politically correct team.
Does it ever occur to you that sometimes you shouldnt speak? Hannah asked Stein, standing off to the side. Shed come along because she seemed to fear shed have to, in her words, talk to Dee at some point today. Ric wasnt sure what Hannah was so worried about. If she was afraid shed have to have some big, psychological discussion with Dee-Ann Smith about her inability to shift to her hybrid form when seriously threatened by hyenas, she was wasting her time. Dee didnt have big, psychological discussions. Thats what Ric liked about her. His friends talked to him all the time about their problems, and although he didnt mind, he enjoyed Dees lack of complaining. Besides, it was fun trying to figure out what had pissed her off at any given moment and how he could fix it.
I didnt know you were capable of creating a sentence, sub-adult, Stein shot back. I thought you could only brood and glare. Ow! Motherfu
Stein, Ric warned.
Shes eating my leg!
Abby had latched on to Steins leg, and was doing her best to rip out his calf muscle.
Then maybe you should be nicer.
You really hate me, dont you?
If I hated you, cousin, I would have let Dee-Ann tear your colon out when she had the chance.
What about bread?
Ric and Stein looked over at Hannah, surprised by her sudden question.
What about it? Ow! Get off me, crazed female!
Are you going to provide bread? Because if you think any is left after those cats wake up, youre delusional.
Shes right, Ric agreed. But I dont have time to make bread this morning.
Theyre selling fresh French bread right over at that stall.
Bought bread?
You act like I just suggested roach-infested bread from Satans bakery.
I do fresh or I dont do bread. All right, kind of a lie, but she didnt need to know that.
D ee woke up on Fourth of July morning alone. But on the pillow next to her was a note and a granola bar.
Had to run into town with Stein for more breakfast fooddamn lions! Well be back soon. Please eat this until I return. Im afraid youll start feeding on your own muscle mass if you dont get some food in you.
Chuckling, Dee sat up and ate her granola bar. She was nearly done when she heard the howling from beneath her window.
What? she asked her cousin once shed opened the window.
Couldnt you put on a T-shirt or something?
Its not like you havent seen my tits before, Sissy Mae.
Thats not the point. Theres a time and place!
When did you become Sally Etiquette?
Just get your suit on. Were hittin the beach.
I just woke up and
Not a request. Just move your ass, cousin.
Fine.
I know its fine. In fact, it better be goddamn fine!
Heifer.
Rich mans whore!
At least mine can cook the food he eats. And replaces it, too.
Now see, Dee-Ann Smith. That was just mean!
Ric adored farmers markets. Fresh produce and dairy and relatively friendly people, and a healthy mix of full-humans and shifters. It was perfect. Even his cousins constant complaints couldnt bring him down.
Do you think Dees more a roses kind of girl? Or lilies? he asked.
Stein stared at him. Honestly? I think a machine gun and ample ammo is more your scary girlfriends speed, cousin.
See how you are? Ric shook his head. She keeps telling me I shouldnt be so tough on you, and here you are, talking shit about her.
I wasnt talking shit about her. God, please dont tell that woman I was talking shit about her.
Shes liable to cut my head off and wear it on her jacket as a brooch. And you are being too tough on me. I havent had a moment to relax or enjoy the pool, get in a little tennis, nothing, since Ive become your indentured servant.
You owe me, Stein. Dont forget what you owe me.
How can I? You wont let me.
Is it so impossible for you to realize that you have to work your way back up? That youre still not going to get a kitchen when you havent been trained?
How is washing dishes and scrubbing floors training?
My best cooks started off washing dishes and scrubbing floors.
Theyre also not blood relations and theyre mostly immigrants. Ric faced his cousin, butdidnt say anything. He let Abby do the talking for him. Shed tagged along with them for the trip since shed been up bright and early, eating food shed dug out of the trash.
Why she felt the need to do that when she had an entire refrigerator of fresh food at her disposal, Ric had no idea. Although they were low on things because of the cats, they still had food.
Abby snarled and snapped at Stein, nipping at his feet and forcing him to back up several steps.
This is Abby Vega, Ric told his cousin. Im thinking right now she does not like you.
Great, Stein sighed. Im stuck on the politically correct team.
Does it ever occur to you that sometimes you shouldnt speak? Hannah asked Stein, standing off to the side. Shed come along because she seemed to fear shed have to, in her words, talk to Dee at some point today. Ric wasnt sure what Hannah was so worried about. If she was afraid shed have to have some big, psychological discussion with Dee-Ann Smith about her inability to shift to her hybrid form when seriously threatened by hyenas, she was wasting her time. Dee didnt have big, psychological discussions. Thats what Ric liked about her. His friends talked to him all the time about their problems, and although he didnt mind, he enjoyed Dees lack of complaining. Besides, it was fun trying to figure out what had pissed her off at any given moment and how he could fix it.
I didnt know you were capable of creating a sentence, sub-adult, Stein shot back. I thought you could only brood and glare. Ow! Motherfu
Stein, Ric warned.
Shes eating my leg!
Abby had latched on to Steins leg, and was doing her best to rip out his calf muscle.
Then maybe you should be nicer.
You really hate me, dont you?
If I hated you, cousin, I would have let Dee-Ann tear your colon out when she had the chance.
What about bread?
Ric and Stein looked over at Hannah, surprised by her sudden question.
What about it? Ow! Get off me, crazed female!
Are you going to provide bread? Because if you think any is left after those cats wake up, youre delusional.
Shes right, Ric agreed. But I dont have time to make bread this morning.
Theyre selling fresh French bread right over at that stall.
Bought bread?
You act like I just suggested roach-infested bread from Satans bakery.
I do fresh or I dont do bread. All right, kind of a lie, but she didnt need to know that.
