Gone With a Handsomer Man Read Online Free PDF Page B

I’d say, Prove it. Buy Natalie a ticket for the Space Shuttle . I gathered up my courage and said, “I am sorry you got hurt. But the reason I’m calling is, I just talked to your girlfriend Natalie.”
    He was silent for a moment. “Where’d you see her?”
    “I’m at your uncle Elmer’s house.”
    “You’re where?” he cried.
    “Miss Dora gave me the key.”
    “Damn her. I should’ve known she’d pull something like this.”
    “She’s redecorating, or I’d stay with her.”
    “Well, the Spencer-Jackson House isn’t hers,” he said. “You can’t stay there.”
    “I know. Natalie told me.”
    “How’d she know you were there?”
    “Didn’t you send her?” I asked.
    “No. Absolutely not.”
    “She put up a ‘For Sale’ sign.”
    “She what ?” he cried.
    I waited to see if he’d continue. When he didn’t, I said, “Bing, I know you’re mad. But is there any way I can stay for a few days? Miss Dora said you need a house sitter. You won’t kick me to the street, will you?”
    “You hit me in the head. You’ve got twenty-four hours to get the hell off my property.”
    “But Miss Dora said—”
    “Don’t mention that bitch’s name to me. She shanghaied my poor daddy and then fed him nothing but fried foods. He’d still be alive if he hadn’t tangled with Dora.”
    I pictured Bing sitting at the pine kitchen table, rubbing his hands together. He always did that when he talked about Dora. I was pretty sure our bulldog lay stretched out on the floor, his lips vibrating with each exhale.
    “Teeny?” Bing said. “You still there?”
    “Just tell me why you cheated,” I said.
    “I didn’t get to. I didn’t even know they were coming over. They showed up with a cooler of lemon margaritas. Next thing I knew, they were naked.”
    “You didn’t have to join them, did you?” My hand was trembling so bad the phone knocked into my jaw. I was having trouble understanding how two women just happened to show up on the very night of my first cake class. If it hadn’t been canceled, I wouldn’t have known the truth about Bing.
    “At the time it seemed like fun,” he said.
    I was tempted to call him an asshole, which was perfectly legal, but I held back. Women stayed with bastards all the time. I’d heard on Oprah that relationships can be sticky. Some kind of hormone gets secreted, and it traps you to the other person. You’re afraid to peel yourself away because you might leave behind a piece of yourself. When insects land on flypaper, they might break loose, only to leave behind a leg. They buzz off, thinking, Wow, what a clean break. And their foot is still wiggling on the paper.
    “Bing, I know you’re upset,” I said. “But I’m flat broke. I can’t rent an apartment till I find a job.”
    “Go back to your farm.”
    “Can’t. I’m on probation here for six months.”
    “Well, that’s too fucking bad. And don’t start in about your childhood. I don’t want to hear that shit about your mama and them. I don’t feel one drop of pity for you.”
    I wrapped the phone cord around my wrist, hating myself for having told him about Mama. It had been a huge step for me, a catharsis, and I’d put everything behind me. Now Bing was using the past against me. Fine, I didn’t need this house. I’d just call Mr. Bell and ask him to talk to the judge. I didn’t know doodly-squat about the law, but maybe I could get special permission to live in Georgia. No way could I afford to stay in Charleston until December fourth.
    “I can’t go anywhere without my clothes,” I said. “They’re at your house.”
    “No problem. They’ll be waiting for you in my driveway. Anything else?”
    “My dog.” I swallowed. “I want Sir.”
    “No, ma’am. You’re a little jailbird. You’re unfit to raise a dog. Don’t even think about sneaking over here with a T-bone steak and dognapping him. That’s grand theft. And you’ll be violating the restraining order.”
    All this time,