Tattered Love (Needle's Kiss)

filled me in on the garbage he hangs around when he isn’t with me,” Bimbo snarled.
    Teeny instantly bristled. “Listen here, you bleach blonde bimbo, take you dodgy-ass hair extensions and your slutty anorexic face the fuck away from me.”
    The entire time Mace sat there like a stunned idiot spluttering, not getting a word out, clearly shocked at being caught out.
    Bimbo turned and smiled sweetly. “Mace, you clearly haven’t told her about me? That’s really no surprise now is it. You always were ashamed of our relationship.”
    Oh, hell fucking no. Just—No!
    I wasn’t about to do this, not here, not now. My chest was tight. I felt sick to my stomach; bimbo clearly knew about me. I told him I didn’t share, and the bastard was—well I didn’t know what the hell he thought he was doing, but whatever it was, it ended right fucking now.
    “Right, well then, Mace, I have to be going. Don’t bother coming near me again. I’m not down with that shit.” I turned and made my way back to the car, Teeny right on my heels, and Mace yelling after me as I went. I turned and flipped him the bird as Teeny reversed the car. My heart breaking just as quickly as we raced off down the street.

 

     
    “Shut the fuck up, Janelle,” I snapped at her stupid whining voice. Right at that moment, I loathed her. I shouldn’t have lied to Scar. I knew that. I just wanted to sort out Janelle and her stupid-assed bullshit, and all I’d succeeded in doing was fucking everything right the hell up.
    FUCK!
    I sat there like some moron while Scarlett got the wrong idea, and while Janelle ran her mouth. I was too shocked to do anything, and now I had lost the only Goddamn thing good in my life. What a fucking idiot!
    “I don’t know what you see in her. She’s covered in ugly-looking tattoos. Her hair is disgusting and look at how she was dressed. Yuck! You have so much better taste than that,” Janelle snarled like the catty bitch she was.
    “Janelle, I warned you I told you to shut it. You of all people have no right to tell me anything about my life or my choices.”
    She gasped and threw her hand to her chest in poorly-faked offence. Just as quickly, she changed gears pasting a sugar-sweet fake-as-hell smile on her face and cooed, “Fine, when you come to your senses, you know I’ll be right here for you, Macey.” I hated when she called me that.
    Standing there looking down at the woman who had made my life hell for more years than was necessary, it suddenly occurred to me Scarlett was right. I was holding onto blame for something I would never have been able to control. I was allowing Janelle to keep me feeling guilty and I’d had enough.
    I needed to go after Scarlett. I needed to fix this cluster-fuck situation, and I needed to once and for all sort this shit out with Janelle. Only, I had a time limit with Scarlett. I knew I had to find her quickly and explain. Explain everything.
    I raced out to my truck ignoring the incessant nagging from Janelle as she followed me carrying on like a banshee, screaming cursing, throwing accusations that made no sense. Shit, how did I put up with that whining voice for so damn long ? I jumped in the cab, started the engine and took off like a bat outta hell to get my girl back. Praying every second of the way I wasn’t too late, and Scar would give me time to explain. In my rear view mirror, I could see Janelle standing on the sidewalk, her arms flailing about, obviously still making a scene. Crazy bitch.
    Two hours later, I had driven across town twice, checked her parlor, the pub, Teeny’s place, her place and everywhere else I could think of. Nothing. I’d called her at least two dozen times, texted her even more than that and had no replies. The messages I’d left her had now filled her voicemail box full. After exhausting all avenues, I sat on her back porch waiting for her to come home or call, text me back any damn thing. Knots filled my stomach as my head filled with thoughts. What if I’ve lost her? What if she’s had an accident? What if she never comes back? Just as I was about to take off and drive around looking again, I heard a car pull into the drive. I jumped out of my seat and raced to the front of the house as Teeny pulled out and took off.
    Scarlett tried to shut the door in my face, but I jammed my booted foot in the way and pushed past the door as she took off up the stairs, me hot on her heels. The fury on her face spurred me on. She was mad as