Apocalipstick (Hell in a Handbag Book 1) by Lisa Acerbo (the best e book reader txt) 📗

you about it. Tundra would be so mad at me, and you do not want to make Tundra mad. She has an awful temper.”

“I promise.”

Lilly tore back the collar of her shirt. Scars clearly stood out against the pale pallor of her skin.

“What happened? Did someone attack you? Did Tundra do this?”

“I saw marks on Quentin. Aren’t you and Caleb in some sort of relationship, too? I thought the same thing was going on here, but you all appear happy. Not scared like I am. Am I wrong?”

“I’m in a relationship with Caleb. We’re in love, but he’d never force me to do anything I did not want to do. I haven’t done that.” She put a hand to her neck.

“I’m sorry I brought this up.” Lilly’s face colored. “You’re with Caleb. What about Quentin. He has marks on his neck. I assumed his situation was the same.”

“Quentin had a recent near-death experience. He needs something or someone to help him recover. What they do in the privacy of their own room is none of my business.”

“The dark haired one, um . . . Maybe her name is Arlene.”

“You mean, Aiko.”

“Aiko told Tundra about him. She said Quentin was a regular. I believe she called him a donor.”

“A donor? Shit. Harsh.”

“You won’t say anything, will you?” Lilly knotted her hands together.

“Of course not,” Jenna replied. “I’m just confused. I’ve been so concerned with my own little world I’ve lost touch with everything going on around here. Listen though, the New Racers here are our friends and family. They would never make us do anything we don’t want to.”

“Good to know.” Lilly smiled, but the light didn’t reach her eyes.

The women worked in the garden until lunch time, conversation shifting to how the inn ran and the low-down on the people who lived there, relieving some of the tension between them. Jenna told funny stories about the group’s adventures before reaching the inn. Lilly’s tales were much darker, and she didn’t like to expand on the months she’d spent roaming with Tundra.

Throughout the conversation, unease chomped at Jenna. At lunch, Lilly joined Mack and Jim, and Jenna went to seek out Quentin. He was in the kitchen helping to fill Jackie’s version of tortillas with meat and vegetables. Jenna drew him aside.

When she had to speak, she wished she’d planned a little more. “Can I ask you something?” Her eyes flew to the marks on his neck. How could she have missed those?

“Sure,” Quentin said. “I think it’s time we all forgive and forget.”

“Then you might not like what I have to say. I’ve heard some rather weird stuff lately and wanted to know if it was true.”

“What gossip is going around the inn now? People need to keep their mouths shut and their eyes on their own business.”

“You and Aiko.”

“You know all you need to. The details of my relationship are really none of your business. You’re perfectly content with Caleb. I bet the only reason you come to see me is because I’m happy and with someone who cares about me the way I do about them.”

“Unfair. Think about it. Does Aiko care about you, or is she using you? Lilly said Aiko called you a donor when she was speaking with Tundra. What does that mean?”

“You should ask the same thing about you and Caleb. Maybe he’s the one using you. Maybe you’re so caught up being with him, you let him use you any way he likes.”

“It’s not like that with Caleb.”

“You know what, Jenna? I don’t care. Be with whoever you want, whenever you want. You believe the new girl but ignore what I have to say. Just leave me alone. You make this so hard.”

“Because we’re friends. I don’t want to see you hurt or used.” She reached out a hand to him.

“We were friends at one time, and I actually thought we might be again, but you obviously can’t let me be happy. I don’t want to be friends. If you won’t leave, I will.” Quentin stomped out of the kitchen.

Jenna stood hurt and angry, a cascade of emotions running through her. Finding an empty table in the dining room, she sat alone. Flinging away her plate drew curious stares. She pulled it back and forced a couple bites.

What’s the right thing to do?

After lunch, she and Lilly joined up again for afternoon chores where they endured the joy of laundry duty. Lilly worked hard to make Jenna laugh with funny stories of the times before the pandemic. Afternoon merged into evening. When the women had finished their work, she sought Caleb out even more sure Lilly didn’t deserve this.

Caleb made her wait. First, he had a project to plan with John, and then he forced her participation in a long and feverish game of Parcheesi with John and Victor. Jenna conceded defeat early because John and Victor spent the entire game claiming good naturedly the other cheated, and she had more fun watching them bicker than attempting to win.

She finally coerced Caleb back to her room. He arrived with a change of clothes and guitar. Could it be he had plans to move into the small space with her? His dirty socks, toothbrush, and tattered books had already found a place to call home amongst her possessions.

This was a very different discussion they needed to have, but it would have to wait.

“Planning on playing your guitar for me?”

“Not tonight.”

“Then why bring it here?”

“I’m going to practice later.”

“You could practice now or in a few minutes. We need to talk.”

“I’ll work on it later. It’s not ready.”

“What’s not ready?”

“The song I wrote for you. Soon. I promise. What do we need to talk about?”

Caleb yanked her on his lap and kissed her neck, but she shifted back. “Can’t I distract you?”

Snuggling against him on the chair, Jenna said, “Talk first. I need your help processing a conversation I had with Lilly earlier.”

“Someone’s serious?” Caleb teased her hip with his fingers.

“This is serious. There is