Free All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood Page A

had as much to lose as she did if they got caught. Because Liam was jealous, unless it was his idea. If he said, “Why don’t you give Vic a good time?” then that was okay. Unless he thought you’d enjoyed it too much and that’d come back to bite you.
    It was still light out when Dee got back to the ranch. In the front yard, four bikes stood ready to go, with four more on a trailer behind the truck. Kellen was loading up a pair of toolboxes.
    â€œAm I riding with you? Give me five minutes,” Dee called as she stepped out of the Charger. She needed a shower, but maybe she would just grab some makeup and clean clothes so she didn’t look like a piece of shit next to Val.
    Kellen shrugged. He wasn’t retarded, but he was definitely slow. Dee thought it was that fetus alcohol thing. That’s why his eyes were slanted, too, or that was because he was an Indian. Flat-faced, too. About as homely as a mud fence.
    At least he waited for her. When she came out of the trailer, he was the only one there. He jammed her pack into his saddlebag. Then he swung his leg over the bike and started it. The sound of a big engine firing up always got Dee right in her cunt and, riding behind him, who cared what Kellen looked like? She leaned into him on the highway, smoothed her hands over his belly, down to his belt buckle.
    They stopped before dawn. Two of the guys bedded down in the truck, and Kellen paid for two hotel rooms. Nobody said a word about how to divvy them up, but it was four people, four beds. Butch and Liam were way old friends and Terry had rotten teeth. That left Kellen.
    Alicia, one of the girls from last summer, had screwed Kellen as a favor to Liam. She said he was hung. Polite, but sweaty and awkward. Like having sex with a walrus. “You’ve had sex with a walrus?” Ricki had asked and they all died laughing, stoned out of their minds.
    At least sex with Kellen would take Dee’s mind off Liam.
    Or it would if Kellen weren’t so shy. Alone with her, he didn’t leer when she came out of the bathroom in a too-small motel towel. He didn’t even look at her, even though she stood between him and the TV. When he finally looked up, she dropped the towel.
    â€œAre you too tired?” she said.
    â€œNot too much, I guess.”
    I guess . God, she didn’t ask for romance, but could he show a little enthusiasm? Not wanting the walrus experience, she pushed him back on the bed and opened his fly. As advertised, he had some equipment, what you’d expect from a guy his size. Also, he didn’t try to kiss her and he lasted long enough for her to get off. She went into the bathroom to clean up and when she came out, Kellen was taking off his boots.
    â€œThanks,” he mumbled.
    It surprised her. She hadn’t really thought about the fact that she was doing him a favor. She hadn’t thought about him at all. Pulling back the covers on the other bed, she crawled in, relieved that she wouldn’t have to sleep next to him.
    â€œHere.” He opened his wallet and counted out some money.
    Dee never liked taking money for it, but she folded the bills into her purse. When she was with Liam, money wasn’t a problem, but what were the odds he’d even notice her with Val there? She needed the cash.
    Kellen met her gaze for a second before he looked away. “I don’t mean—it’s not—Liam told me to give you this.”
    â€œOh, cool.” Curling on her side away from him, Dee tried to think of something nice to say and couldn’t.
    Kellen was a lousy liar and he snored.

 
    11
    AMY
    Mom came back to the kitchen with a crying little boy in her arms. She sat down and cried, too, rocking him back and forth on her lap. It scared me until I saw Wavy standing in the doorway with bruises on her face and a fresh scab under her lower lip. Then it all made sense.
    â€œOh my God,” Mom said. “What am I going to