Monster - A. Lee Martinez [83]
He heard the front door open.
“Stay here and watch Judy,” he told Chester. “I’ll have to keep Liz from freaking out.”
Monster dashed into the living room and shut the bedroom door. Liz stood perfectly still, her hand still holding the front doorknob as she stared quietly at the gaping hole in the ruined living room.
“Hey, baby.” He smiled his widest. “You won’t believe the day I’ve had.”
Though the air around her shimmered with heat, Liz remained calm. She set down her briefcase, walked around the hole and into the kitchen. She grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. Her hand caused the liquid inside to boil, and the bottle cap popped off the top as warm foam ran down the edges.
“How was your day?” he asked.
Liz took a drink of her beer but said nothing.
“I can explain this. I really can—”
“Don’t bother.”
“But you have to hear this. It’s completely unbelievable.”
“I’m sure it is, and I couldn’t care less. Because I’m through with this, Monster. I’m through with you.”
“What?”
“I’ve been talking to Gary about this, and—”
“Whoa, whoa. Who is Gary?”
“Nobody. Just some guy at work. You met him at the company picnic a couple of years ago, but of course you don’t remember.”
“What the hell does he have to do with anything?”
“Gary gets me. He understands and supports me in a way that you never did.”
Monster struggled to wrap his head around this. “Wait a minute. You’re dumping me?”
“Dump is such an ugly word,” said Liz with a forced smile. “But in this case, it’s entirely appropriate.”
“But what about last night? I thought we were back on track. Y’know, with the sex and all that.”
“It was nice,” she admitted. “And I was thinking maybe I was wrong about you. But one good night doesn’t make up for the rest of it. For crap like this. Life is too short.”
“But you can’t dump me. We have a contract!”
“I’m exercising my escape clause.”
Monster said, “Wait, wait, wait. If you dump me, you go back to the underworld.”
“That’s right.”
“You’d rather go back to the Pits than stay with me?”
“It wasn’t an easy choice to make,” she said, “but Gary and I agree that it’s the healthiest choice. You’re not good for me, Monster. I have enough to deal with. I don’t need to add your irresponsibility to the list.”
“I am not irresponsible.”
She finished her beer and tossed the empty bottle into the giant hole in the living room.
“That isn’t fair. It’s not my fault. I was nearly killed today. A couple of times.” He stopped. “Wait a minute. Wait a goddamn minute. I can’t believe you want to drop this on me today, not after the day I’ve had.”
“Gary said you would try to make this about you.”
“You’re screwing him, aren’t you?”
“Oh, how immature.” Liz shook her head. “This isn’t about sex.”
“You’re a succubus. It’s always about sex.”
“See? Gary told me you never got me. You never tried to understand what was important—”
“Screw Gary. The guy sounds like a real asshole.”
Liz flared and incinerated her chair. She fell on her butt.
Monster smiled. “Did Gary see that coming?”
Standing, she dusted herself off. “I know what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to bring me down to your level. But I’m better than that. I’m better than you.” The heat radiating from her body lessened, allowing him to step closer as he tried to come up with a rebuttal.
“You know what? I just realized I don’t give a crap either,” he said. “Actually, I’m kind of relieved. This scene was getting old. You’re so happy with Gary, then go back to Hell. I don’t…”
She squinted at him.
“What?” he asked. “What is it?”
“You were looking at boobs, weren’t you?”
“What if I was? You’re dumping me, aren’t you?”
Liz scowled. “You asshole. You cheating asshole. And to think, I felt bad when I decided to kill you.”
“I didn’t cheat. I just saw some tits. Completely by accident.” He stopped. “Wait. You can’t kill me. That’s against the rules.”
“Oh, yes, but what happens when I break the rules, baby?” She smiled sweetly. “Do you remember what happens then… baby?”
“You go straight back