“What are you doing?” Diamond said, startled.
“I’m going to check your apartment out before I leave,” Knox answered, brushing past her to walk through her apartment, checking each room.
“I believe I would notice if someone broke in,” Diamond said sarcastically.
“Your neighbors aren’t home next door. Who’s going to hear if you yell for help?” Knox said, unfazed by her attitude, which only irritated Diamond further.
“I have a cell phone,” she snapped.
“Yeah, you tell the man who breaks in and is waiting to take you out that you need to make a call. I’m sure he’ll listen,” Knox said sarcastically. “Until we find out who broke into your office, you need to play it safe, Diamond.”
In the turmoil of the last few hours she had forgotten about her office.
“I wasn’t thinking. Next time, I’ll be more careful,” Diamond admitted.
“Good. Now do you have anything to eat, I’m fucking starving.”
“I think I can manage something.” She laughed, setting her purse down on the table.
“Good, because I hate to tell you this, but your mama isn’t a good cook,” Knox said with a grimace.
Diamond had to agree. “How was the cake?” she asked, going to the refrigerator and pulling out lunchmeat, lettuce and tomatoes.
“I think she mixed up the salt with the sugar, and the chocolate was God awful,” Knox said, picking out an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter.
“She always manages to mix up the different types of chocolate. Sorry my dad didn’t help you out.”
“Hell, I understand; in that situation it was every man for himself.” Diamond laughed harder.
“Thank God, she doesn’t cook often. Usually it’s about something pretty bad, and I guess, tonight was no exception,” Diamond said, her laughter dying.
“You don’t want your parents to get married?” Knox went to her fridge, pulling out a grape soda. “How long have they been together?” he asked, taking a bite of the apple.
“Thirty-five years. Twenty years longer than they should have been.”
Knox paused, unscrewing the bottled grape drink. “Is that the reason you yelled at them out in their front yard?”
Diamond made the sandwiches, cutting and slicing them, even removing the crust. Then, setting them on a couple of plates, she carried them to the table.
“Yes.” When they sat down to eat, regret began to bloom in her chest, making it hard to swallow.
“I bet they hate me.” Diamond got up, throwing the rest of her food away and putting her plate in the sink.
“No, they don’t. They aren’t real happy with you right now, but they don’t hate you,” Knox said. “I have to say, though, if a man can eat that kind of cooking from a woman, there has to be a lot of love there.” Diamond had to partially agree; her mom was a terrible cook, although she had never seen him complain, acting like each meal she served had been prepared by a five star chef.
“Sex Piston hates me.”
“That’s probably true,” Knox said, finishing his sandwich, then rose to put his own plate in the sink. Diamond leaned against the counter, trying not to laugh.
“Gee, thanks.”
“I don’t believe in bullshit. What you said tonight, nothing was wrong with saying it. You simply should have done it sooner. That shit’s been festering awhile for you, hasn’t it?”
“Ever since I was fourteen and saw my dad fucking one of the sluts that had been hanging around the clubhouse.” Diamond turned away, walking into the living room. “She was always so friendly with Mom and me when we went to the clubhouse; both before and after I saw her with my dad. It didn’t bother her at all she was doing him behind my mom’s back.”
Knox followed her into the living room, sitting on the sofa. “You sure your mom didn’t know? They’ve been together a long time for her not to know he’s fucking around on her.”
“We never talked about it. I couldn’t tell her, and I’m damn sure my dad didn’t.” Diamond sat down at the end of the couch.
“It wouldn’t be something your mom would talk to you about,” Knox said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Are you saying my mom knew he was fucking around on her and she stayed with him anyway?” Diamond asked angrily.
“I’m saying that what went on between your parents is their business. Maybe she did know and it didn’t bother her; she accepted it,” Knox reasoned.
“Are you crazy? What woman is going to stay with a man who is constantly fucking around on her?”
“Some couples don’t mind sharing,” Knox said, turning on the television with the remote.
“Yeah, The Last Riders for one. Don’t tarnish my parents with the same sick kinks your club shares.” Diamond grabbed the remote from his hand. Knox reacted by taking her hand and jerking her down on his lap.
“What do we do that’s sick?” he asked, easily keeping her on his lap as she tried to wiggle off.