Paying for pizza-1

The “man” was a landscape contractor her father had hired to do some work on the grounds. He offered Marley a patronizing smile, and for the umpteenth time since she’d had her hair cut, she found herself wishing she hadn’t. It was a pixie cut she’d gotten for high school graduation, but it had been a mistake, because now she looked like a girl much younger than her eighteen years, and it made her vulnerable to clods like the landscaper standing before her.

“Sweetie, sweetie, sweetie…” he said, laughing and hiking his pants.

“Fuck you,” Marley hissed.

His eyes widened and he straightened his back.

She said it low enough that neither Joey nor his friends would overhear and tell her father. He wouldn’t want her swearing in front of the boys, and meeting his high expectations was important to Marley. Putting her back to the boys, Marley put her hands on her hips and threw out her chin. “You piece-of-shit motherfucker,” she whispered, “fuck you.”

He took two steps back, his eyes still wide.

He looked her body up and down. Marley wore cutoff denim shorts and a bikini top. Her navel jewelry twinkled in her midriff. It excited her to stand up to him and her nipples made two hard little nubs appear in the fabric of her top. She pointed to the landscaper’s truck and smiled sweetly. He scowled and turned, making his way to the truck.