But it hadn’t.

“What’s wrong with you, aren’t you a man? I didn’t like you, Eli, but I didn’t think you were such a pansy.”

“Asa and I broke up. Weeks ago.”

She paused. “Oh. Well, I always told her if she gives the milk away for free, no one is buying the cow. And now she’s some rich man’s mistress. I raised a slut.”

“Maybe. But not a cheater.”

“He’s married!”

“His wife knows.”

“Is that what she told you?”

“It’s what his wife told me.”

“So, you’re not a cuck, you’re just a pathetic beta boy, sitting around waiting for him to dump her so you can get her back?”

“Where the fuck do you get this bullshit?”

“Language!” she slapped my arm.

“Are you fucking kidding me--”

She slapped my arm again. I glanced at her. “Seatbelt on.”

“What?”

“Put your seatbelt on,” she stared at me, I growled, “Now.”

She obeyed.

“Answer me. Where do you pick up this fucking,” her hand lashed out and I caught it. “bullshit?”

“I--let go!”

“Not until you answer me.”

“Online. And news. The world is going to hell in a handbasket, I have to keep up with it. My daughters in some sort of throuple, polycule, monstrosity and her ex is, what, their servant?”

“Kianna, I never thought I’d say this to you, but you need to touch grass.”

She glared at me. I shook my head.

“Here’s what’s going to happen, we’re almost to your place, you’re going to invite me in. We’re going to have a cup of tea, you’ll calm down and then you’ll give me the money for the cab ride back to get my car.”

She frowned at that, but it would end this encounter…

She agreed, and the rest of the ride passed quickly. The cup of tea was deeply unpleasant, as she was trying to act like she was calm, even as I explained about Asa, Andre and me. I kept poking and finally she exploded.

“You are such a pansy, wuss, chicken, coward! You were always worthless, but at least you weren’t married, you were just living in sin, not actually violating any oaths!”

“Not alpha enough for you, Kianna?”

“No.”

“So, what would an alpha male do? Teach me, since you know everything.”

“He’d go take his woman and nothing would get in his way, especially not some old, married man!”

I stared at her.

“And that’s what you want me to do?”

“Yes! But you’re too much of a pansy to ever do that. You’re probably just that married man’s little ****. Or are you more than that? No real man would ever let someone get away with treating them like that.”