Earl leans across the table, eyes glittering.
“What do you mean, think I got it figured out. I got it figured out.” He slapped the magazine. “I’ll pass these photos around Sling-It so fast your sweet little reputation won’t know what hit it. You’ll never be able to show your face in there again!”
Earls mouth twists between a snarl and a grin.
He’s got her. He’s sure!
The burden of debt is already lifting from his heavy shoulders, and his spirits are ready to soar.
Mary Beth will never have to know. He’ll quietly pay his debts and never gamble again. And he’ll even keep Bunny’s secret to himself.
Bunny sighs deeply. She looks down at the magazine for a long moment.
Earl’s grin widens.
There it is. He sees it written all over her face. Shame. Finally!
But then Bunny laughs.
Not loud. Not nervous. Just one soft little sound that makes Earl’s grin twitch at the edges.
Slowly, deliberately, she settles deeper into her chair like a woman fixing to enjoy desert.
“Now Earl, honey…” she says softly. “There’s something you don’t understand.”
Her smile is gentle. Dangerous.
“I wasn’t some poor little fool being taken advantage of when I posed for this magazine. I knew exactly what I was doing. I was young, broke, beautiful, and tired of men deciding what I was allowed to be proud of.”
She taps the cover lightly with one manicured nail.
“And honestly? Those pictures are beautiful. The lighting? Those satin sheets? Lord, I look fantastic.”
Earl’s smile falters.
Bunny leans closer.
“Now what I’m wondering is this…” she whispers. “Does Mary Beth know about your gambling problem?”
Earl goes still.
“Does she know you owe forty-two thousand dollars to people who don’t exactly hand out second chances?”
Bunny tilts her head sweetly.
“And does she know about your little magazine collection? Mm-mm. I surely would love to know where you hide all those.”
Earls face drains white.
“So go on ahead,” Bunny says pleasantly. “Pass my picture around. And I’ll do a little talking myself.”
Her voice drops low as velvet.
“I’ll tell everybody on Hop Island exactly what kind of man you are. A lying gambler who’s blackmailing one of his wife’s best friends.”
She gives him a pitying smile.
“And poor Mary Beth…” Bunny sighs. “She’ll sure be humiliated.”
Earl’s jaw twitches.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Bunny just smiles.
The sparkle in Earl’s eyes vanishes. His shoulders creep up. Panic shows up in the flush of his face.
“I’m not bluffing, Bunny,” he spats. “I’ll ruin you.”
“You do what you gotta do, sugar.”
Bunny stands slowly, smoothes her skirt, then turns and walks calmly out of the café leaving Earl drowning I his own sweat.
*********
Mary Beth stands in the kitchen in her robe, messy bun barely hanging on, buttering toast and humming a tune.
“Earl, who in the world keeps calling you? Your phone’s been ringing off the hook.”
Earl nearly drops it trying to silence the ringer.
“Scammers,” he mutters. “Just scammers.”
Mary Beth frowns. “Persistent, aren’t they.”
“Hey, you coming to Sling-It tonight? Last practice before the tournament.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
Trying to act casual Earl wanders into the kitchen and checks the back door.
Locked.
He quietly slides the chain into place for good measure.
When he turns around, Mary Beth is standing right there.
“Earl.”
He jumps.
“You’re acting strange. Your hands are shaking. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
Her eyes narrow. “Then why’d you chain the back door? Aren’t you going to do the watering this morning?”
“Yeah, I’m going right now.”
Earl unlatches the chain and steps outside.
Sunlight floods the patio.
As he reaches for the hose, movement flickers beyond the fence.
A man ducks low in the field behind the house.
Earl freezes.
His pulse hammers.
His phone buzzes again. No name. Just the number he knows all too well.
Earl stares at it until the screen goes black.
It rings again.
He panics, looking around like he’s searching for a place to hide.
Then he sees it.
A small square of pink paper stuck between the fence boards.
He approaches it slowly, every nerve screaming.
Snatches it free—and gasps.
DEADLINE IN 3 DAYS. DO NOT DISAPPOINT.
Earl’s eyes dart around the yard.
He shivers.
They know where he lives!
His chest tightens.
He bolts for the back door, stumbles through and slams it shut. He throws the deadbolt and shoves the chain into place.
Earl stands trembling, barely able to breathe.
*****
That evening, Bunny floats into Sling-It like sunshine in heels.
The place is hopping—balls rolling, pins flying, folks cheering. It looks like every team’s enjoying pitchers of beer and slices of pizza.
The beat of the music rocks the place as Bunny makes her way, passing out hugs and compliments like parade candy.
Then she spots Earl watching her from across the lanes. She can see his anxiety as his eyes bore into hers.
She winks.
Earl looks away so fast it nearly hurts.
Bunny finds her team and calls them to huddle.
“Okay, y’all,” Bunny drawls, “Tonight we make ’em nervous.”
Vivian and Grace glared from the next lane, whispering like snakes in church.
Bunny catches their eyes, then leans in tighter and grins wider like she’s unveiling a master plan.
“Let’s remind everybody exactly who they’re dealing with.”
The women break apart laughing.
Earl tries all night to catch Bunny’s eye. To scare her. To make her feel even a fraction of what he’s feeling.
But Bunny bowls like a woman without a worry in the world.
She steps up and sends the ball gliding down the lane for a strike. The KY Jelly’s erupt.
Bunny turns and finds Earl across the room. She lets her gaze move past but not before flashing a little grin.
Earl feels sweat sliding down his ribs.
Three days.
That’s all he has left.
They’d laughed on the phone earlier, when he finally picked up.
Said they’d start with a kneecap.
Then maybe a few fingers.
Earl spots Bunny gathering her purse near the exit.
An idea slithered into his head.
“Mary Beth…” he said weakly. “I’m not feeling too good. I’m thinking maybe I should drop into one of those clinics.”
“But you hate doctors.”
“I know. But I oughta get checked out. Don’t wanna get you sick before the tournament.”
Mary Beth softened instantly.
“Oh Earl…”
He forces a sickly smile.
“How about I drop you home first? Could take a while and there’s no reason for you to wait.”
******
Bunny peeks through the upstairs curtain.
Earl stands below pounding on her front door.
“I know you’re in there!” he shouts. “Open up, Bunny!”
She winces.
The last thing she needs is neighbors talking.
“Open the door! We need to talk!”
Across the street, a front door creaked open.
Big Burt stepped outside.
Massive arms folded across his chest.
Scowl already loaded and ready.
Earl sees him and suddenly forgets all about Bunny.
He slithers into his car and sneaks away.
Bunny smiles to herself and closes the curtain.
Across the street, Big Burt lingers on his porch, watching Earl’s taillights disappear.
Then Bunny’s phone buzzes. A text from Mary Beth.
I’m worried about Earl. He’s been acting strange lately and he’s taking himself to the doctor right now. He hates doctors! Any idea what’s going on?
💋 Bunny Unfiltered
Final Trouble Drops Friday