by Mingua, Wren
“Ohhh...” Miranda moaned. “Is that what you think? That I'm ashamed of you?!”
“Aye. And I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to be seen with me either.”
“Well, it's not true. I'm not ashamed of you,” Miranda corrected him. “I'm sorry if I made you feel that way, Algar. Look... I know I can be an icy bitch sometimes, but I wasn't always like this. Something happened after I got sick. I got a chip on my shoulder... and I started pushing people away.” Miranda took his arm, the one with the missing hand, and cradled it in her lap. “But I'd never want to push you away. I really like you.”
“You do?!”
“Aye,” she copied him. “I really do like you. I'm not the sort of girl who would sleep with just anyone. Last night... was really special.”
“It was.” He grinned at her. “You dirty, dirty minx.”
“You are the dirty one!” She lifted his arm and kissed the twisted flesh of his stump. “Anyway, Algar, I'm telling you the truth. I like you. A lot. I light up whenever I see you... even though I try to hide it. And I would never want you to leave because I kind of like having you around.”
“So you'll marry me?”
“No! Geez! It's too soon for that!” So he wouldn't get offended, Miranda grabbed his head and started trailing kisses across his cheek. “But that doesn't mean we might not get married someday. Maybe... if nothing else.. you would like to be my boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?” he repeated quietly.
“Yeah. We can see each other exclusively,” with a grin, she added, “and have lots of sex.”
“I think that works for me!”
His eagerness made her giggle. “Anyway...” Miranda slid onto his lap and coiled her arms around the back of his neck. When she peered over his shoulder, she could see her tattooed Uncle Joe and scowling Grandpa Lawson gaping at them from the window. They were spying on them, and they weren't even trying to hide it.
“What is it, Love?”
Miranda kissed his nose. Algar was her boyfriend. A week ago, she never would have thought it was possible, but it made her happier than she had ever been. He would certainly make her life exciting! “Did you really mean it when you said you loved me?”
“Aye.” He clasped a hand over his heart. “I love you with all my heart and soul, Angel. I love you more than I ever loved The Blistered Broad. And believe me, I loved her tremendously.”
“The Blistered Broad?!” Miranda repeated as her eyes expanded. She hoped this wasn't someone from which she might contract a venereal disease.
“My ship,” Algar explained, easing her fears. “The Blistered Broad was the name of me ship.”
“Oh. Good. Phew!” Miranda swept a hand across her forehead. “That's a relief!”
“As I was saying, Angel, I do love you,” Algar said. “And I'll get you to love me too... someday.”
“Too late.” When she saw the puzzled look on his face, Miranda winked at him. “You're too late, because I've already fallen for you. As crazy as this might sound, I think I'm in love with Algar the Scar.”