The taunting continues as everyone gathers around Maddie’s bulging stomach, while Maddie herself downs the rest of the bottle in one long swig. Staring dumbstruck for a minute, you’re jolted by Bernie as he nudges your shoulder, a stack of plates in his other hand; and you quickly gather up discarded dishes and make your escape to the kitchen on your cousin’s heels.
“Thanks for that.”
“No problem.” Bernie washes the dishes off and handing them to you. Finding a clean cloth in one of the nearby drawers, you hurry to catch up on the drying before stacking the dishes off to one side.
Continuing in silence for a few minutes, you turn to your cousin and ask, “is it like that with Alexa?”
“Like what?” he glances at you as he hands you the next plate, before going back to washing.
“That… cruel…”
“…Sometimes. Sometimes no. Usually she’s just eating guys like any other food. It’s not personal. I’ve only seen her eat someone she was really mad at twice.”
“But… it’s always that painful?”
“Yeah. Pretty much. Everyone’s different, I guess. Alexa doesn’t seem half as bad to die in as Taryn. Who knows how Maddie compares?”
“How can you be ok with that? Sleeping next to a woman that might just decide to eat you some day, put you through all that, for no fucking reason at all?”
“Maybe you missed that last part?” Bernie asks, voice turning harsh as he glances at you out of the corner of his eye. “Alexa’s stomach isn’t half as brutal as Taryn’s. Some of us aren’t so lucky that we don’t have to worry about being eaten by our own siblings just for fun, or for a good post. Some of us need to take those risks, to have any chance of avoiding something worse.”
“…I’m sorry, I didn’t think about it like that.”
“Yeah, well, I get why you keep your distance from vores. I wish I could. Most of us don’t have that as a real option, though.”
“…Well, at least Alexa seems to care about you…?”
“Your dad was married to your mom for five years. Uncle Leo was married to Aunt Sofie for ten. Didn’t help either of them.” Turning off the water, Bernie stalks off, heading down the hall where your bedrooms were located.
With a sigh, you follow him, turning to your own room where at least it will be quiet. From the sounds drifting in from the dining room, it seems like the spectacle of Maddie’s divorce will take a good bit longer to play out before your family runs out of jokes.
