Theo:You don’t have to tell me twice.
I rummage around my bedspread, searching for the damn remote. It goes missing almost every time I need it. I swear it moves itself around the room just to mess with me. I finally find it tucked between the pillows and scroll through Netflix, searching for something to watch, not planning to leave my room unless I absolutely have to.
Hours later, I’m half asleep,The Officeplaying on my TV,when a sharp knock sounds at my door before it goes flying open.
My mother stands there, an angry expression twisting her features. Eyes cold and sharp as they narrow on my face.
“What…?” I ask, sitting up and rubbing sleep from my eyes.
“I just got a call from Clara.”Mrs. Crenshaw.Her eyes narrow in on me, her voice hard and accusing, and my body goes tense instantly at her words. “Who were you with last night?”
“Sal and Jace…” I say, dragging out the last word, forcing it out through a dry throat. My mouth feels like sandpaper. My eyes flick around the room, hunting for an escape I know doesn’t exist.
“STOP LYING!” she screams, her voice high-pitched and shrill. I wince, fear flooding through me in a crashing wave.
“I… I’m not,” I choke out. My voice sounds so small in comparison. Useless.
She stalks toward me, towering over me as I sit on the edge of my bed. Her presence looms, a shadow blotting out the light. “Clara told me you were there with some man,” she practically spits the last word. “That he punched Cole in the face. That you were all over him. What do you think you’re doing? Do you have any idea the rumors that this will start? Our family is going to be the talk of the town, and it’s all your fault. Italwaysis. You’re an embarrassment.”
My heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. My breathing is quick and shallow. I can hardly take a full breath. I’m frozen, terrified. Of her, of Cole, of what he could say, and of what this could mean.
“You don’t have anything to say for yourself?” Her voice is calm again, low and controlled, which is a thousand times more terrifying than the yelling. The calm before the storm. That calculating glint in her eyes has me ready to run andhide, though I know better. There’s nowhere to run in the world when she’s on the warpath.
I shake my head, keeping my mouth shut. I feel so small under her gaze, so insignificant. So unwanted. I’m never good enough for her. I know any excuse I give would only earn me a sharp slap. I see her hand twitching, itching for it.
I’m no stranger to physical punishment.
“Who. Was. That. Man. That put his filthy hands on you, and on Cole?” Every word is laced with venom, like she’s spitting poison.
I clear my throat, my mind racing as I try to come up with what to say. “Aren’t you wonderingwhyhe punched Cole?” I squeak out, surprised I manage to say anything at all.
She laughs, a bitter sound that cuts me to the bone. “I’m sure whoever he is, he was just jealous of everything Cole is. That young man is going places, not that it matters to you. You messed that all up.” She sneers at me, and the disgust in her gaze sends tears rushing to my eyes.
I sink back into my bed, trying to put some distance between the two of us. She steps forward, not allowing me even that small comfort.
“Are you stupid? What part of my question did you not understand? Tell me who it was.”
I cower, eyes dropping to the bed in front of me. “He was just a guy I met at the fair. We hit it off… he’s nobody.” The lie leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I pray like hell it doesn’t sound like one.
“So youarejust a dirty whore,” she says, stepping back like I’ve infected the air. I don’t dare move. Don’t even think about looking her in the eye. One wrong move and I’ll feel her wrath. I can feel the tension rolling off of her like a coming storm.
“Your father will be disgusted with you, just as I am.”
I shake, knowing damn well she’s right. Terrified of whathe’ll say when he finds out. Her hand reaches out, and I flinch, expecting the sting of her palm.
“Give me your phone. Now.”
Fuck. No.
My chest tightens up, fear exploding through me like a bomb. My hand, still under the sheet where my phone rests, inches over as smoothly as I can manage. I find it, press and hold the buttons on the side, forcing it to power down.
“I said NOW,” she bellows. I flinch again.
I make a show of looking for it, giving it a few more precious seconds to shut off. Then I retrieve it and hand it over.
I have a lock code and my notifications don’t show names, but still, if it lit up while she held it, if Theo tries to call, it will set off alarm bells. I can’t risk that.
She snatches it from my grasp, one of her nails dragging a line down my palm. Then she storms from the room, leaving the door wide open behind her.
