Jayce shrugged. “I had killed my own flesh and blood.”
“Is that the reason he gave you for having you arrested?”
“Uh huh.”
“And what Jeremiah did to Jenny – wasn’tthatkilling your own flesh and blood?”
“According to Daddy Dearest, that wasn’t intentional. He said that Jenny had brought her death upon herself by choosing to take drugs.”
I scowled. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
“Yeah.” Jayce scoffed. “And Mom was here yesterday. Gave the other prisoners quite a show, too. Called me an abomination; said she hoped I rot in this cell for the rest of my days.”
“All because you ended a worthless life.”
“Exactly,” Jayce conceded. “Sucks when your own family fucks you over, huh?”
I scoffed. “Don’t I know it.”
Again, a blanket of comfortable silence fell over us, but this time, I let it wrap itself around me. I guess I found a shred of solace in the fact that I wasn’t alone; that I actually had someone I could talk to – albeit temporarily – about the things I felt, and the things I’d done. Honestly, it was more than I could have asked for. Kind of like an oasis in a desert, but better.
“Hey.” Jayce touched his shoulder to mine. “You wanna get some sleep?”
“Yes please.”
He gestured a hand toward the bunk bed. “Pick one.”
“Well, I ain’t climbing in this dress,” I said to him.
“Of course. I’ll just have to be a proper gentleman and let you take the bottom bed, then.”
I snorted and got to my feet. “Go fuck yourself, man.”
He laughed. “Aye-aye, brother.”
19. Past
Year 2008
Someone placed a firm hand on my arm and shook me gently. “Dorran? Dorran, wake up.”
I tried to blink, but my eyelids felt weighed down.
“Dude, seriously; wakeup.” More shaking.
I tried to move away from it, but ended up groaning at the stiffness in my neck and shoulders.
“Dorran, I swear to God, if you don–”
“Fine, fine.” I finally managed to open my eyes, and found Jayce looking down at me.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I asked as I sat up. It was so dark that I could barely see him, with only a faint streak of moonlight streaming into the cell. It illuminated the dust particles surrounding us, and not the actual room.
It was also disgustingly hot, which was making me break into a sweat.
Jayce jerked his head to the side, and when I followed his direction, I found Sheriff Solo sitting in a chair a few feet away from us.
“Sheriff,” I greeted clinically, then sat up in bed and moved sideways to make space for Jayce to join me. “Buried my mom’s body yet?” I asked.
