“Clean this up, motherfucker.” I sit on his chest, delivering one more punch, but he hits me on the side of my ear, and I fall to the floor.
Someone screams, and I deliver two more blows to his side before I am dragged off of him.
My father and mother are instantly down by his side. Tillie and Ollie are pulling me back. Anger surges through me as I watch them coddle him.
“All of you are the fucking same!” I shout. Tillie and Ollie try to hold me back. “Rom, stop.” Tillie whispers.
I pull away from her, and I stand over them. “I didn’t walk away from a mess. I refused to live in a house built on fucking lies!”
My father rises slowly, and he steps in front of my mother and Liam like he was protecting them…from me.
“Stop, Roman.”
“No, since we want to dwell in a trust circle. Let’s air it out. Grandpa was fucking Mom, and you acted like it was okay.”
I hear a gasp. My father’s nose flares.
“What, Dad? Cat got your tongue? I walked in on them, and when I told you, you acted like you were okay with it. Who is the coward now?”
The room drops in silence.
“Get out,” my father murmurs.
I laugh. It’s like I can’t stop myself. “Oh, so now you want me gone. Is Liam yours or Grandpa’s?”
Something like a brick connects with my face.
“Cliff, no!” My mother screams.
I stumble back, and Tillie and Ollie catch me.
I stand, shrugging off my cousins’ hands. I wipe the side of my mouth, seeing blood on my fingertips.
“Yeah. I will see you in maybe ten years. Maybe by then, we will know if Liam is yours or not.”
“Get the fuck out!” My father trembles, and my mother stands up, pressing herself to the wall.
“No, Roman, please. Cliff, don’t let him leave,” my mother pleads, pulling at my dad’s shirt.
I knew I took it too far. I feel like punching some more. My eyes meet Tillie’s, and I know I fucked up. I bow my head and leave the dining room in shame.
With my head hanging low, I don’t see Noelle sitting on the stairs.
“Hey.” Her voice makes me pause. She rises slowly. “Are you okay?”
When her palm touches my arm, I feel her warmth. A warmth that would be taken away from me at the end of the contract.
“What are you still doing here?” I ask.
She pulls back like I slapped her. “I was waiting to see if you were okay.”
I lift my arms. “I am fucking fine. You can leave now. I am.”
Noelle steps back and wraps her arms around her middle. “I should have known. As soon as it got real, you would run.”
The word “run” ignites something in me. I was done with this fucking day.
“Come on, Noelle. Don’t make this into something that it’s not,” I reply.
