I scoff. “You two have no idea what civil means.”
My mum stands as well and takes a few steps towards us. “How can you allow that abomination to care of my niece?”
Abomination?
“I should be the one taking care of that baby. So she can follow the right ways. Not live in a house of sin and shame. Contaminated by evil.”
She’s out of her mind. Completely lost in her own little world.
I don’t want Arianna to be near them for even a second, and if I know my mum well enough, she’s close to losing it because things are not going how she wants.
I speak, my words meant for Jay even if I’m not looking at him. “Take Arianna to my room and don’t come out.” When he doesn’t move, I turn my head, but still keep an eye on my mother.
Jay’s eyes are full of questions, and at some point I’ll have to answer them, but right now I want them to be safe and away from the poison my parents are going to spread around.
“Trust me.” I’m sure he’s going to hesitate and ask why, but instead he nods, and cradling Arianna to his chest, he walksaway and is soon out of sight. When I’m sure they’re safe, I turn around to face my parents.
“Boy.” My dad’s voice is intimidating, but he doesn’t seem to remember that I’m not a boy anymore.
Another thing he doesn’t know is that I won’t allow them to come here and disrespect me and the people I care about.
“What are you really doing here?”
“We came for Arianna.” That fake innocence is just pathetic.
“Have it your way. Now open your ears and listen. You should have called, and you should have been more respectful of the people in my house.”
My mum takes another step forward, but I don’t budge. I’m a head taller than her, and fifty pounds heavier. Her face, though, tells me she has plenty to say. “We were concerned about her safety.”
“Sure you were. Or were you more worried about me having a long list of men walking in and out of my house?”
She doesn’t even allow me to finish. “We all know what lifestyle your kind wallows in.”
“You know nothing about me.” But my words land on deaf ears, so I say something that will get to her. “There is no way you’ll seeArianna again if you persist in your behaviour.” I look directly at her, making sure she understands I’m dead serious.
A slap turns my face sideways, but before I can say anything my father is pulling her away.
I turn my head to look at them, a dead look in my eyes, while my cheek hurts like hell.
“Leave and don’t come back. I won’t allow Arianna to be exposed to your hatred and bigotry.”
“You’re a disgrace to this family, and I wish you were never born.”
It doesn’t really hurt anymore. With her last action, my mother has cancelled every history we ever had together, the good and bad, becoming a stranger I don’t want to deal with.
“I’ll give you ten seconds to leave my house, then I’m calling the police.” I don’t give them time to say anything before I start counting. “Ten, nine, eight…” By the time I reach five they’re out of my house, and I hope from my life, forever.
I close the door behind them—no slam, no noise, only the click of the door that indicates the end.
After I close the door the heavy silence they left hits me. It feels like hours have passed since they arrived. A glance at the clock tells me it’s only been forty-five minutes. It feels like a lifetime.
I walk back to the couch and sink into it, feeling like the weight of the entire world has been placed on my shoulders. I rub my face, trying to dissipate the tiredness that their presence has brought up in me.
“They don’t like me.”
“I’m surprised they don’t love your grumpy and curt personality.”
I snort, and then smile at him, loving the way he tries to make things better. “And they don’t trust me,” I mutter.
