“She wouldn’t have taken anything I’d offer. She’s turned me down before.”
“Don’t even offer it!”
“Geez,” Zevon huffed, walking away. “Just trying to help.”
“Well, you aren’t. You haven’t helped at all.”
“Neither have you. You won’t answer your phone to let any of us tell you what we need, Dom. It’s like you don’t care. You act like you want to help, but really you want nothing to do with this family.”
“I don’t,” Dominic said. “I didn’t ever ask to be brought in. The only reason I’m here right now is because I live here. You don’t.”
“My Mommy and Daddy didn’t buy me, so of course I don’t live here.”
“That’s low, man,” Dominic hissed. “Real low.”
“Just stop it!” I shouted, having enough. “Geez. Grow up.” With that, I turned and marched back to my room, slamming the door for good measure.
I thought my life was crappy, but Dominic’s seemed to be just as bad. No one gave him a chance to be part of this family, while with me they all just expected me to fall in to place where I didn’t belong.
We were two black sheep.
A moment later, a knock was on the door. With a sigh, I flung it opened, pausing when I saw it was Dominic.
“Hey,” he said, combing his hand back off his face. “Sorry about that.”
“Whatever.”
“I should explain why I don’t want to be…well, the one that you want to talk to. I would, but…”
“You don’t want to,” I finished for him. “No big deal.” I went to turn, but he stopped me.
“That’s not why,” he said quickly. “Fuck. I’m not in a place to be able to help, okay? I’m not…” he paused, clenching his eyes shut. “I just can’t. Please, don’t be upset.”
“It’s fine,” I said, looking away.
“Hey,” he said, bending down to meet my eyes. “I don’t want to be held accountable for the shit I’d do if I knew the extent of what you’ve been through. I can be your friend, though. I can listen, but I have no advice on how to make your past your past. Someone else would be better. Hannah, for one.”
“Not her,” I huffed.
“Oh?”
“She knew where I was, and she did nothing to help me get away from…well, everything.”
“That’s…not her. She’s like a second mother to me.”
“I may have yelled at her.” The confession was spoken very quietly.
“Well, that explains Caesar’s mood when I came home.”
“She’s not my mother,” I said, meeting his eyes.
“Why do you think that?” He took a seat on the floor, just outside of the door. His legs were spread out before him. “Sit.”
I sat down slowly inside my room, letting my side lean against the wall. I could so easily reach out and touch him, and he could touch me if he wished to.
“I felt nothing towards her. Wouldn’t I have felt it in my gut?”
“I have no clue,” he said after a moment. “But you’ve been through a lot. I would think it’s normal.”
