* * *
Isaton the floor and watched my mom count the money. I propped my elbows on my knees and held my head in my hands. My stomach hurt and balls hurt from Chad hitting me. My ass hurt. My head hurt. My ears hurt from being grabbed and pulled. I had rug burns on my knees from carpet burns and fingernail scratches all over my chest and back. I felt dizzy,too.
What the fuck was I even doing? Why did I allow this shit? I was nineteen now and in college. I should have stayed in Misty’s bed back on campus. Would snuggling have been worse than this fuckingshit?
“Mom,” I calledout.
I didn’t feel good at all. Maybe I was just dehydrated. My mouth had just received a workout over the past fewhours.
“Mom, I don’t feelgood.”
She ignored me and started counting the money again. I leaned my head back against the couch and stared at the ceiling trying to decide where I hurt the most. I didn’t even lift my head off the cushion when I heard the screen door bangshut.
“Good, all your fucking friends are gone. Marie and I need little pussy to record us,” Chadinsisted.
“Woo!” my mom hollered out and high-fived Chad. “Money for the mortgage this month. Ryan baby earned us some goodmoney.”
“See Mom, it’ll be okay even with Dad gone,” Chadreassured.
“As long as your baby brother continues to dothis.”
“How much did you make off himtonight?”
“Enough for the mortgage payment and probablygroceries.”
“Remember when Dad took him took him towork—”
“Shut up!” I forced myself up off the ground and glared at Chad and mymom.
The room was spinning. I stood up too fast. I grabbed my stomach and sat on the arm of the couch. I was fucking pissed. They weren’t going to fucking talk about this shit while I was in the goddamn room and definitely not in front of his bitchgirlfriend.
“Don’t get all upset, Ry-Ry. I know all about your trips to the railroad yard with your pops.” Marie winked at me and smiled atChad.
“Come on, Ry. It’s time to record a video,” Chad remindedme.
“I don’t fucking want to record the two of you. I’m donetonight.”
Chad grabbed myarm.
“You’re done when I say so. Now, you get in my room and get the recorder ready, and you take the best fucking video you can. I’m uploading this tonight to make somecash.”
I shook my head at him. I was donetonight.
“Pussy, if you don’t, I will make sure your fucking USC baseball team sees some of your home videos. They might not want a guy like you on theirteam.”
“You’re just going to fucking blackmail me withthat?”
“Call it what you want,Ryan.”
Marie picked up the video recorder from the ledge on the planter. This was a surprise tome.
“You fucking recorded this?” I yelled out to my mom. “Mom!”
“Ryan, baby, you know videos like this sell for a pretty penny on the adultsites.”
“Mom! How can you dothis?”
“Don’t give me any lip, young man. You are to blame for your father’s arrest. How dare you blame me for trying to keep the bills paid and a roof over your ungratefulhead.”
