“Yeah, but then we’re going for a spin. We won’t be long, I promise.”
“Okay, there’s only two rules. The first, drive safely and two, never drive through Dog City. A young woman like you in a car like this, I dread to think what those Dogs would do to you.”
I feel bad because I’m already planning on breaking rule number two before I’ve driven the thing.
“I won’t leave until you get back,” he yells behind me as I climb into my new car.
“Half hour, tops,” I yell back.
He waves me off and I use the time during the drive to digest my dad’s words back in the kitchen. He’s giving me freedom and that beats any materialistic present in the world. Especially a Prada purse my mother ordered online using my father’s credit card.
The scene changes from clean and well-tended to houses to the highway and then I enter Dog City. The streets become crowded with much smaller houses and dingy shop fronts covered in graffiti and gang markings. I ignore people on the streets staring as I drive by and pretend I don’t have to stop here, not until I pull up outside the party house. There are a handful of guys sat out on the porch in various chairs and on benches.
One leans over and yells something into the house and then stands and walks over. He stops at the metal gate, leaning on the top bar. He motions for me to wind my window down and because I don’t want any trouble, I do. I just hope Clare hurries up.
“Back so soon, little lamb.”
Under the brim of his beanie, I realise it’s the same guy who offered me up to anyone who wanted me last night, the one with facial tattoos and a scar running around his eye.
“Just here to pick my friend up,” I tell him.
He pushes away from the gate and swings it open, stepping out onto the sidewalk. I sit frozen while he laps my car, nodding with appreciation at the wheels.
“Nice daddy to buy you these trims, what’d you have to do for them? Bat your eyelashes, open those legs for a little incestual fun time?”
The guy makes me feel sick, like my skin is crawling with spiders and I lose the ability to move.
“It’s my birthday.”
Cocking a brow, he huffs, “Nice daddy.”
This guy petrifies me and when he’s joined by the others who have been slowly moving closer, I pick up my phone from between my legs and hit Clare’s number. She answers on the third ring, and I’m flooded with relief when she says she’s on her way out.
Not a moment later, she walks out with Tariq’s arm around her shoulders. While they maul each other goodbye, I look around to see if the guy with the rose tattoo is around, but I don’t see him.
The passenger side door opens, and I jump thinking the worst, before I see Clare making herself comfortable.
“Your dad got you a car, I can’t believe this. Hey, and happy birthday, babe,” she rushes out.
“Hey to you too and thanks.”
I turn the engine on, but the guys don’t move from in front of the car to let me out. I can’t blast the horn at them, who knows what level of rude that is to them and how they’d react. All I have to do is make it back in one piece, so I don’t have to explain why I was ever in Dog City to my father.
Checking my rearview mirror, no one is behind me, so I throw the car into reverse and back up. Not one person moves as I change gear and drive around them. I shudder, knowing I don’t ever have to come back here.
“It’s good to see you’re still alive,” I mutter once we’re off their street and heading for home.
“Of course I’m alive, what did you really think would happen to me? Tariq always looks out for me.”
“You were snorting cocaine, Clare. Yeah, you’ve got a real catch there.”
At least she has the audacity not to argue with me, but she does say, “I got carried away, turned out, it was pretty fun, but it’s not something I intend on taking up full time. Anyway, Tar told me he loved me last night.”
Her excitement bounces around the small space and while I should be happy for her, I can’t find it in my heart to believe he meant the words. Perhaps I’m judging too harshly, but how can you let someone mess around with drugs when you supposedly love them? To love someone is to want only the best for them, to protect them, unless I’m the one who’s wrong.
“Can you picture my father’s face when I bring Tariq home to meet him. He’s going to have a heart attack.”
“You’ll put him in an early grave, for sure. I’d think twice.”
