“I don’t think you were made for storytelling. Or for people understanding you when you try.”
“If I asked you to stay in the car for a few minutes instead of coming inside, would you?”
“Probably not. I really have to pee.”
“What if I asked you to go into your unit and no matter what you hear or see, you promise to stay inside?”
“Maybe.” I nod, trying to be helpful. “Why?”
“Because my father is on my front steps… and I don’t want him to know you exist.”
“Oh.” Ouch. “Okay.”
I slink out of the car, through the garage door and into my back yard. Not that I want a man like Mr. Murphy to be in my life, but denying my existence hits me in a way I’d never expect.
Yes, this is an arrangement.
And maybe it’s not real.
But dang, why does that hurt so much?
Liam
“Meow.”
“Not now, Poe.” I stride through the house, the kitten hot on my heels, pocketing my nine mill on the way to the front. Trouble, thou art a kitten… I plop the black fuzzball onto the sofa and push open the door.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I dignify the man who doesn’t justify a moment of my time. “What?”
“Don’t speak to me in that tone. After all the?—”
I lift a hand to his face. “You don’t correct me. You don’t get to speak here unless it’s in answer to my questions. Why are you here?”
He looks over my head at the door. Fuck no. No permission granted. I move to block his view as I shake my head, keeping a bored expression on my face.
“William.”
“Nope. You may not call me that.” Only one person calls me that.
“May I come in?”
“Also no.” I cross my arms over my chest… again, resisting any urge to wince with my shoulder resisting any and all movement.
“Son—”
“Never call me that. Now, you can tell me why you’re here, or—and this is my preference—you can leave and never contact me again.”
“Your mother is devastated by today.”
I say nothing.
“You can do something about this… make it go away. Tell the authorities it’s untrue.”
“Ha. That’s rich.”
He rushes me and grabs my collar, twisting it tight around my neck. “Do not speak to me in that manner.”
“Howdy, neighbor?” a feminine voice pipes in just as the neighbor’s door swings open. “Is everything okay? Do I need to call the cops?”
