“Stop trying to make me sound like something I’m not!” Evan bellowed, slamming his hands against the table. His eyes found mine, pure hatred glowing in the angry slits. “You want the truth? I draw deviant art ‘cuz I like death and destruction. Writing is my best subject, not because I’m good at it, but because it’s the only one I’m not failing. The only girls that look my way are the ones who slash their wrists after class because they’re as miserable as I am. Oh, and the only place I’m top of my class is in detention!”
Stunned, I watched as he stormed from the room with Marni on his heels. A moment later, muffled voices drifted from a room down the hall.
“Don’t take it personal,” Jonah said with a shrug. “He hates everyone.”
“That’s encouraging,” I replied grimly.
“Well, not everyone,” he added. “He likes me.”
“I take it he and your mom don’t get along well?”
The boy’s smile dimmed. “He doesn’t like living here.”
“What about you? Do you like it here?”
“He doesn’t live here,” his grandfather interjected. “My wife and I have raised Jonah since he was an infant. A few years ago we tried to get custody of Evan too, but Marni wouldn’t allow it. I do what I can for the boy, but it’s a slippery slope and he’s sliding fast.”
My hope dwindled. “Meaning what?”
“Meaning he’s on his way to becoming his mother’s son.”
* * *
Evan never returned. And after Jonah left with his grandfather, it felt as if we’d worn out our welcome. Marni seemed tired and fidgety. Something had changed in her demeanor since coming back from Evan’s room, and it didn’t take a genius to see that she’d taken something.
I leaned toward Breeze and whispered in her ear, “Are you okay if I leave you a minute to find Evan?”
When she bit down on her lip, I took that as a no and walked to the door to let Tank in. He’d been a good boy, sitting right on the porch where I’d left him. While he occupied my mother, I strode down the hall, determined to forge some bond with Evan.
After knocking twice and getting no response, I let myself in.
Evan was on the bed, earbuds firmly attached. He jumped up when I crossed the threshold, his headphones sailing across the room.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” he demanded, hands curled into fists at his sides.
I took a step back… and lied through my teeth. “I was looking for the bathroom.”
Evan stared at me, his face a bottomless pit of distrust and anger. “Next door.”
“Okay,” I said, not moving from my spot. “Sorry if I scared you.”
“Likeyoucould scare me.”
Ignoring his obvious taunt, I shoved my hands into my pockets. “Look, I’m not really sure what’s going on here, but maybe if you talk to me I can help. Jonah said you don’t like living here.”
“Yeah, well, Jonah’s an idiot.”
“We both know he’s not.”
“You don’t know anything about us.”
“Because no one told me, Evan. It’s not like I was purposely avoiding you your whole life. I only found out you existed about eight hours ago. I’m sort of playing catch up here.”
“I wish I could say the same about you.”
“What does that mean?”
Evan’s fists unfurled and he sat down on the edge of his bed. “All I’ve ever heard my whole life is Alex this and Alex that. My bedtime stories were about how Eddie stole you... how evil he was and how perfect you were. No matter what I did I could never measure up to you. So excuse me if I wasn’t super fucking excited when she told me she’d tracked you and Eddie down.”
