It's time.
It's a plan we concocted a few weeks ago. If I bring up a coupon for some chicken and she doesn't fuss about going to get it, she's ready to get out of this relationship. I just need to keep Dade distracted long enough not to ask too many questions.
"Can you believe she hit me?" Dade questions as he stares into a circular mirror clock across from the front door.
I shrug as my anxiety creeps up. The sound of my car driving away from the house is terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time
I try to be reasonable with Dade when I say, "I don't get why neither of you can't work through a disagreement without it turning physical. It's not right. Ma's the sweetest person in the world. Especially since she let you move in here with us."
"Don't start your shit, Sarah. I've had enough of you and your mother. How the hell am I going to explain this to the fellas? I letmy womancold cock me and I ain't do shit about it?"
"Neither one of you should be using your hands -"
"Ahh, you don’t get it, Sarah, she likes it when I use my hands," Dade replies with a devious grin.
I stop him with a wave of my hands, saying, "Nope, I don't want to hear it. The more I think about it … I'm going to throw a bag together and head to John's house as soon as she gets back. I don't want to hear either of you when you guys decide to make up."
I start crossing items off my mental checklist while I throw items into a small duffle bag. It doesn't take long for Dade to darken the doorway of my bedroom.
"So you and John got back together?" Dade asks with a curious tone in his voice.
Absolutely not. Guys my age are just too immature, and John's one of the worst boyfriends for a girl like me.
"Yeah," I lie. "We're working things out."
"That's funny because I could have sworn I saw him at the titty bar the other night with hisnewgirl, Bethany. And you are a terrible liar, Sarah. So what's really going on? Where are you going tonight, huh?"
I ignore him and keep moving around my room, throwing things in my duffle. I hope he lets it go, but I know that's unlikely.
"Don't give me your back, girl. I know you hear me talking to you." Dade warns and steps into the room.
He's quicker than I realize as he snatches the bag out of my hand and starts pulling items out of it.
"Is this what you plan on wearing to see your mystery man?" He asks with a chuckle, but then takes a longer look at the garment.
When he tips his head sideways with recognition, the levity leaves his face. His eyes narrow, and his jaw hardens. Shades of red slowly spread across his face as he turns to glare at me.
"Where do you think you're going with your mother's clothes? What's going on, Sarah?" He questions and lets the dress fall to the ground. The minute he begins sifting through the bag, I try my best to knock it out of his hand and take it.
It doesn't work as Dade yanks the bag away and steps out of my bedroom. I can't stop myself from following him as he pulls more stuff from the bag. Panic consumes me as I pick up the trails of clothes and reach for my duffle bag one more time.
Dade refuses to let me grab it. His frustration takes over. A stiff palm to my chest stops me in my tracks right before he uses his forearm to pin me against the wall.
Fury radiates from his gaze. "What the hell is going on?"
"Nothing is going on." I struggle to push him away from me. "I just want to get my stuff and leave to see John."
"Don't lie to me!" He grips me by the shoulders and jerks me back and forth against the wall.
"Let go of me, Dade." I grimace and attempt to slip out of his grasp.
It's to no avail as he seems unmovable.
Just above my head and slightly to the left is the same clock mirror he used to see the damage to his eye. His anger and beer make his words slur into a single line of madness.
"You need to get that woman back here right now, oryou'regoin’ to take the beating for her," Dade snarls.
I don't waste anymore words as I reach up, grip the edge of the clock mirror, and bring it down over Dade's head. The glass shatters over the top of his head. Blood pours out of a fresh gash. He collapses in front of me while his wound continues to pump blood onto the floor.
