That was his nice way of asking me to go to the store.
Angie wouldn’t let him get away with this. She’d tell Ralph where to go and then yell at our mother for not doing anything.
When Mom demanded she respect Ralph, my sister had left. She didn’t even think twice about leaving me alone. She simply grabbed a bag and walked out. I couldn’t blame her. I’d have left me too. The only thing I’d do is drag her down.
“What are you waiting for?” Ralph leaned back and tipped a brow at me. “Get going.”
There was no point in arguing. One way or another, Ralph would get his way. He always did.
Pushing myself off the floor, I furiously wiped the tears off my cheeks. Despite how desperately I wanted to look back at Mom and search her brown eyes, I walked outside. I’d never get the one thing I wanted from her. Angie’s words from earlier that day came back as the cool night air hit my face.
“Mom made her bed, she can lay in it. Don’t let her drag you down with her.”
I was one week away from turning eighteen, which was when Angie wanted me to leave. But I couldn’t do that. Family was the only truth in this world. It was a bond that should be respected.
I couldn’t give up on Mom. Someone had to protect her. I may not be much, but I had a baseball bat I’d kept from little league. It came in handy, especially when Ralph tried to sneak in my room.
“And get me a six of Lucky’s.”
The guy that owned the Gas ‘N’ Go didn’t seem to care that I wasn’t legally old enough to buy alcohol. Benefits of living in a small town, I supposed. One chat with Mom and suddenly I was allowed to purchase Ralph’s beer.
Tugging the sleeves of my sweater down over my palms, I let out a huff and headed down the street. At least I was out of the house for a bit. If I took my time, maybe Ralph would be passed out when I got back.
If I took too long, Mom would wake him up and they’d come looking for me. Without a reasonable excuse, forty-five minutes was all I could get away with. I was already late once today, so my usual tales of detours wouldn’t suffice.
Ralph awake and drunk was the number one cause of unwanted visits to my room. None of which had been successful for him, thus far. Thankfully.
When it came to that piece of my soul, I’d never stop fighting him. My stepfather could beat me and say all the cruel things he wanted, but my innocence was the only pure thing I had. It was mine to give. No one would take it from me.
Not like anyone would want to.
Boys didn’t look at me that way. They didn’t look at me at all.
But he saw me.
My entire body shivered as I remembered the intensity of those ice blue eyes. The way he reached out and touched me. Grazed his fingers across my skin as if he had the right to. I didn’t back up. Didn’t turn my face away, or tell him to stop. I just stood there, with my heart beating in my chest.
‘Don’t worry, Pet, you’ll find out soon enough.’
His words felt like a threat. I could feel him watching. Eyes in the corner of every shadow I passed. Like some monster from my childhood. His deep voice haunted my dreams, pulling me back to that day at the diner.
I didn’t even know his name. Just the luxurious scent of his expensive suit. Yet, for the first time in my life, I felt seen.
I didn’t like it. Didn’t like people looking at me at all. Not even the town stoners standing outside the Gas ‘N’ Go. The sign shining above them cast a red glow around their features, causing me to duck my head and quickly slip inside. They looked bored and I didn’t want to become their amusement.
Ted the cashier’s smile widened, deepening the lines of age in his face, as a chime rang out overhead.
“Hey Kya,” he sang, “What can I get you?”
I liked Ted. He stuck to his own business, letting his customers make their purchases and leave without a million questions. Surprising for a man married to Flo. Then again, she did enough talking for the both of them.
I dropped my elbows on the counter and sighed, “Ralph’s usual.”
Ted shook his head, muttered something incoherent, and disappeared in the back.
While Ted was busy finding a six of Lucky’s, I roamed the aisles, searching for the beef jerky I always got for Chester, the stray cat that lived in the alley behind the store.
I tried to take him home once. That’s when I got accused of trying to kill Ralph. Apparently, he was allergic. Funny, considering Chester had been there for two days before anyone found out.
