Page 20 of Broken Rivalry

The birthday boy jumps up, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the pizza box and cake in Ethan’s hands.

“Did you bring me pizza, Poppy?” he asks, completely ignoring the stranger in our home.

I nod, forcing a smile. “Yeah, bud. You’re turning double digits.

“Let me warm it up in the oven, and then you guys can eat.” I open the pizza box, and James immediately complains. “Billy likes mushrooms, not pineapple!”

I wince. I know that, but I hoped it would be enough to make them happy. I don’t often get picked for the free pizzas that customers don’t pay for or refuse on delivery. It’s based on job seniority, but today, because of Billy’s birthday, they allowed me to take the only big one that was refused.

Billy’s eyes light up, a resilient sparkle dancing in them despite the disappointment that must linger there. “It’s okay, Poppy. Pizza night!”

I put the pizza in the oven, and I hand him the Lego set from the charity store, my stomach twisting with guilt that it’s not the Star Wars one he wanted but an airport set that cost me only ten dollars and is fully complete. “Happy birthday, munchkin!”

“That’s for me?” He pulls it out of the bag, his smile not wavering despite the disappointment he must feel.

James scoffs. “What a lousy birthday! He wanted Star Wars, and you got him secondhand shit.”

The pain, disappointment, and anger I feel inside are almost too much to bear, and my brother’s bitterness cuts even deeper than the rest. And what I hate the most is Ethan witnessing all the ugliness that my life has become.

Tears start to prickle behind my eyes.

Ethan steps in, his voice calm and easy. “Poppy bought the Star Wars one, but she was too late to pick it up. We’ll bring it by tomorrow, okay?”

I whirl on him, anger flaring, but he simply meets my gaze, unapologetic. Why are you torturing me like that? I try to tell him with my eyes. Now I’ll have to find something to sell or get an advance on my salary or ask Jeff… yes, Jeff. I can ask him for an advance on the work I’m doing.

I exhale slowly. Okay, Star Wars is a go. I turn to Billy. “Yes, I’ll bring it tomorrow.” I press on the I, and my stomach growls a little as the smell of pizza starts to spread around the trailer.

“Yay!” Billy jumps around. “I told you, Jamie! I told you Poppy would do it.”

“Sure,” James crosses his arms on his chest. “Like I’m sure the cake is chocolate,” he adds, looking pointedly at the strawberry and orange cake. The only cake that was left at the store that was remotely birthday-themed and with a good-until date of today.

“Billy, can you go to Mrs. O’Leary’s to borrow matches? I forgot them.”

“Sure, I’ll be right back.”

As soon as I hear the door slam behind him, I grab James’s arm and pull him aside.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I hiss. “Are you getting a kick out of destroying your little brother’s birthday? Do you want everyone to be as miserable as you are?”

“It’s all just… lame, Pops. And you know it.”

Of course, I know it. “It’s the best I can do, James! You want to be a man, that’s right, huh? Then act like one! Help your little brother keep the little joy he has! Of course things suck, but pretend, okay? And I swear to God, if I find out you were with the junkyard boys, I’ll put Viper and his crew on your ass.”

“But—”

“No, fuck no, James! I’m tired. I’m tired of all of this and especially tired of your attitude. You’re acting like a spoiled brat.” I never wanted to slap my brother as much as I do right now.

James’s eyes flash with anger, but there’s a flicker of something else there, too—guilt, maybe. He jerks his arm out of my grip. “You think I don’t know how hard you’re trying, Poppy? You think I don’t see how much you’re giving up for us?”

My anger deflates, replaced by a weary sadness. “James, I’m not giving up anything. You and Billy are everything to me.”

He looks away, his jaw clenched. “Stop pretending everything’s okay, Poppy. It’s not, and it’s not going to be.”

I reach out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “I know it’s not okay, James. But we have to keep going for Billy. He’s still a kid; he needs to believe that things can get better.”

James shakes his head, pulling away from me. “And what about what I need, Poppy? What about what you need?”

I don’t have an answer to that because the truth is, I don’t know what I need anymore. All I know is that I have to keep going for them.

---