Page 39 of Toxic Wishes

“Babe, are you coming to take a photo with us? Troy and Austin are waiting. We are doing one with the boys,” Namoi says, and I realize. He’s here because of my cousin.

I should have known.

“Ya babe, better get in there,” I mock.

“Colt Bolt, Colt Bolt, I hear Troy and the other guy chant. And my heart drops. Colt Bolt, that’s the nickname Blake said they gave his brother because he was so fast.

Irritation hits me, and I find myself extremely annoyed at Naomi's request. At the same time, realization hits.

That’s no doubt, Blake’s brother

I grab my phone and head to my car to be away from everyone when a text pops up on my phone.

Jared: Hey babe, it’s been a while. I am craving that sweet pussy in my mouth. And yours around my hard ock.

16

Abigail

“Music is feeling. You can try to verbalize itl It really just hits you or it doesn’t.”-Gene Simmons

“Ya, you guys are little shits. You just want your dad’s money.” My mom says as she walks past the bathroom door. I just got back from a much-needed run. I wanted to join a gym this summer, but I’m saving every penny I can, so jogging and using the limited weights we have at the house is my only form of an outlet I call a workout.

“You guys always stick up for him and take his side.” She says in the other room, almost talking to herself.

“I’m not taking sides.” I peek out of the bathroom door. “I just said I’m not surprised this is happening. You withheld sex from him after the first affair you found out about, and then it just got worse over time, and you think he’s not going to find it somewhere else? That whole withholding sex to punish the man tactic doesn’t work anymore. I don’t think it ever worked.”

“What do you know? You haven’t even been in a serious relationship.”

My heart drops. No one in the family knows about Jared. They knew I was seeing someone steadily, but my family doesn't consider it serious unless he puts a ring on it.

“Well, I don’t have to be in a serious relationship to know that withholding sex from a man as a punishment doesn’t work.”

“It does on a loyal man.”

I roll my eyes.

“Dad is human; it has nothing to do with loyalty. We are mammals, biologically speaking.”

“See right there. What about the credit I deserve? Huh? I gave birth to you two assholes, and you all treat me like shit. You wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for me.”

“Boy, I feel so loved. How grateful you did what thousands of moms did, give birth.” I mutter under my breath. I wasn’t sure what I was getting ready for, but I needed to leave this house.

I reach for my phone and text Josh.

Hey, what are you up to? I need to get away from my parents ASAP.

I hear the front door open and cringe. My mom passes the bathroom door, and I see her charging for him.

“Get the fuck out. I told you to get out. I’m tired of your shit, Micheal.”

“I’m getting my stuff.”

“Get it and get out of here. I’m sure one of your whores is waiting on you with her legs spread open, you fucking son of a bitch.”

I close my eyes and try to tune them out, but I can’t. I’m taken back to the day I decided to starve myself—the day I chose to be invisible. Who would have known that weeks of being back home would kill my years of progress? I squeeze my eyes, feeling the tension grow between them like a dark cloud hovering over the house.

“I want a divorce, you ungrateful bitch.” I hear my dad say.

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