Page 142 of Forgive You

“Does she know there’s a video?” Jordan asks.

“She knows.”

“Wait, you and Julie made a sex tape?” my mother exclaims, finally catching up.

My hands grip the cutlery tighter, wondering what my aim would be if I threw my knife to his head. “Did she give her consent?”

He pulls a face, then laughs. “Give or take.”

That son of a bitch. “That’s a no.”

My appetite is completely gone; the only hunger I feel is the one that will be satisfied when my brother is walking around with a black eye to go with that diabolical grin of his.

“Are you sure?” He tilts his head, trying to get a rise out of me by questioning her character.

“Yes, I’m sure. Julie would never agree to making a sex tape.”

“I’m going to be sick,” my mother mumbles and takes a sip of her water. She is trying very hard to keep calm, but I can see the distress dripping from her entire body. “Is that why she broke up with you?”

“No, she broke up because she decided she wanted to fuck my little brother.”

“Jacob!” she shouts. “Can you please be less crude?”

“Just telling it how it is.”

I’m still debating dragging him out to the yard and beating the shit out of him when the doorbell rings, and we all freeze.

The energy in the room is crackling, and I swear you can hear our hearts beat collectively as glares fly around the table.

“Ya’ll sit and eat,” my mother commands as she gets up. “This conversation is not over.”

We keep staring at each other, Jordan and I trying to make our oldest brother disappear with our glares without any luck while we listen carefully for who’s at the door.

Please, don’t let it be Julie.

I’m still mad at her, but I don’t want to expose her to this shitshow. That’s the last thing she needs.

“Good evening, Officer. What can I do for you?” Her tone is a little shaky.

“We’re looking for Jacob Spencer. Is he home?” All three sets of our eyebrows move up, the cockiness in Jacob’s eyes toning down a little.

Cops looking for Jacob?What the fuck?

“Can I ask what this is about?”

“We have a warrant for his arrest.” My shock turns into a frown before a full glare returns.

“Excuse me?” Mama’s voice is confused, shocked, indignant, and audible throughout the entire house.

“What did you do?” Jordan hisses over the table as Jacob gets up.

“Shut the fuck up.” He disappears into the hallway. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Jacob Spencer? You’re under arrest for first degree rape. Please turn around so we can read your rights.”

My mother gasps, the sound piercing and cutting through my bones.

Holy shit.

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