Page 48 of Someone You Deserve

Sighing, I stare out the windshield as we come to a stoplight. I know that taking him home to Astrid would be the right thing to do, but something tells me this kid needs a different kind of therapy at the moment.

As soon as the light turns green, I gun it, speeding past a few cars so I can change lanes and make the turnthat I need to.

Bentley grips the handle on the door, bracing himself with his other hand on the seat. “What the heck, Uncle Penn?”

“We’re taking a detour.”

“Where are we going? The fire station?”

I look at him, bewildered. “Why on earth would I be going to the fire station?”

“Travis said you can abandon kids at the fire station.”

Kids are the fucking worst. I swear, I don’t remember ever being that clueless when I was his age.

Instead of calling Travis a fucking dumbass, I roll my eyes and take the next turn to lead me back to my project house. “You can only do that with babies, Bentley.”

“Oh. Then where are we going?”

“Somewhere to help you let out your anger in a healthier way.”

***

Bentley stares at me like I’m crazy as I place a hard hat on his head. “You want me to hit the wall with this sledgehammer?” He asks, struggling to lift the tool in question. I grab it myself and demonstrate how to hold it.

“Yup. As hard as you can.”

He still looks skeptical, so I show him what I mean. Nudging him to the side, I get in my stance and swing hard, punching a hole through the drywall and sending dust flying everywhere.

“Whoa.” He stares open-mouthed at the hole, motionless.

Placing the tool back on the ground, I smile and pat him on the back. “It helps, I promise.”

I gave him the smallest sledgehammer I have, so I know he can lift it. But I really think a few swings and some destruction will be enough to get this kid talking.

Anger always needs an outlet before reason can come through.

“Okay…” Bentley grabs the tool, hoists it over his shoulder, and swings, making a dent right next to the hole I punched.

“Nice! Do it again.”

“You really don’t care how much damage I do?”

“Nope. I’m tearing down this wall to make the entire living area open.”

The wall wasn’t on my agenda for the day, but neither was picking up my godson from school because he got suspended for fighting. Today, I’m literally rolling with the punches.

The corner of his mouth picks up just a bit as he swings the sledgehammer again. And this time, he makes an even bigger dent. “Yeah! That was a good one. Keep going.”

Bentley gets serious now, preparing his body with each swing, making a mess of the wall in front of me. And I’m not going to lie, watching him focus and partake in this unorthodox form of therapy makes me proud.

But then my phone vibrates in my pocket and brings me back to reality.

“Hey, Bentley? It’s your mom.”

He freezes. “Is she coming to get me?”

I stare at the screen as the call ends, debating what I should do. But then her name flashes across the screen again. Deciding to do what’s best for Bentley right now, I step toward the front door and tell him, “No. I’ll take you home when we’re done here. But just know that she’s not going to be happy.”

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