Page 8 of Claim Me

My parents look at me, and Dad says, “Now share what happened.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I can’t think of a version of the story that doesn’t make me look bad.”

“Do I need to send you outside until you can lie better, too, honey?” Dad asks and starts tilting his head toward the door. “Maybe sit on the porch and get creative with your version of the truth.”

Mom rolls her eyes. “Just be honest. We love you even when you’re wrong.”

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Of course,” Dad says immediately. “I still haven’t told Zoot where Noble hid his baseball cards. Been keeping that secret for forty years.”

I glance around, wondering if any of my foster brothers—whether little or big—might be eavesdropping. My parents guide me to their office and shut the door.

“Indigo kissed me this morning when we were alone at the clubhouse.”

“And you weren’t feeling it, kiddo?” Dad asks when I stop talking.

“No, I got super horny and jumped on him and dragged him to the back bedroom and forced him to fuck me,” I explain as my voice gets louder and more frantic. “I lost all semblance of dignity! Now he hates me!”

Dad wants so badly to laugh. Mom shakes her head, silently warning him to keep his chuckles to himself.

“You couldn’t force Indigo to do anything,” Mom insists as she strokes my cheek. “He’s a strong young man. If he wanted to say no, he would have.”

“He’s obedient with me. Like a dog desperate for affection, and I just humped all over him.”

Dad can’t help himself and starts laughing. Mom refuses to give in to her amusement. I know the words I’m saying sound funny.However, the way everything went down felt like I took advantage of a young person with no ability to fight back.

“I don’t think it happened that way,” Mom says as I nuzzle the soft spot at the crook of her neck. She smells like baby powder and flowers. My heart immediately stops hurting as much when she holds me. “I think you and Indigo were lonely and things got out of hand. Neither of you have much experience with dating or sex. That’s why it feels so strange now.”

“Yeah, kiddo,” Dad adds when he’s gotten control of his laughter. “That boy might be wired wrong, but he knows a good thing when he sees one. That’s why he kissed you.”

“But he was mad when it was over.”

“Only because Indigo’s wired wrong. You can’t take things personally with him. In fact, I’m surprised you’re all wound up like this when you know how moody he can be.”

I don’t respond because my feelings are jumbled up. Indigo is so handsome, and I’ve never been with anyone except Sync. Sex means a lot to me, and I love Indigo as my family. I’d probably be upset, even if he hadn’t acted like I was a wretched whore.

“Here’s what we should do,” Mom says while she and Dad hug me between them. “We let Indigo get away for a few days. I’ll check on him soon. He’s going to miss the farm. I don’t think he truly wants to stay in the hills. When he’s ready to come home, we’ll all figure this out.”

“Did you know he liked me?” I ask them as they keep me lovingly squished between their bodies. “Was this information obvious to everyone?”

“I suspected,” Dad says. “Well, I figured he either wanted you or Golden.”

Stepping out of their hug huddle, I insist, “Don’t tell anyone.”

“For how long?”

“Forever.”

Dad offers me a warm smile and promises, “Like the baseball cards, I will take your secret to my grave.”

I look at my mom, feeling dirty and guilty. Indigo can seem so fragile. He had a weird mom who got hit by a fucking bus while her son stared on in horror. I don’t think he has any idea who his dad might be. I doubt his mom even knew.

That’s why I wish I had been gentle with Indigo this morning. He needed to feel valued. I probably hurt his feelings by acting sohorny and needy. I know he hurt my feelings by turning cold. One of us is better at controlling our feelings, and that person can only wait to see what Indigo does next.

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