Page 78 of Escaping Our Reality

His father laughs. Ry doesn’t.

His dad sniffles, twitching his nose like he has an itch. He seems a little jumpy.

His mom’s voice calls to us from the other room. “Larry, I’m back here getting a drink.”

Tucking my hand in Ry’s back pocket, I follow him and his father through the garage. Cindy’s in the kitchen alright. She’s already opened half the food I bought today and is guzzling a soda. Larry immediately grabs one of Ry’s beers from the fridge and dips his hand into the chip bag, dropping crumbs everywhere.

Ry sucks in a breath. He hates it. He likes things to be clean. It makeshimfeel clean. He draws their attention, loudly clearing his throat. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”

His dad wipes his hands on his T-shirt. “Well, you know we hate to do this, but payday isn’t until Friday, and I was wondering if we could borrow a little bit of money. I have to fix the lawnmower.”

“Try again. I already fixed that lawnmower for you. Don’t you remember? Fixed it and changed the oil and the blades so it would be all ready for you this spring.”

Larry’s mouth drops open. Nope. He doesn’t remember.

Cindy snickers, laughing at Larry’s failed attempt to get money. Not liking that, Larry spins around and slaps her arm. Hard. Really hard. The soda flies from her hand and spills all over the tile floor. I’m shocked. But it doesn’t faze Cindy in the least little bit. She just opens a fresh pack of peanut butter crackers.

Ry and I spent hours scrubbing that grout for Harlan just the other weekend. He mentioned it needed to be done, and Ry wanted to surprise him. I race to the countertop, grab the paper towels, and bend to clean up the mess.

And for the first time, Larry really notices me. “Well, look at that. You know, Trash did mention you had a new bed bunny at your side. What a pretty little thing she is.”

I’m yanked back to my feet before I can process what’s happening. Wrapping his arms around me, Ry pulls me into his grip so my toes aren’t touching the floor anymore. I guess he’s concerned I won’t walk fast enough. Striding down the short hallway, he deposits me at the bedroom door. Cradling my face in both of his hands, his voice is so serious, it injects fear straight into my veins. A direct IV shot. “Shut this door. Lock it with the chain, not the doorknob. Doorknob is broken. Don’topen it for anyone but me. Donotcome back out here. Do you understand?”

I can’t think. I need to touch my scar.

“Lulu, do you understand?”

I nod. He shuts the door, and I immediately search the side frame for the chain and lock it. My heart rattles through my chest like a derailing freight train.

On the other side, Ry yells at his father. “If you ever look at her that way again, I’ll cut your fucking eyes out. Do you understand?”

Cindy’s scratchy voice rises to a shrill. “Don’t you dare speak to your father like that.”

“I’ll speak to him however I damn well please. This is my place of business. Harlan told you not to come back here—more than once.”

Larry coughs and laughs. How can he find this funny? “Why are you so bent out of shape about a girl? She’s hot. You can’t blame a man for looking. I’m fifty, I’m not dead.”

Ry lowers his voice. “Just tell me what you are doing here. The lawnmower is obviously fine. What do you need money for this time? To pay a loan shark? You borrow from the wrong people again, Dad? To buy drugs? What’s your venom of choice this week, Mom? You sticking with Trash’s Oxy or you back on a crack kick with that guy down south?”

There’s a loud slap. Deafening. Oh my god, she just slapped her son. My fingers fumble with the chain, trying to unlock it.

But I stop. Ry wants me to stay here.

Screw it.

Silently, I slip out of the small bedroom. Ry is perched like a cobra ready to strike. He’s so focused in his anger he doesn’t see me. Not until I slide my hand into his, gripping it tightly. His knuckle has a cut on it from his earlier fight. His head turnstoward mine. His cheek is marked with an ugly pink welp. His beautiful cheek. His beautiful face.

I stiffen my spine and square my shoulders. “Next to the dollar store, they are building a new car wash.”

Larry scoffs. Tossing his empty beer bottle across the room, it barrels into the trash can like a basketball and shatters. “Yeah, so.”

“The construction crew left a bunch of old aluminum poles by the side of the road at the end of work today. Sign says they’re free. You can sell the aluminum at the recycling plant in town if you need money. Because we won’t be giving you any. Andwewon’t be so hospitable the next time you come asking. I think it’s time that you both leave.”

Pleased with the immediate promise of money, and not concerned at all with my threat, Larry leaves. I suppose he’s rushing out to make sure the poles are still by the side of the road.

Cindy doesn’t leave quite so quietly. She stops right in front us and narrows her eyes. She points a finger in Ry’s face. “Just when didyou,” she then moves her finger between the two of us, “become awe?”

I toss my chin in the air. “The second we met. Now leave.”

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