Page 23 of Drag Me Up

MATT

I don’t normally like to run for my exercise, but I need to move or else I’m going to wear a hole in the floor of my trailer pacing before my mother shows up for lunch. Throwing on a hoodie and sweats, I lace up my sneakers and head outside.

It’s still early enough on a Sunday that hardly anyone is awake, especially in this neighborhood.

Jax told me almost everyone in the park works unconventional jobs or has non-traditional families.

I will do almost anything to escape the memories of how I failed both Eric and my new cutie.

I let my sneakers pound the pavement to drown out the memory of the day I signed a deal with the devil.

Fifteen Years Ago:

“You know you are smart enough for all of those fancy schools, Mattie,” Mom says as she puts the garlic bread into the oven. “I know you love me, but spread your damn wings, already!”

I chuckle while I continue chopping vegetables for the salad. The Mendletons are having some sort of business dinner tonight and gave Mom barely three hours notice, so I’m helping out wherever I can. Unfortunately for me, this means that I am unable to escape the third degree about where I’m planning on applying for college.

“I’m still only a junior, Mom,” I tell her as she passes by on the way to the stove to stir the sauce for the pasta. “I have plenty of time to make a decision.”

I’m planning on sticking as close to home as possible for her. Ever since Dad passed away, I’m all that she’s got left. My grandparents were all gone long before I was born, and neither Mom nor Dad had any siblings. I always wondered what it would be like to have a bigger family, but all things considered, I’m fine with it.

“Do I smell garlic bread?!” my favorite little dude squeals as he slides into the kitchen wearing what appears to be the tablecloth as a toga. Eric is the only son of Alan and Linda Mendleton, eleven years old and in desperate need of attention at all times.

My mom pulls him into a hug as he bites into the piece of the bread she handed him. I know if it were possible, she’d adopt him in a heartbeat. The Mendleton family isnot exactly a loving one, and Eric deserves all of the love this world can offer. He has mood swings and acts out, but I’m pretty sure he can’t help it. Mom wants him to be tested, but the last employee who suggested it was fired the next day.

“Lewis, my boy,” Mr. Mendleton’s voice echoes from the hallway. “Please come see me in my study while your mother finishes preparations for tonight’s dinner.”

I share a glance with Mom but leave my stool to follow the instructions. I might not be an actual employee here, but I know better than to make things more difficult for my mother. I can’t fathom what Mr. Mendleton might want with me, but I’m not going to make him wait.

“Yes, sir?” I say from the doorway to his opulent study. I swear this man and his wife looked up every caricature of being wealthy and decided to outdo it.

He indicates that he would like me to take a seat at one of the godawful uncomfortable wingback chairs in front of his desk and I struggle to hide my disgust at the stale scent of cigar smoke that puffs out of the cushion when I sit.

“You graduate high school next year. Do I have that right, Lewis?” he asks as he pulls some documents out of the drawer to his right and sets them in front of me. NYU is my dream school. It is one hell of a school for economics, and I would love to immerse myself into the Big Apple.

“As an alumnus, I have some pull with the admissions board,” the man in front of me says as he sits back in his chair. “I can not only get you in, but I will cover all four years of your degree plus room and board and a sizeable living allowance.”

I have no doubt that if this were a cartoon, my jaw would be literally on the floor at this point with my eyes the size of dinner plates. Mr. Mendleton has never shown an ounce of interest in me, my studies, nor my future. Shaking myself out of it, I prepare for the catch.

“That is, of course, if you are able to meet my requirements. You will leave the day after your graduation and are not to return to this house ever again. You will not write, nor call, any person who lives here or else the costs of your education will be cut off.”

My mind races through all of the possible reasons for why he could be asking this of me. Did I not do a good enough job of hiding my disdain for their way of life? Did I do something to piss off his wife again? His mistress?

“Your mother will of course be given a housing stipend for if she would prefer to live off property once you are gone,” he adds with a wave of his hand. “I know she would quit if you could not come visit her, and we are far too old to break in a new servant.”

When I come out of my memory, I realize I’m at the split in the road. I glance over toward the big manor house while I pause to catch my breath.

Movement by the garage draws my attention, and I see my cutie wiping his eyes as he lifts himself into the cab of a big ass truck.

I don’t know who upset him, but I will destroy them.

I never asked if there was any rule against us going up to the house, but I don’t really give a shit about it at this point. This beautiful man is sobbing and in pain inthe cab of a truck. There isn’t a universe where I wouldn’t want to make him smile. One night, just a few hours, and he stole my heart.

He jumps and wipes hurriedly at his face when I knock on the hood of the truck. Giving a small smile, he rolls down the driver’s side window and leans out.

“Hey hott stuff,” he tries to be sultry but there’s too much force behind it. “Want a ride back to your place?”

I open the driver’s side door and make him slide over to the passenger side as I climb in. I have to resist the urge to pull him into my side, but instead I glance in the bed of the truck to see suitcases and bags.

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