Page 11 of Indecent Ventures

Reagan laughs, but my father growls again.

Melissa lightly slaps his chest. “Stop acting like a Neanderthal. She’s an adult and can date who she wants.”

I nod. “Thank you, Melissa.” I look at my father. “I’ll date who I want, where I want, when I want.”

And that’s how it’s been for me for as long as I can remember. I started having sex in high school, with college guys. As I got into my college years, the men got older and older. I don’t know why I’m more attracted to older men, but I am. I don’t have relationships. I’m the hit-it and quit-it type.

CHAPTERTWO

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

JADE

Iwalk in the front door from school and throw my backpack against the wall of our small kitchen, leaving a mark.

My mother lets out a breath in defeat. “What happened now? Are the boys still making fun of you for your height?”

I cross my arms. “I don’t care about that shit.”

“Jade! Language. You’re seven. You can’t go around saying words like that.”

“I don’t care about that crap.”

She shakes her head. “That’s not much better.”

“I don’t care when kids make comments about my height. I like being tall. They’re just jealous.”

“Then what is it?”

I can feel the tears start to form, but I try to be strong and hold them back. I never let anyone see me cry. “There’s a father-daughter dance next Friday. I’m the only kid without a father.”

Her face drops. She walks over to me and wraps me in her comforting arms. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I’ll go with you.”

I shake my head. “No. All the kids make fun of me for not having a father as it is. It would be worse to show up with my mother. I don’t even have an uncle…that I know of.”

I give her a skeptical look. She won’t tell me anything about my father’s family. He may not be in my life, but why can’t his family be in my life? I know he has a big one.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. Do you want Frank to take you? I’m sure he’d love to do that with you.”

I drop my chin in astonishment. “Your loser boyfriend? Absolutely not. I’d rather go with a stranger. When he bends over, you can see the crack in his ass.”

“Jade! Mouth! He’s not a loser.” She looks up and says to no one in particular, “The mouth on my seven-year-old.”

I’m starting to lose the will to hold back my tears. I can feel my lip trembling. “Can I see his picture again?”

She looks at me like I’m pathetic and broken, which I may very well be. “Sweetie, I don’t think it’s a good idea. It always upsets you.”

“Please. I’m already upset.” I sigh. “I don’t look like you. Do you know how hard it is to not know where you came from? I like seeing his picture. At least I know who I look like.”

Tears form in her eyes. “You came from me. I know we don’t look alike, but you came from me.” She mumbles, “You got his temper though.”

I look up at her wide-eyed. She’s never given me any information about my father before, despite my asking. She always says she didn’t know him well, and what she did know was most likely drug-induced behavior.

“He had a temper?” For some reason, it makes me happy to know this. At least I know where it came from. My mother is always so calm. I’m not.

I see a small smile form on her lips as she nods. “He did.”

“Please, Mommy, can I see the picture?”

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