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“You do know that if you use protection, you won’t have to worry so much every time shemesses with you.”
This wasn’t the first time she’d done it, nor did I think it would be the last. They were the epitome of toxic, and he’d grown so used to it that I didn’t see him ever walking away.
“I use protection sometimes. But sometimes I just want to put a baby in her.”
“Do you know how demeaning that is to say:Put a baby in her.Like she’s an object. Or a baby-making machine. It’s really offensive, Rico. And you know I’m not Panda’s biggest fan, so that’s saying a lot that I’m defending her.”
“Of course, you’re going to go all women’s rights on me. Are you still mad at Panda for stealing your navy sweater before you left for college?” He had a big, goofy grin on his face that made me want to hug him and throat-punch him all at the same time.
“No. The reasons that I don’t care for Panda are: A. Her name is ridiculous, and B. She encouraged you to drop out of high school when you were doing well.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Kingpin Weed was her idea, and it was a brilliant one. But now that pot’s legal, everyone’s doing it.”
“Yeah. It’s much easier to get a business loan when you’re selling products that are legal. It’s a wiser path.” Yes. I was fluent in sarcasm, and I made no attempt to hide it.
“I’ve never been as smart as you, you know that.”
I hated when he said that. Both of my brothers tossed that one out there all the time when they’d mess up and ask me for help. I despised it.
Was it true? Probably.
But was it their fault? No.
They were lacking the tools needed to pull themselves out of the shit life they were born into.
“Are you two just going to stand out there and gab while I’m under distress in here?” my mother shouted from the room, and Rico chuckled.
“The big, bad Jimbo gambled all the money in their savings account, so they’re not speaking at the moment.”
“How much money did he lose?”
“I don’t know. A couple hundred bucks, maybe. But Mama is real pissed about it.” I grabbed her drink and followed my brother the short distance to my mother’s smoke-filled oasis. I glanced around the room, taking in the red-and-gold bedding, the half-filled ashtrays on the dresser and the end table, and the large, nearly nude photo of my mother framed over her bed. It was giving desperation vibes with a side ofI’m over the hill, and I’m not happy about it.
I moved to the window and opened it, allowing the fresh air to at least offer a reprieve from this hellish cancer causing cave.
“My god, Wendy. No one should be breathing this in,” I said.
“Of course, you call me Wendy when you know I’m down and out.”
She was always down and out—otherwise, she would be missing. She never called or made herself available when she wasn’t in a bad place.
So bad was all I knew of this woman.
“I’ve called you Wendy since I was a kid. Don’t find another reason to stay bedbound. Get up. Breathe in some fresh air. Maybe drink some milk or eat something that doesn’t come pre-packaged. You don’t look well.”
Her skin was pale and tinged slightly gray. If she didn’t spend most of her days in bed sleeping, I would have believed she was a vampire back when I was a sucker for theTwilightseries. Afterall, the woman had a real gift for sucking the life out of the people around her.
She sat forward and held out her hand for her drink. I didn’t give it to her. Instead, I reached for her hand and pulled her up on her feet.
“You get the Coke after you take a shower. Go.” I pointed to the bathroom, and she glared at me before storming the few feet away and slamming the door.
“Damn, Sis. You’re the only one who can get her up and moving when she’s in a slump,” Rico said.
I took the beer from his hand and raised a brow. “How about you don’t drink when it’s not even noon? How’s the job going?”
“You know Oscar likes to ride my ass, but at least it’s a paying job.”
I set my mother’s glass on the dresser and shouted through the door that it was waiting for her there.
