That’s the understatement of the year.
“You can never be too careful,” she replies. “Dominic, can you help me install them later?”
“Sure,” he mutters.
“How do you guys feel about today?” Mom asks, sipping her coffee. “First day at your new school.”
Another light breeze brings with it the scent of dry grass and pine.
Shrugging my shoulders, I glance at Dominic, who’s now typing on his phone and ignoring the world around him. “I don’t know yet.”
“It’s okay to be nervous,” Mom replies in a soft tone. “It’s a new start.”
The move doesn’t bother me.
Unlike Dominic, who had an on-and-off girlfriend back home, I had no friends. He made sure of that when my mom married his dad.
This can be a chance for me to change all that. Though I don’t mind being alone, I would like to have a friend.
“Don’t worry, Mom.” I smile reassuringly. “Everything will be fine.”
A loud scoff across the table steals my attention, and I fix my gaze on Dominic, whose dark eyes gleam with pure sadism as he stares at me for long minutes, though it could be mere seconds. I feel naked beneath that heated look. Dominic doesn’t have tospeak. No, the gleam in his gaze tells me everything I need to know. Nothing will be different now. He will still go out of his way to make my life hell.
Without another word, he stands up, pockets his phone and Zippo, and walks out. Shortly after, the front door slams. Mom releases a tired sigh as she rubs her eyes to ward off a migraine.
“Don’t worry about him, Mom.”
I feel sorry for her.
She’s lost everything, yet fought to stay strong for us, but I can see she’s two seconds away from breaking down.
When that day finally arrives, she won’t be able to get back up. That thought sobers me enough to stand. Dominic won’t wait for me forever.
I put the dishes away while Mom stares out the window with a faraway look. Bruno sits beside her, thumping his tail against the threadbare carpet, his tongue hanging out.
After I pick up my backpack from the back of my chair, I stroke him behind the ear and kiss Mom on the cheek.
She pats my hand on her shoulder, smiling sadly. “Have a good day, sweetheart.”
“You too. I hope your first shift at the hospital goes well.”
On one hand, it’s good news that she found a position with an immediate start. At least it’s something after all the bad luck we’ve had as a family. But on the other hand, it’s an hour and a half commute, and that’s not in peak traffic. Our new home truly is in the middle of nowhere.
I exit the house, slamming into a wall of heat. Hot and sticky sweat beads on my forehead as I hurry down the front steps, backpack slung over my shoulder.
Dominic is already in the car, his hand hanging over the steering wheel as he tries to tune the radio.
When I open the door, a blast of heat escapes, and I thank the heavens for putting on frayed denim shorts and a light gray tanktop. It’s already difficult to breathe in this scorching summer weather.
I climb in and place the backpack between my feet, the leather seat burning my thighs and shoulders. Dominic twists the knob until a warped voice breaks through the static before it’s gone again.
“Fuck this,” he mutters.
Strapping myself in, I unzip my bag and dig through it for my water bottle, knowing I’ll guzzle water in this heat like it’s going out of fashion.
Droplets spill onto my chin, so I wipe them off and then offer him the bottle. Dominic disregards my presence, twisting the knob a few more times before giving up and revving the engine, leaving the static noise to fill the silence.
Though I’m used to his asshole behavior, the urge to toss my water bottle at him strikes me so hard, I have to clutch it in my grip.
