A round of laughter drifts out of the garage, momentarily snatching my attention. There's a couple of guys sitting on a couch toward the back of the garage, looking up at one guy telling some story, and a girl is draped over one of the guy's laps on the couch. I notice his hand is buried up her skirt, not giving a fuck that everyone else is around.
Jorge slaps at my shoulder to get my attention and offers the joint again. He snuffs it out when I shake my head and then pulls a cigarette out of his pocket. “What do you need? The usual?”
“Yeah, thanks. Haven't heard from Reese yet, but you know how he is. Could be a last-minute text.”
“No sweat. It'll be done right away,” Miguel says, stepping up beside Jorge and taking the smoke out of his mouth to have a drag himself.
I shove my phone back into my pocket and toss him the keys. “I'll just be down the street.”
They wave me off, and I start walking toward the little coffee shop at the end of the block. After ordering my coffee, I take a seat and pull out my phone again, opening the message.
Me: Who's this?
The reply is almost immediate.
Unknown: It's Janie.
I lean back in my chair, staring at the screen.Janie.My younger half-sister, who I haven't seen or spoken to in four years, along with my parents. I sit up straighter and add her to my contacts before replying.
Me: Hey.
I scratch my cheek.Hey?
Me: How's it goin'?
Not much better, but oh well.
Janie: Um, okay. I got your number from Ryat. I hope you don't mind.
Ryat, our cousin, is one of the only family members that I still talk to every now and then, and even now, it's been a couple of months since I've been in contact with him. He's a little older than me and runs a construction company here in the city.
Me: No, it's okay.
I'm pretty curious what her reason is for getting a hold of me now after all this time. In a way, I'm kind of pissed that she never reached out before. Although, I know that's stupid because I never reached out to her, either. Never really wanted to.
We weren't exactly close as kids, but after all the bullshit happened after that night, we were kept apart, and then I started to resent her for our parents treating her like she was the most precious thing in the world while they treated me like I was a vile piece of shit.
Janie: I wanted to let you know I'm throwing mom and dad an anniversary party. It'll be their twenty-fifth, and I want you to come. You should be able to put whatever your problem with them is behind you for this.
I drop my phone on the table and lean back again, running a hand through my hair. I mean, is she fucking kidding right now? I don't think she ever knew what happened, but considering I left home four years ago and haven't returned once, nor have I talked to any of them, she'd have to know there's a good reason for it, right?
Each individual muscle in my back and neck starts tensing up just thinking about it, and all of those feelings that simmer just below the surface – anger, hurt, guilt – start bubbling their way up. After my parents made me move to Boston, things only went downhill between us. There's no way I'm going to some fucking party for them.
Me: I'm sorry, but I can't.
I drink some of my coffee, but it just doesn't feel like it's enough now. My phone buzzes on the table again, but I refuse to look at it right away. Instead, I force myself to focus on anything else – the plants in the window, the other patrons – all while my foot starts tapping restlessly. I don't think my parents would give two shits if they ever saw me again. They made me feel like shit. Unloved. Unwanted. I was the sadsack looking through the window at a happy family that I wasn't a part of anymore. So why would I go to some party for them?
Taking a deep breath, I finally look down at my phone.
Janie: Seriously? Get over yourself, Cam. Can you just grow the fuck up and stop being so selfish? I don't care what happened between you guys. You should be able to do this for them. THEY'RE YOUR PARENTS.
Janie: Don't be the loser son that dad says you are.
I get to my feet, shoving my chair back with enough force that it almost falls backward. They're my parents? The loser son? They kept me trapped at home, away from my best friend before he was taken away. They said I was involved with the rape and that they didn't trust me anymore. They uprooted my life, changed everything, and didn't give me one bit of the love and care that Ineededfrom them.
And she says I'm being selfish?
I burst out of the coffee shop, leaving my coffee on the table.
