Shuffling between my bedroom and the bathroom, I got ready as quickly as I could. I grabbed a Pop-Tart and sat down at the kitchen table. I had almost finished my breakfast when Dad walked into the kitchen, Mama right behind him.
Taking my trash, my feet carried me over to the garbage can. I did my best to stay out of the way while Dad made coffee and Mama started making him eggs. I watched as she cracked the egg into the pan and put cheese on top. Then I walked right into my dad. His stained white tank top in my face when I looked up.
“Sorry.” I quickly looked down and threw my trash away. Before running out the front door to catch the bus. I heard Dade yell at Mama as the screen door slammed shut behind me. Tears started to run down my face. I knew she was going to beat me and lock me up as soon as I got home.
twenty-three
roomies
Bunny
“Did you guys order pizza yet, or do we need to put it in?” My gaze landed on Chris. He was the designated pizza orderer of the group.
“Put it in on the way here. I got your monstrosity and Marlowe’s pizza. So grab those when they get here and take them somewhere. The rest is just whatever. People can take what they want, and when it’s gone it’s gone.”
“Awesome,” I said, falling backward onto the couch. “We moved the speakers and shit earlier, so that’s good to go.”
“Guys, you want a beer?” Dexter asked from the kitchen.
We all said yes, and Dexter brought us the drinks. Drinking in the living room, people slowly started to arrive, so we moved outside and turned the music on. Once the party was in full swing, I snuck off a couple of times and ate a piece of my pizza. I had moved Marlowe and my pizzas to my bedroom so no one would try to eat them. Checking the time, I realized she should be off shift soon. She and Naomi would be getting here in an hour or so.
Walking through the house, I greeted people who regularly came to our parties. Other people waved at me, but I had no clue who they were. I sat on the couch and watched the Star Wars movie that played.
Naomi scared the shit out of everyone in the house when she burst through the front door holding Dojo. I gave her a concerned look, and Marlowe walked in slowly behind her, quietly sobbing. She didn’t look up, just turned to walk down the hallway to Dexter’s room. Looking at Naomi, she nodded toward where her friend had just gone. “I’ll get Dex,” she said as I walked past her.
Catching up with Marlowe, I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly in a hug. We continued walking to Dexter’s room until we were sitting on the bed. I held Marlowe in my lap as she cried. Dexter shut the door behind him when he walked into the room. He knelt in front of us on the floor.
“What’s going on, Mar?” My voice was quiet. Dexter ran his hands gently up and down my calves.
Looking up at me, she sniffled. Dexter reached up and wiped her tears away. “Can I stay with you guys for a while?”
“Of course.” Dexter and I said at the same time.
“I don’t want to be a burden. I’ll stay in the living room. Me and Dojo will.” She started sobbing again. “I went home after work,” she had to take deep breaths as she spoke between her sobs. “I needed to grab something. All of my shit was outside. They cleared out my room and threw it outside of the trailer. Dojo was just tied up to the porch.” Her face fell into her hands.
“Mar, shhh.” Dexter rubbed her back. “You don’t have to stay in the living room. Take Aunt Sylvie’s room. Or stay here.”
“Or my room,” I cut in. “Anywhere.” She had options. The fact that she was out of the place with her sister and that dickhead was such a relief. I just hated that it happened like this.
Pulling her face to mine, I rested my lips lightly against hers. “Never stay anywhere else.” Before she could respond, I sealed my lips to hers.
Dexter leaned up, placing his hand on my waist and kissed Marlowe’s neck. When I leaned back to take in the sight, he turned Marlowe to him and kissed her. The moan he released into her mouth was delicious.
“This right here was made for me.”
Marlowe turned her attention to me and licked her lips. “Thank you both.” Her lips curled up into a small smile. “Now can you please get me very drunk and make sure I sleep in very late?”
Smacking her thigh lightly, she jumped. “Now that, we can do! But first, pizza.” We stood, and I guided Marlowe to my room where we ate our pizza before heading out into the party.
When we caught up with Naomi and the guys, they were playing beer pong. Naomi was beating the twins, and she was on a team by herself. It was brilliant.
The bottle of Jager I had grabbed from the freezer was glued to Marlowe’s hand. When Dexter or I wanted some, she insisted that she had to pour it in our mouths. I think more was wasted going down the sides of our faces than what we actually drank, but I wasn’t going to ruin her fun.
Scanning the backyard, I spotted Evan, who nodded at me to go over to him. “Be right back, groupie.” I smacked Marlowe’s ass lightly, and she smiled at me.
Walking up to Evan, I slapped his hand as he put it out, exchanging the baggie of pills for the cash. “What’s up, man?”
“Not too much. Nicki’s been asking about you, said she was trying to call you too.” He raised his eyebrows when he said this. I’d learned that Evan was Nicki’s cousin. Something told me I didn’t want to piss off Evan.
