Feeling thuggish, I flash my teeth in a vicious grin as I close the door and circle around him. “Oh, I know. But there’s one more thing you need to do before you wash your hands clean of the three of them.”
“Look, man,” Silas begins nervously as his bloodshot eyes affix to the black ink circling my neck. “You can have her. I’m done with her.”
“Of course you are. Or maybe she was done with you first.” I stretch to my full height and tower over him. “You don’t want to be a man and take responsibility for what you’ve done, I’m all too happy to step up and take your place. But youaregoing to do one last thing. A parting gift, you might call it. Go get your wallet.”
His protest is immediate. “No, that bitch isn’t getting one fucking dime—”
Anger lights my fuse as I grit out, “What did you just call her?”
“I...I...”
I reach a hand out for his throat but move at the last second to grab his balls through his boxers. His mouth gapes open as I squeeze, but I don’t let go of his pitiful package. “The only thing these sad nuts of yours did right was to contribute what little bit you did to those babies. Ah-ah-ah... I know what you want to say. Shrinkage, right, because of the cold weather?”
He squirms in my grip.
“Be still or I’m going to twist them off. Now, I was going to be generous and let you get away with giving her half of what was in your wallet, but you just fucked up, Silas. Stuck your foot in that mouth of yours big time. She gets it all now. It’s the least you can do since you won’t be paying child support.”
“Fuck you—” Theyouends on a choked squeal as I squeeze even harder. A sigh leaves me. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The things a man does for the love of his life.
“Let’s go.” Never would I have ever thought I would forcefully walk a man backwards by his crown jewels, but there’s a first time for everything as we awkwardly move down the hall. “Which room?”
He silently gestures to a door on the left.
“Open it.” It’s trashed. Empty food wrappers, beer bottles, and clothes litter the entire floor. “Wallet. Now.”
“Look... What’s your name again? Let me go and I’ll get the money. Come on, man,” he mumbles.
“What? You afraid you’re gonna get hard? Don’t worry,” I reassure him with a wink. “I won’t tell Rosanna that tattooed thugs get the blood pumping to these pitiful balls of yours.”
“Fuck.” Silas reaches for a pair of pants on his dresser and digs out his wallet to show me the money inside. “Satisfied? It’s all I got.”
“Take it out and hand it to me.”
His lips thin in frustration, but he takes it out just as I told him. The other door in the hallway opens just as Silas wildly offers the money to me. “Here,” he hisses. “Now let go.”
A shaggy head pops in. “Yo, Silas, those chicks last night were—what the fuck, man?”
It’s a compromising situation Rosanna’s ex has found himself in. Tucked away in a room, scantily clad, and giving money to a man holding him by the balls. I’d have questions, too. “Two more things and then I’m gonna leave. One—you stay the fuck away from Rosanna and those babies. If I see you near them, I’m gonna do more than just fondle your little balls. And two—this is for the bruises you left on her arms.”
Fisting his nuts tightly, I twist until his face turns white with pain and his legs give way. As he falls to the floor, I pocket the money and salute his bug-eyed friend. “See ya, fuckers.”
Eyeing the overflowing dishes in the kitchen sink, I forego washing my hands to get rid of the contamination and settle for scrubbing them furiously on my jeans. I’ll wait until I get home. A chuckle hovers in my mouth all the way to the door and for the first fifteen minutes of the drive home. Touching his shriveled peas was worth it. So worth it.
By the time I pull up to my house, the exhaustion from my late night has zapped all my strength. I’m gonna crash for a bit, but then I’ve got to finish Isaiah’s bookcase. Don’t want to keep the kid waiting too long.
When I unlock my door, Baggy weaves in and out around my feet while I toe my boots off and Toto’s entire body shakes with the force of his tail wags. “I know, I know. I missed you, too. Did Grandpa treat you boys right while I was gone? Give me one second, guys. One second.”
Quickly washing my hands under their watchful eyes, I head for my room, pulling off my day-old clothes as I go and making a mental note to burn the contaminated pants. “Come on. Daddy’s gotta take a nap because he stayed up all night watching his woman.”
I can’t keep this up every night. She’s wearing me out and she doesn’t even know it. And I’ve got to take some time to finish staining Isaiah’s bookcase.
“Oh, fuck.” I forgot about the prize that I brought home. I pick up my pants and fish out the lacy panties I swiped earlier, giving them a good sniff. They smell more like fresh laundry than they do her, but I can still pick out her scent. A few more long inhales, and then I reach for the wooden box on the top shelf of my closet.
Dad and I made it when I was about eight years old. I rub a thumb over the small box and remember what I’d asked him.
“What should I put in it, Dad?” One more letter to go, and then my name will be finished on the lid.
His hand squeezes my shoulder as he says, “Whatever’s special to you, son.”
