Page 36 of Silent Damage

I run into the bathroom and lock the door.

A few seconds later, he’s banging on it, and I scream, “Make sure to get all of the milk off the ceiling, too,” and then I turn on the shower.

Chapter 10

Gabe

He locked himself in the bathroom for over an hour, then blew right past me while I was scrubbing the trailer and disappeared.

Where the hell does he go all day?

I shouldn’t care.

But I almost followed him just to see, until I stopped myself.

I have to have a sliver of self-respect.

Instead, I spent most of the day drawing pictures of Jason being fried alive by a fire-breathing dragon.

Very therapeutic.

I’d managed to calm myself down until Mom charged into the trailer to remind me about dinner.

And here I am…

Sitting across from him.

I’ve never eaten a meal so quickly in my whole life.

Head down, eyes fixed on my plate, I scarf down every last crumb so I can get up and leave.

I’m about to push my chair back and walk away when Doug asks, “So, you didn’t get along with your mother’s new boyfriend?”

I freeze.

Doug’s tone is pointed, to say the least. He stares at Jason with a condescending expression I saw too often as a kid. Doug would taunt Jason—leering at him with this cocky, twisted face, making Jason furious. It was like Doug wanted Jason to start something so he could punish him for it.

“Nope,” Jason replies without even looking at Doug.

Mom shoots me a look, and I know exactly what she’s thinking. She can feel it too. A bomb is about to detonate, and we’re gearing up for the explosion.

“Can’t get along with anyone, can you?” Doug asks as he cuts some of his meat.

I narrow my eyes at Doug.

Why? Why are you doing this?

Jason sets his fork down and crosses his arms over his chest. “That depends.”

“On what?” Doug asks.

Jason leans in closer. “On how big of a prick they are to me.” He deliberately over-aspirates the p in prick, puffing a burst of air directly into Doug's face, which turns beet red.

He stares at Jason, his jaw clenching, and warns, “I don’t want you to get into fights while you’re here. If you’re gonna live here, you follow my rules, or else.”

“Or else what?” Jason barks. “You’ll use the belt again?”

Mom interrupts. “Guys. Don’t do this.”