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“But you’re her kid.”
I didn’t dare look at Dita. Her voice sounded too shocked, incredulous and angry on my behalf. It felt good to have someone stand up for me, but it split me in half because yes, I was aware Mom hadn’t just left. She’d abandoned us.
At least Cary was still around.
Christ, did that thought really pop up in my mind? Jesus, digging this deep into my issues was emotionally exhausting.
One of the many reasons I sought companionship in the form of snakes. Because they didn’t ask for you to talk about feelings, you idiot.
“He fucked my girl three years ago.” There. Another painful thorn in my side pushed a little deeper.
“He did what?” she screeched.
“Fucked my girlfriend. On the kitchen counter after I broke up with her and told her to take a hike. Drove a couple of minutes around the block to clear my head while she packed her things. Came back to a coked-up daddy and a girlfriend who had been after the rockstar the entire time we dated.” I sighed. “They both looked right into my eyes while they were at it, and you think they had an ounce of regret?”
Nope. Nothing.
“Oh, and I also lost the opportunity to become The Snake Zoo’s boss.”
Fond, fond memories.
She tilted her head. “How so?”
“My uncle was the previous owner of the shelter. Apparently, he wanted me as his successor. Just not until I’d became eighteen. And…”
“And?” Dita echoed as I stalled.
“And the first and only requirement stated that Cary and I… I’ll never be his successor until my relationship with Cary is restored.”
She nudged her chin, realization dawning on her that fucking your son’s girlfriend did quite the opposite.
I expected Dita to respond with something that had a soothing note, or a curse. But she didn’t say anything. She silently fingered Ace’s skin and then held him up, motioning for me to put him back.
So, I did. One by one, I put the snakes back into the glass tank, and waited for her to leave my room.
But as I stood there, wishing Hopitles a good night, her arms banded around me from behind. Her chest settled against my back while her arms tightened around my waist. And I leaned back, quickly checking if the boys were alright in there before I clutched her wrists.
“I’m sorry that happened, Ares.”
She let her forehead fall in between my shoulder blades. It wasn’t as mortifying as it was humbling having her small frame hold me upright.
I dropped my head, relishing in these sparse seconds of recognition.
“It’s okay. It’s in the past.”
Bullshit. It cobbled on the surface. Like oil on water set on fire. There was hardly an open space to come up for air. That was what her mother marrying my dad did to me.
No, wrong. It was Dita moving in and seeing her create a bond with my Dad. One I’d barely ever had.
As if she felt how that shit weighed on my chest, she changed the subject. “What did you mean The Zoo isn’t doing well? If there’s anything I can do to help…”
Oof! Another olive branch?
My heart lodged in my throat.
I turned around and swung my arms around her shoulders in an even tighter embrace, smothered with novel emotions.
“We have a hard time making ends meet. If we don’t find any funds or donors and people who’ll volunteer, the doors will be shut in no time.”
