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“Do you have any enemies?” I ask her seriously.
She laughs. “Of course. Destiny Connor is my mom.”
“What happened with the one that took it too far?” It’s my turn to change the subject.
She looks over at me. She’s pissed I asked about it. She definitely doesn’t want to talk about it.
She takes a deep breath and turns back towards the window. “Just what it sounds like. The guy took it too far.”
“Tell me what happened,” I push. I’m trying to get as much as I can out of her tonight, because she seems to be opening up to me.
“I was fifteen. I came home from school and couldn’t find Ma anywhere. I hollered for her, but she didn’t answer. That usually meant she was passed out somewhere. I just remember sitting on the couch and this guy came out of her room. He was a lot younger than the usual guys. He sat down next to me and tried to talk to me. It made me uncomfortable.” I watch her fumble for another cigarette. Her hands shake when she tries to light it.
“Anyway, he kept putting a hand on my leg, or moving closer. I kept swatting him away. I finally got up. I was going to lock myself in my bedroom. He grabbed my arm. I’ll never forget what it felt like having his nails digging into my skin. I was terrified.” I take the cigarette from her and light it, handing it back.
“He shoved my face down into the coffee table. I had a cut for a week from the glass breaking and cutting my face. He was so rough. I was a virgin, so it was even worse.” I watch a tear try to escape her eye, but she wipes it away just as quickly as it appears.
“You don’t have to finish if you don’t want to.” I almost reach out to comfort her, but she wouldn’t like that.
“It’s okay. It feels kinda good to talk. I tried to fight at first, but it only ended up being worse. I just remember that I eventually zoned out. Just wishing that he would hurry up and get it over with. When he was finished, he winked at me and left.”
My blood is boiling. How could someone do something like that to a teenage girl?
“Do you know who he was?”
She shakes her head. “No. My mom didn’t remember anything when she woke up. Two months later, I found out I was pregnant, and I had an abortion.” She doesn’t look at me. I don’t blame her. I can’t imagine being in her shoes.
“I’m sor––”
“Don’t,” she snaps. “Don’t say it. Don’t pity me. If I ever see him again, I’ll kill him. That’s a face I’ll never forget.”
I pull down our gravel road. It doesn’t feel safe out here anymore. “Do you have anything tying you to this place?” I ask her, putting the truck in park.
“What do you mean?” She directs her attention to me.
“I mean, is there any reason you’d want to stay here in Deadhorse?”
“Fuck no.” She tosses the cigarette out the window.
“Come to California with me?”
“You’re fucking crazy,” she says with a dry laugh.
I shrug. “Maybe I am. But what are you gonna do here? Follow in Destiny’s footsteps? Look behind your shoulder, constantly wondering if someone knows you’ve taken part in two murders now?” She glares at me.
“Fuck you, Maddox.” She climbs out of the car, slamming the door.
“Wait. Hear me out.” I go to grab her arm, but think better of it––after what she just told me.
“What are you gonna tell your family and friends? You met a stripper, fucked her a few times, and decided to bring her home like a new puppy?”
“I don’t have any family. My mom died years ago. I have a best friend that I own a company with. That’s it. I don’t have to tell anyone shit.” And that’s the truth.
She pauses. She can’t come up with a legitimate reason to stay, and she can’t come up with a reason not to go.
“That would be crazy.”
“There isn’t anything about us that isn’t crazy.”
