Baby?” he asks , annoyed. “He’s a fuckin’ nag.”
I shake my head , annoyed too.
“I went to let off some steam and a fucker he’s got fighting there now pissed me off. I took him down twice, one time not in the ring. Baby’s got his pants in a fuckin’ wad now cause I messed his shit up.”
“I told you, fight or don’t fight. But Baby is fuckin’ pissing me off. Lay off messing people up outside the ring, ‘kay?”
“Yes, sir.”
He reaches across the table, pats my cheek, and looks me straight in the eye.
“You know I love you like a son, right?”
“I know.”
“Take care of that little girl. I’ll be in touch,” he commands.
I nod and move to get up.
“One more thing. No texting . Everything is face to face or I call you. Got it?” he orders.
“Yeah, Tonio told me.”
Across the room, Tonio and Donny are talking. I sit down at the table with them. Donny gets up, taps me in acknowledgement on the shoulder, and goes back to sit with Tonio’s Pop. My glass is full of red wine. I sip it and it tastes good as it coats my dry throat. A waiter comes right over.
“Two eggplants, Jared,” Tonio orders for us.
“Soup or salad?”
“P asta fagiola,” Tonio says.
The waiter goes into the kitchen to place our orders. I take a big gulp of my wine this time.
“How did your meeting go the other day?” Tonio asks.
“Good. Fuckin’ weird though,” I say, meaning it.
“He told me to back off,” Tonio says in a n angry huff. “I still think she’s too young, but I’m not her fuckin’ father, so I’ll back off. But I don’t think I have to tell you not to mess with her.” Tonio’s voice is on the edge of caustic.
I shoot my eyes to his. “I wouldn’t hurt her for anything in this fuckin’ world.”
Erin
This is the lowest of the lows. My mother is pure evil. How could she do this? It’s unfair! I don’t want to have dinner with Connor! When I was away at school, Connor and his family could’ve come over every night for all I cared. But now that I’m home, they decide to have dinner here at our house. Can’t they go out for dinner like the rest of the world does on Friday nights? Or eat at the O’Connell’s? I don’t need this B.S. right now.
I have a good mind to sit here in my room all night or to have someone pick me up. It’s not about seeing Connor really; it’s about the anger I feel towards my mother. She’s betrayed me. She might have done this for her personal motives and not to deceive me, but still, it stings.
My phone dings with a text. It’s my sister, Megan.
Megan: U OK
Me: Fine
Megan: It’s just typical Mom.
Me: I know. U coming home for dinner?
Megan: Can’t. Have stuff to do with Antonio. Sorry!
I toss my phone on the bed in a huff. I pace my room, trying desperately to contain my annoyance. My irritation only turns back into seething anger at my mother. How dare she? She can’t make me eat with them!
My eyes jut back to my phone on the bed. Maybe… I pick it up and scroll through my contacts all the way down the list to V. I press call.
“Yeah?” a gruff voice says.
“Hi, It’s Erin…”
“I know.” So he does have my number.
“ I was wondering what you’re doing tonight? I’m kind of stuck at home and… thought… maybe you could pick me up. I don’t care what you’re doing. I just need to get out of here.”
Silence on the other end.
“Hello. You there?”
“I’m here.”
Continued silence.
“Just forget it. I didn’t mean to bother you ,” I say, awkwardly. “My parents are having people over tonight and I so do not want to be here. And Megan’s out with Antonio.”
“Who’s coming?”
Ugh. I really don’t want to answer that question.
“Um, friends of the family… Troy’s family …” I say in a rush.
“I’ll be there soon.”
I hear the click of the phone. He hung up. Odd.
I grab my purse
I shake my head , annoyed too.
“I went to let off some steam and a fucker he’s got fighting there now pissed me off. I took him down twice, one time not in the ring. Baby’s got his pants in a fuckin’ wad now cause I messed his shit up.”
“I told you, fight or don’t fight. But Baby is fuckin’ pissing me off. Lay off messing people up outside the ring, ‘kay?”
“Yes, sir.”
He reaches across the table, pats my cheek, and looks me straight in the eye.
“You know I love you like a son, right?”
“I know.”
“Take care of that little girl. I’ll be in touch,” he commands.
I nod and move to get up.
“One more thing. No texting . Everything is face to face or I call you. Got it?” he orders.
“Yeah, Tonio told me.”
Across the room, Tonio and Donny are talking. I sit down at the table with them. Donny gets up, taps me in acknowledgement on the shoulder, and goes back to sit with Tonio’s Pop. My glass is full of red wine. I sip it and it tastes good as it coats my dry throat. A waiter comes right over.
“Two eggplants, Jared,” Tonio orders for us.
“Soup or salad?”
“P asta fagiola,” Tonio says.
The waiter goes into the kitchen to place our orders. I take a big gulp of my wine this time.
“How did your meeting go the other day?” Tonio asks.
“Good. Fuckin’ weird though,” I say, meaning it.
“He told me to back off,” Tonio says in a n angry huff. “I still think she’s too young, but I’m not her fuckin’ father, so I’ll back off. But I don’t think I have to tell you not to mess with her.” Tonio’s voice is on the edge of caustic.
I shoot my eyes to his. “I wouldn’t hurt her for anything in this fuckin’ world.”
Erin
This is the lowest of the lows. My mother is pure evil. How could she do this? It’s unfair! I don’t want to have dinner with Connor! When I was away at school, Connor and his family could’ve come over every night for all I cared. But now that I’m home, they decide to have dinner here at our house. Can’t they go out for dinner like the rest of the world does on Friday nights? Or eat at the O’Connell’s? I don’t need this B.S. right now.
I have a good mind to sit here in my room all night or to have someone pick me up. It’s not about seeing Connor really; it’s about the anger I feel towards my mother. She’s betrayed me. She might have done this for her personal motives and not to deceive me, but still, it stings.
My phone dings with a text. It’s my sister, Megan.
Megan: U OK
Me: Fine
Megan: It’s just typical Mom.
Me: I know. U coming home for dinner?
Megan: Can’t. Have stuff to do with Antonio. Sorry!
I toss my phone on the bed in a huff. I pace my room, trying desperately to contain my annoyance. My irritation only turns back into seething anger at my mother. How dare she? She can’t make me eat with them!
My eyes jut back to my phone on the bed. Maybe… I pick it up and scroll through my contacts all the way down the list to V. I press call.
“Yeah?” a gruff voice says.
“Hi, It’s Erin…”
“I know.” So he does have my number.
“ I was wondering what you’re doing tonight? I’m kind of stuck at home and… thought… maybe you could pick me up. I don’t care what you’re doing. I just need to get out of here.”
Silence on the other end.
“Hello. You there?”
“I’m here.”
Continued silence.
“Just forget it. I didn’t mean to bother you ,” I say, awkwardly. “My parents are having people over tonight and I so do not want to be here. And Megan’s out with Antonio.”
“Who’s coming?”
Ugh. I really don’t want to answer that question.
“Um, friends of the family… Troy’s family …” I say in a rush.
“I’ll be there soon.”
I hear the click of the phone. He hung up. Odd.
I grab my purse
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