mother wrapped an arm around Judd’s shoulders and steered him toward the house. She said something to him, but Judd didn’t respond. He just walked, holding on to Jemma tightly. Like he was afraid someone would steal her from him.
Just like he was about to steal Deacon’s room. Deacon’s life.
As his father climbed the porch steps and passed him, he muttered, “You better drop the attitude, boy. I can see it on your face and so can they. You might not have asked for this, but neither did they. I’m sure they would’ve been happier staying where they were, not getting uprooted like this. So, you better think twice before you say something stupid to either of your cousins, you hear me?”
Deacon couldn’t unglue his gaze from those two cousins, who were approaching his house. Neither of them would even be fun to hang out with. Judd was too old. Jemma too young.
“You hear me, boy?”
“Yes,” he forced out between clenched teeth.
His dad gave a sharp nod and went inside, the springs on the wooden screen door squeaking as it slammed and bounced against the frame behind him.
Deacon spread his feet wide and crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to move out of their way as they stepped onto the porch.
His mother released a disappointed sigh as she went around him, but Judd stopped right in front of him. He waited until Deacon’s mother went inside, then his cousin, much taller than Deacon, said, “Think I wanna share a room with a spoiled, snot-nosed shit like you? You think I got a choice to be here? I’m only doin’ it for my sister, that’s all.” Judd leaned down and sneered right in Deacon’s face. “So, get the fuck over it, twerp. What’s mine is mine and now what’s yours is mine, too. Get used to it. Now, get the fuck outta my way.”
Deacon stared at him for a few seconds longer. Then he moved, but not fast enough. Judd clipped Deacon’s shoulder as he pushed forward, knocking Deacon to the side.
Judd paused in front of the door and said over his shoulder, “You do anything bad to my sister, I’ll beat the shit outta you.”
“You touch me and I’ll tell my Dad.”
“Then he’ll beat the shit outta you, too. Your pop told me he’s glad I’m not a pussy boy like you.” Judd jerked open the screen door and carried Jemma inside.
Before the screen door slammed shut, he saw Jemma’s face peek out from Judd’s neck and she stuck her tongue out at Deacon.
Deacon rubbed at the burn in his eyes and the sting in his nose. He tore down the porch steps and out to the shed, where he grabbed his prized BMX bike, which he refused to share, and hopped on it. He pedaled until he couldn’t pedal anymore, until his lungs were burning and he lost track of time.
By the time he got home, it was dark and past his curfew. After he put his bike back in the shed, he came around the corner of the house to find his father waiting for him on the porch in the rocking chair. Rocking and waiting. Probably getting more ticked by the second.
His dad was usually fair, but Deacon knew he not only broke the rules, but missed dinner. He’d also somehow torn a hole in his new jeans, so now his mother would have to repair them.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” he mumbled as he slowly climbed the porch steps.
His father stopped rocking and got to his feet. “Yeah. You’re going to be.”
The sound of his father’s belt being unbuckled made him freeze.
“Go to your room and wait for me there.”
Deacon flicked his eyes up to his father’s. “Is Judd in there? You gonna let him watch?”
“He’s going to see what happens when he doesn’t follow the rules. Just because he’s sixteen doesn’t mean he’ll get away with pulling stunts like this. You know the rules. You broke them.”
Deacon began to tremble as heat filled his cheeks. “But Dad!”
His father slid the belt from the loops of his jeans. A familiar sound that made the hair on the back of Deacon’s neck stand. “One more word and I’ll add another six on to the six you already earned. You don’t disrespect me, your mother, your blood or this house. And you did all of that today. Now go.”
Deacon blinked quickly and wiped away the tears that were already starting to fall as he jerked the screen door open