Strays - An Anti-Hero Romance - Cora Brent Page 0,2
of businesses and wives and even a kid that’s not his.
I’m only good at looking after myself and even on that count the results are kind of sketchy. I was a rotten kid, a hellacious teenager and by most standards I’m on my way to becoming a shitty man. Quick tempered, in and out of prison, making money through less than legal means and then blowing it all on nonsense before I’ve finished counting it. I have nothing to offer that kid in her belly. I was even the worst of big brothers, always lashing out with misplaced fury at a scrawny boy who didn’t even know how to fight back. There aren’t many memories that really bother me but the ones that do always involve Jonathan. Wherever he is I hope he doesn’t think of me too often. Since I could never even treat my little brother right then I have no business trying to be a father.
“Is it a boy or a girl?” I ask and it makes no difference. I just want to know.
Dana hesitates, afraid the answer will mean something to me. “It’s a boy.”
A boy.
A boy who might have my eyes and enjoy playing football just like I used to.
A boy who won’t grow up with the stink of the Hempstead name following him around.
A boy who will be raised here, amid sparkling affluence, instead of the grimy landscape of the small town trailer park where I grew up.
A boy who will likely never even know that I exist.
“Take good care of him,” I say and then I turn my back. There’s no point in emptying out the few crumbs in my wallet or making promises that I’ll give things I don’t have. She knows that, just like she knows our son will be much better off without me.
And I know it too.
This is why I won’t think twice about climbing into Dempsey’s truck and driving away without looking back.
1
Izzy
My dad operates under a clear set of life rules.
One of the cardinal bullet points is: Look a man in the eye and tell him you won’t accept his bullshit.
That’s undoubtedly good advice.
But when the bullshitter in question is staring somewhere south of your eyes then it’s difficult to apply.
“I find this completely unacceptable.” I snap my fingers in the hope that his eyes get startled away from my tits. “We had a verbal agreement, Lou.”
Lou, the pink-faced, thin-haired landlord who might require a power tool to pry him from his undersized desk chair, scratches an itch on the right side of the broad belly that threatens to split through his red polo shirt. His nasal wheeze of a voice follows. “You didn’t give me a deposit.”
Another of my dad’s rules: Keep your temper in check. Unless you have no choice.
I’m rapidly reaching the summit of no choice. I’ve been driving for two days, I smell like cheap roadside motel soap and all of my treasured belongings are currently stored in the trunk of my car. Granted, the car is a gleaming new Escalade, a gift from the devoted father whose advice follows me everywhere. But still. I’d much rather have a roof over my head tonight in a place that doesn’t offer to charge by the hour. Right now Landlord Lou is interfering with my plans.
Alas, I am not my father. Deck Gentry could lean in and utter a few meaningful words that would give Landlord Lou an anxiety attack. I suspect the effect would not be the same coming from a five foot two redheaded female.
So instead of blowing a fuse and knocking Lou’s pencil jar over, I sit up straighter and offer him a smile.
“Lou, you told me to give you the deposit when I arrived. Well, here I am. And in my purse is the cashier’s check for the one bedroom apartment I had reserved online and then confirmed with a direct call to you. Do you recall our conversation? It was eight days ago. You chewed on potato chips the entire time. Or perhaps it was crackers. I can’t be sure. You did belch twice and failed to excuse yourself but I didn’t complain. Then you promised that my apartment was located close to the pool. You said the keys were in your hand. I’d like to know what happened to them since then.”
Lou’s eyes are the color of limp spinach and they blink. “Hey, it’s nothing personal. I got an offer to pay more rent.”