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In Michigan… there was no work
We found ourselves in Detroit under an overpass on I-75 with a can andto appease the subzero air all around us
“We’re going to fucking freeze out here,” Heather said as her boyfriend Ross hugged her tighter into his body trying to generate more warmth
They’d started traveling with us about three ht ere fucked up on the strip There were six of us now, and she was the only girl I would be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous of their relationship They always had each other’s backs, noaround from place to place
I never thought I would want to share this experience with someone
That was an unexpected surprise
“She’s right, we’re going to fucking freeze,” I stated, trying to bloarm air into my hands
It was no use Nothing would work, it was just too daht off the street weren’t even nuid weather I never believed it when people said the cold could fuck with your bones
“Fuck this” I stood, walking away “I’ll be back”
“Where you going?” Mike called out behind me
“I’ll be back,” I repeated, debating if I was really going to do this
I saw an ATM up the road earlier in the day, and I would be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind to stop at it as soon as alked past it If it wasn’t so godda this, but ere going to die out here tonight if we didn’t find a warm place to sleep I pulled out rab ave e I hadn’t used it once since I left, but at this point what other choice did I have I pushed the card into thefor a hundred bucks That would get us a few rooms at a shitty a model, but at least ould be warm
I desperately wanted to take a hot shower I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a decent shower We alashed up in public bathrooms on the road You didn’t realize the simple luxuries you had until you didn’t have them anymore
Themy card
Declined
“The fuck?”
I grabbed it, shoving it back in Repeating the same steps
Declined
I shookthe card where it was to find the nearest payphone I would give ht I would lose it and shut it off to avoid fraud and protect themselves I could understand that If that were the case, they would definitely wire me some money if I told them where I was and why I needed it
No matter what they were still my parents
“Austin,” I said to the operator, calling my parents collect
“Austin,” Mos Her voice laced orry
“Hey, Ma,” I replied, grateful she was the one that answered
“Where are you? Are you okay?”
“I’m in Detroit, and I’m fine It’s just—” She didn't let me finish
“Coh for you since the accident, okay? Just coure it out”
“Ma, there’s nothing for me to come home to”
She sighed
“I promise I’m fine I just need you to wireif I didn’t really need it”
“Austin…”
“Please I’ out, and I have nowhere to sleep tonight”
“Oh, Austin…” She began to sob
“Ma, I’m fine I swear I’ll come home when I’m ready”
“Where do I wire the money to?”
“There’s a Western Union in—”
“Is that Austin? Wiring what round
“Joseph—”
“Give me the phone Austin?”
“Hey, Dad," I replied cal for the wrath of my father
“Well, look who finally decides to call Do you have any idea what your h? Do you have any idea what you have been putting us through?”
“I’ve been sending postcards, telling you I'm alive and fine"
“That e without even discussing it with us and disappear For ued
I leanedto have this fucking conversation I just needed ht
“I knew you wouldn’t approve I knew you wouldn’t understand”
“You bet your ass I don’t understand! After everything we have done for you!”
“Dad, I’m fine I’ll come home when I’m ready to”
“What are you doing in theyour life away? Where are you?”
“I’ by for the last eightcare of myself?”
“Then why are you calling? After all this time? Why not just send another postcard”
I took a deep breath “It’s freezing out and there’s no work I tried to use my ATM card but it was denied—”
“Of course it was I told you I warned you… I gave you a chance to get your shit together I’ your life away I cut you off the second you left You want to fuck up your life then you do it on your own di for it”
My eyes widened, jerking my head back in shock
“Wow… you didn’t even think I could do it on my own,” I stated as a question "You’ve never believed in me"
“Why would I? You obviously provedfor money Noould you?”
I scoffed “Do me a favor, old , except your son, which doesn’t seem to matter to you anyway The next time you wonder where I am… if I’m dead or alive? Just remember this conversation I have no friends, and now…” I paused to let my words sink in
“I have no parents” I hung up
It fucking killed me to say that to hiardless of all the bullshit
I love them
I stood there feeling like a huge piece ofon the concrete beneath my feet I wanted the rown-assunconditional love
Isn’t that what parents are supposed to do? No matter what?
The phone ringing pulledit, but my hand ainst my ear
“Austin…” Mom coaxed, her voice a soft whisper
I leanedhow cold theto fall I had closed my lids to keep them at bay and relieve the ache
“Austin… please keep sending me postcards Just tellme know you’re safe I don’t care where you are or what you’re doing I just need to know you’re okay,” she added
I listened intently, holding back the tears that threatened to fall, one by one, right after the other
“We love you, Austin Your dad is just hurt You’re our baby Austin Austin, do you hear me? I love you”
A single tear fell from my face and I murmured, “I love you, too”
And I hung up the phone
Briggs
“Fuck you feel good,” he rasped againstdown the side of
their way down tomy nipple into his mouth
My breathing hitched when he cupped ers
“I want to fuck you withon my lower lip
He gripped the back ofmy clit, back and forth in slow torturouss, stohtened, and spasmed all at once
Our breathing escalated My head fell back asThe way his tongue sinfully played with arettes, and weed, with a hint of pepper a loud, moan to escape my mouth
My back arched off the bed when his fingers slipped inside -spot, as if he knew my body better than I did
“Here…” he huskily groaned, hittingto coe
I panted, fisting and clawing the sheets all around us
He kissed every last inch of my skin as he slid down azed down at hih hooded eyes, while he stared up at aze that tore into my soul