Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 51243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Exactly.”
I exhaled, tension draining with the breath. “Then I’ll take that nap.”
“Good,” he said. “You’ve earned it.”
He gave me one last look, his gaze lingering just long enough to make my pulse trip, before he shut my door.
BULLY YEARS: ELEVENTH GRADE (SECOND SEMESTER)
TAYLOR
Audrey
Fuck you for lying on me, you bitch-ass SNITCH.
Can you say that in English?
I assume it was you who told my dad that you saw me sneaking out my window last weekend. (Nice touch sending photos )
Okay, so no. You’re ASSuming things as usual. How the hell could I have done that when I had an away game?
Just admit it was you, Taylor. (Was it?)
It was, but she didn’t ever need to know that…
I left her message unanswered and grabbed my tennis shoes. As I was walking downstairs, I spotted my mother sitting on the couch.
“I thought you were working late today,” I said. “Want to drive me to the field?”
“I’m too drunk to do much of anything, Taylor.” She knocked back a shot.
I moved closer, confused. The air reeked of alcohol and lemon cleaner.
Two vodka bottles stood guard on the coffee table. I’d never seen my mom drink anything other than a glass of wine.
“How long have you been sitting here like this?” I asked.
“That’s not important.” She shook her head. “I have some really bad news. You want it now or later?”
“Now.”
“Good.” She leaned forward and poured another shot, but I took it away from her.
“Your father and I have made the tough decision to go our separate ways,” she said. “We still love you very much, but… we won’t be living with him anymore. You and I have to move out; he’ll keep the house.”
I blinked.
“Do you have any questions, Taylor?”
The weight of her words was still slowly settling in my mind.
“Where is Dad now?” I asked.
“Probably with his mistress.” She sipped from her coffee mug. “I mean, he’s probably out somewhere. Any other questions?”
“No.”
“Well, good.” She set down the cup and motioned for me to give her a hug. “That was a lot easier than I thought. You took it very well.”
Tears fell past her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands.
Sobbing into my chest, she cried words I couldn’t quite comprehend. All I could do was hug her until she stopped shaking.
Later that night, when my mom had cried herself to sleep, I slipped into the backyard. Pacing, I tried to think of when my dad would’ve possibly had the time to be with someone else.
He was always working, always busy.
Unless he was always lying…
I pulled out my phone and called him. I needed to hear the truth from his mouth.
It rang once.
It rang twice.
“Hey there, son,” he answered, not sounding distraught at all. “You caught me on my first break.”
“Mom said you’re getting a divorce.” I didn’t want to waste time on small talk.
“She was supposed to wait until tomorrow.”
“Well, she didn’t,” I said. “What did you do?”
“Son, this isn’t something I want to talk about over the phone.”
“What. Did. You. Do?”
“Taylor, it’s complicated,” he said. “And I’d rather discuss how you’re feeling about this instead of why it’s happening.”
“Stop avoiding my question, Dad.” I refused to let him divert this conversation. “Did you really cheat on Mom?”
The line went silent for several seconds.
“I fell in love with someone else,” he said. “It’s hard to explain, but… she’s who I want to be with for the long term. Your mother and I have been together since high school, and it’s been more of a roommate-and-co-parenting situation than being in love for a while.
“I happened to meet someone who showed me what love really means, and that’s what I’ve been missing for years. That’s what I need.”
I said nothing.
“When you get older, I’ll be able to explain it better, but love is a super complicated thing and—”
“Didn’t your marriage vows with Mom say you’d love her forever?”
“Yes, Taylor.”
“And till death do you part?”
“Yes.” He sighed, and for several moments, neither of us said a word.
I glanced over my shoulder and spotted my mother through the window.
Fresh tears fell from her red-rimmed eyes as she turned on the tea kettle.
“This doesn’t change anything between me and you,” my father spoke again. “I’ll always love you, I promise. And these next few months may be hard, but I can assure you that—”
My thumb hovered over the red button, hesitating for a fraction of a second—then I pressed it. Final. Irreversible.
I ended the call before he could complete that sentence and immediately blocked his number.
He clearly had no idea what the word promise meant, and I didn’t want to hear from him for a long time.
Still in disbelief, I returned inside and helped my mom make the tea. Then I waited until she fell asleep before grabbing the keys to my dad’s four-wheeler and buckling myself in.