Page 30 of Madden

"You can't even say anything to me after what I've done for you? You've completely changed my life, and you won't say hi? What the fuck, Trey?"

His eyebrows screw together in the middle of his forehead. "Oh, here we go," he tsks, pushing his feet out. They almost reach me, and I can feel the heat from his legs under the table. "You've always got to have someone tell you how great you are."

"No, I don't. However, it would be nice if you'd acknowledge that my life has been turned upside down since you were put in jail." He refuses to meet my eyes as I say the words.

"No one asked you to do anything," he looks everywhere but at me.

"That's where you're wrong. I was asked. The cops called me, said you'd been arrested and someone needed to take Mick. I did that," I remind him. "Without a second thought, I did that. I've never asked for a thank you, but I am here to ask for something."

"Of course you are."

I roll my eyes, irritation washing over my body. If he only knew the shit I've been dealing with, and how hard this has been. "Stop." I close my eyes. "I've never asked you for anything, but I'm going to today."

He sits up straighter, looking at me as if he's a student paying attention to a teacher. "I'm going to relish telling you no."

When did he become this person who delights in being an asshole? This isn't how he was raised, and it's never how I imagined he would speak to me. "I'm taking care of Mick, as you know."

"Rub it in, be a fuckin' martyr."

I ignore him. He's always the victim. "It would be helpful if you could sign over your parental rights while you're here."

"Fuck that and fuck you."

It hurts to have him speak to me like this. When we were kids, he loved me; he took care of me, and he was the person I would've run to if I had a problem. If a guy had been a dick, Trey would be the person to make him pay for it. I never would have imagined we'd be here right now. "I realize that you're hurting, and you hate that you're in prison. That’s all completely understandable."

He lunges across the table. "Don't pretend like you know what I'm dealing with, or that you even care." As he says the words, spit flies toward me. He's speaking with such disdain.

I inhale deeply. "I had hoped you would care more about your son than this, that being in here," I motion to the surrounding walls. "Would change you. That maybe you would realize how good life is outside of here, but you haven't." I shrug. "If you refuse to sign over your parental rights while he's in here so I can make sure he's taken care of, then I'll go about it another way," I threaten.

"I'd like to see you try, Becca. You've never had the backbone to stand up to anyone."

Setting my jaw, I stand up, pressing my palm against the table. "Then you don't know who I am, and you have no idea what I've had to do to keep shit together while you've been in here. You'll hear from my attorney," I say the words with much more confidence than I actually have.

Turning on my heel, I walk over to the officer who is in the room with us. "I'd like to go now."

He stands up, going to escort me out.

"I'm not done with you, Becca," Trey yells. "I still have a few things to say to you."

The officer turns back. "I don't think she wants to listen. She's asked to leave, and that's what she's going to do."

It's much easier to leave than it was to come in. I'm mad now, instead of worried and scared. With a temper I try to keep in check, I stomp out of the jail and head to my car. I make it until I get to the driver's seat and slam the door before I let the tears fall. My hands are shaking as I pull my phone out of my purse and search for the one person I want to speak to.

I find Madden's name and click the button to connect. I'm not sure whether he can answer because he's in school, and I don't know what the rules are with him while in school. It's ringing, and I'm about to hang up, when I hear his voice.

"Bec?"

Immediately, I sob. "I need to see you. Can I do that?"

"Are you okay?" His voice is full of concern.

"No, but I will be."

"I take it, it didn't go well with Trey?" He whispers.

"Yeah, you could say that." I put my thumb to my mouth and start chewing on the nail.

"Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to bring Mick to my house. You meet us over there. Y'all can stay if you want. Tomorrow's Saturday. We can spend the day together.

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