Page 35 of Maddox
I willnotcry about this again.
Later, I roll over and sit up, wiping my eyes. I must have dozed off because an hour has passed, and the remainder of my sandwich is dry and crusty.
I’ve got an hour before my next shift at the diner, and I eye my shoes on the floor before grabbing my plate and approaching the door.
On the other side, I find Joey asleep, the low rumble of his snores competing with the warble of the television.
After tiptoeing to the counter, I set my plate by the sink before pausing.
Thanks to the hours of working on my feet, I now have the beginnings of a hole in my favorite pair of shoes.
I meant to ask Joey about it earlier but forgot. Since I know he will be extra cranky when he wakes from his nap and I need something to hold off the damage now, I glance at him to make sure he’s still sleeping before searching the drawers by the sink.
For my efforts, I find everything from old mail to screws but nothing that will help with my shoes.
Next, I approach the closet. Jam packed full of shit from worn clothes to sheets that have seen better days, I run my fingers over the top shelf and come away with dust bunnies before dropping to my knees.
Surely, he has duct tape in here somewhere.
On the floor, I find an old pair of work boots and stifle a snort. To me, the old man has always been a lazy drunk, but I guess he worked at some point in his life.
I almost pass on the second shoe box in the back but change my mind and slide the lid off just as Joey sputters from the couch.
Frozen, I stare at the box until he resumes his obnoxious snoring before closing my eyes.
Why is everything a fight with this asshole? I shouldn’t be nervous about searching for tape, yet here I am.
Now that my heart is in my throat, I pull the box closer. Although I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong, with Joey it’s always hard to tell what will set him off.
I can’t see much in the darkened hall, and I don’t want to risk turning on the light.
Instead, I root around inside, only to recoil when I touch something cold and angular.
What the hell?
Glancing at Joey, I carefully push the box with the gun resting inside back into place and drop the lid on top before fumbling with the closet doors.
With a last look at Joey, still snoring away, I escape to my room and drop on the bed.
Why is my deadbeat drunk dad, hiding a gun in a shoebox in the closet?
I’m still brooding over the gun the following evening.
Although I don’t think Joey knows that I found it, he bitched at me earlier about touching his things. I mean…really?
The man has zero boundaries and an annoying habit of taking my shit.
Hello…I work to pay for whatIneed, not the big lug who sits on his ass every day.
With a groan, I step into the bathroom and check my hair and makeup.
Draven texted earlier about a party and while I know I should stay in and study, I can’t bear the thought of staring at these four walls a second longer.
It’s weird that she wants to hang out suddenly but maybe like me, she needs an escape and as far as I know she doesn’t really have any friends.
At least not at Bay River High.
I admit, I’m also curious about Maddox and wouldn’t mind seeing him too.
