Page 6 of Maddox
“It’s um, here,” I say, pointing to the shit hole that used to be a trailer on the corner.
The door doesn’t close, and Joey’s fix was to add bungee cords. The front window has plastic over the hole and his truck which stopped running three years ago is a rusting heap in the pathetic excuse for a drive.
And fantastic, he’s sitting in a lawn chair out front in nothing but his boxers, clutching a beer. Could this day get any worse?
“Jesus,” Draven mutters. “And I thought my dad was bad.”
Ignoring the comment, I step from the car.
A last look at Maddox reveals him staring at Joey with furrowed brows and when he stands, weaves in place and stumbles forward, Draven cocks her head.
From here, I can see skin through the gap in his boxers and I step between them. It’s bad enough that they’re getting a front row viewing of this free fucking show, but I’d prefer that Draven leaves without spotting his wrinkly dick.
“What’s this?” Joey slurs and I mentally wince.Just go the fuck inside, asshole.
“Nothing,” I say, smiling pathetically at Draven. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Your mom called again. Tell that bitch I don’t got nothing to say,” he grumbles while Draven drops back into her seat, and I pray they justgo.
“You hear me?” he says, grabbing my arm.
“Yeah,” I snarl, pulling away.
The glare off the windshield prevents me from seeing Maddox’s expression and with a sigh, I mumble, “C’mon.”
“Who’re they?” Joey asks, turning to the siblings.
Thankfully, Maddox puts the muscle car in reverse and backs out of the spot while Draven says something to him, waving her arms around.
I assume based on Maddox’s scowl that they’re arguing again which works for me because I don’t think I can stand anymore humiliation today.
Finally, Joey backs away, scratching his belly and I follow.
When he throws the door open, it hits the wall with a thwack before he practically climbs the stairs to get inside.
After collapsing to the couch, he clutches his head and hoping to avoid him, I move toward the back, as he says, “Call your fucking mom. I’m tired of listening to her bitch.”
“Why?” I ask, pausing at the threshold to the room. It’s the only mercy I have because he chose to sleep on the couch, and I have a modicum of privacy.
I’m quite sure he didn’t do it with any thought for me. Nope, sleeping on the couch puts him closer to the refrigerator.
“I don’t fucking know. Just do it.”
“We have nothing to say,” I mutter, and he sighs.
“She ain’t gonna give up.”
With a humorless smile, I drop my bag on the bed. Shewillgive up.
Maybe she’s convinced herself that she’s better, but without confessing her sins, the wound continues to fester.
Whatever. It’s not my problem. I tried but she didn’t want my help.
“I’m taking a shower,” I say, and he sags into the couch, grabbing the can of beer by his head.
I guess we’re both happy to end the father-daughter moment.
Maddox
