Page 38 of Stupid Dirty

“But then the four of us will get in Silas’ truck and make him drive us aaaaaaall the way to Franklin, where they have that really nice Wendy’s. Burgers and frosties for everyone. Then wecan go to Walmart and replace any of your school shit that Dad destroyed. Deal?”

Both girls nod, sold on the idea. We don’t have to drive for two hours to find a Walmart and let’s be real, there’s no such thing as aniceWendy’s, but it’s about putting distance between us any and all blood relatives for the rest of the day.

“Perfect. Now everyone look at Silas with your most pathetic abused child face and say, ‘Please will you drive us to Franklin because Cade is too hungover and needs to nap on the way?’.” I stick my face next to theirs and give Silas the most charming grin my sallow face can manage.

Silas looks surprised by my brutal honesty, but that’s what I was going for. If you have to go through the abuse, the very least you should get in return is getting to play the ‘my dad’s a violent asshole’ card once in a while.

“Pleeeeeeeeease, Silas,” the girls say in unison. As if he was ever going to say no.

His gaze slides to me, and there’s a hint of what I’m starting to think of as hiswhy is Cade like thisexpression. I don’t hate it, and when I smile back at him, it’s a genuine smile.

“Of course.” His voice is gruff, but there’s the same softness to him that’s been coming out more and more around the girls. “Go clean up your stuff and make a list of what you need replaced. Your brother has to shower before we leave. He’s not getting in my truck smelling like a distillery.”

I snort. I’m sure I smell like nothing but sweat and fear at this point, but whatever. He’s not wrong about the shower.

The girls both slip out of my room. They’re still subdued, but I think the cloud of imminent doom is gone. Everyone will definitely feel a lot better when we’ve put some miles between ourselves and Possum Hollow, hopefully getting back long after the old man has blown through town.

Hopefully.

Silas trails out after the girls and helps them clean while I take a quick shower. I feel a little more human afterwards, but all of my various aches and pains are also settling in. Pulling on clothes seems to take forever. My tank is running on empty, and the most I can manage is sweats, clean underwear and a baggy NOFX hoodie. It’s two sizes too big and so faded it’s more gray than black, but has holes in the sleeves that I’ve worried big enough to stick my thumbs through.

Tugging the sleeves all the way down to cover my hands makes me feel like a teenager again, but it’s comforting. Going for broke, I pull the hood up over my wet hair as well.

When I finally throw myself down on the bed, I feel like a balloon with all the air let out. Lying flat on my back with my eyes closed is making the world spin, but the thought of moving is too much right now.

A few minutes later, something nudges my elbow.

“Here, drink this. You look like shit, man.”

Opening my eyes leaves me staring straight at Silas’ warm gaze. In the wintry morning light, his eyes are the color of melted caramel. The intensity of it is making me squirm.

“Thanks.” I snort, accepting the glass and groaning as I sit up enough to drink from it. “In hindsight, I may have had too much to drink last night.”

“Mmm, what was your first clue? Was it when you almost fell, getting off the barstool? Or was it when Wish had to basically carry you across the parking lot to her car?”

If looks could kill, I’d be stabbing him right now.

“The hangover and parental beating is punishment enough, thank you. I don’t need a guilt trip on top of it.”

A flush creeps up the back of Silas’ neck as he looks at his feet, shifting his weight from side to side.

“I’m sorry.”

Blowing out a long, deep breath, I rub my temples where a crippling headache is threatening to form. My throat is still aching where Dad grabbed me; and now I feel like a dick for snapping at Silas. He’s literally the only person here trying to help.

There is no part of me that isn’t squeezing with pain right now.

“I didn’t mean it like that. And thank you for showing up unexpectedly and saving my ass. I thought you’d still be enjoying your hot date instead of jumping fists-first into my nightmare.”

Silas avoids my eyes completely, but the thought of his night with Cassidy leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m in too much pain to add self-reflection to the pile, so I don’t push it.

The silence between us is awkward, and it makes me itch.

“Sit down, dude, you’re looming.”

It only takes a gentle tug at the hem of his t-shirt until he sits down heavily on the edge of the mattress next to me.

There’s another silence before either of us speaks again, this one longer but less awkward.

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