“Bethany loves you, man. Years of love. She
won’t give up that easily. Go to her house,
kneel for three days, beg her to forgive you.
She’ll forgive you.”
Jake’s eyes lit up.
“Yeah, I’ll find her, I’ll kneel for her. What’s
kneeling, if it’ll get her back?”
<
He stood up, but two goons stopped him.
They were blank–faced. “Mr. Jake, come with
- us. Your grandpa wants to see you.”
- 5.
I woke up to the smell of disinfectant.
My parents were at my bedside, holding my hands.
Mom’s eyes filled with tears. “Honey, what happened to you?”
Dad punched the wall.
<
“That little bastard is gonna pay.”
They’re worried about me.
“It’s okay, Mom and Dad. It’s over. I don’t remember most of it. Especially that time with Jake. It’s gone. Now he’s just a stranger who hurt me.”
I was relieved.
Mom cried harder.
“Okay, he’s gone. I’ll never mention him again.” She dried her eyes. “We’re not short on men. We’ll find better!”
L
She sucked in her nose. “When you’re healed,
I’ll take you to pick out some male models. I
guarantee they’re young and handsome!”
Dad glared at Mom. “Nonsense!”
I laughed, and the mood lightened.
“I wanna go! I wanna pick eight out and make
them line up!”
Days passed.
