Initiation (14 page)

“Exactly.”

“So you don’t see him?”

She shook her head. “Never. When he met my mother, he was her professor and was married with kids. Still is, as far as I know. Anyway, he got my mom pregnant. She dropped out of school and never told anyone because he agreed to pay for me. She knew that if she told, he would get divorced, fired, and there wouldn’t be any money.”

He put the peas on the table. One side of his face was red. “Sarah, I …” He shook his head. “Talk about missing out. I think you’re really great.”

She smiled. He put the peas back on his face.

“The money’s been like a curse,” she said.

He raised his eyebrows. “How so?”

“It’s like my mom never had to really grow up and be responsible because she always had the money to keep us afloat. But it’s only been just enough to get by. There’s no college fund for me, that’s for sure. I don’t know what she’s going to do when I turn eighteen.”

“I thought she worked as a hair cutter?”

Car headlights flashed into the bay window, then cut off.

She giggled. “You mean stylist? I doubt she even works twenty hours a week. It’s basically her partying money.”

There was the sound of hurried steps on the concrete outside. The front door opened.

Sarah shook her head. “Speak of the devil.”

Her mother barreled into the kitchen breathless, in her tight maroon skirt, her keys jingling in her hand. She looked more like Sarah’s older sister than her mother. She grinned at Carter, showing a glimpse of white teeth.

Carter took the peas off his face.

“Who’s this cutie?” she asked Sarah.

Sarah rolled her eyes. “This is my friend Carter. Carter, this is my mother.”

Her face was round. Her skin was pale and flawless, much like Sarah’s. She was curvy and thin in all the right places.

He stood up and offered his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Cunningham.”

She smiled, her lips full and glossy, her blue eyes shrouded in eyeliner. “Please, call me Julie.” She took Carter’s hand for a split second and pulled away. “Your hand is frozen.”

“Sorry,” he said picking up the peas from the table. “It’s from holding this.”

She craned her neck to look at the side of his face. “Oh my God, what happened to you?”

He shrugged. “Nothing, it was just an accident.”

She giggled. “Did you try to kiss Sarah?”

“Mom,” Sarah said, “we’re friends.”

Carter sat back down at the table.

Julie narrowed her eyes at Sarah. “You sure about that? Look at him, he’s so freaking adorable.” She grinned. “If I were you, I would sprinkle sugar on him and just eat him up.”

Carter’s face went hot.

A car horn blared from outside.

“Oh, that’s for me,” she said. “I’ve got to get going.” She looked at Sarah. “Have you seen my purse?”

“No,” Sarah replied.

Julie glanced at the counters then marched to the staircase beyond the kitchen. Her heels smacked against the wood as she climbed the staircase.

Sarah looked at Carter with a smirk. “That’s my mother.”

“She seems nice,” Carter said.

Sarah frowned. “She’s selfish and childish.”

The front door opened and heavy steps pounded the linoleum. A tall, muscled man in jeans and a tight black T-shirt peered into the kitchen. His hair was dark and gelled, his face handsome. His strong cologne wafted into the kitchen.

He glanced at Sarah. “Where’d your mom go?”

“Upstairs.”

He stomped to the stairwell. “Babe, we gotta go,” he called out. “Come on, let’s go.”

He appeared in the kitchen. “How long can it take to get a purse?” he said to no one in particular.

“Depends on how close it is to a mirror,” Sarah said.

Light footfalls slapped the wooden steps. The man turned.

“It’s about time,” he said. “We’re never gonna make it.”

“The opening acts are lame anyway,” she said.

He grunted. “My friends are the opening act.”

“Let’s go then.”

As they marched past, Julie stuck her head in the kitchen. “I’ll be home late,” she said to Sarah. “Be good, and definitely don’t do anything to that boy that I would do.” Her giggle lingered in the air.

“Is that your mother’s boyfriend?” Carter asked.

She nodded with her mouth turned down. “His name is Lincoln. He’s a big dumbass. Says he’s some kind of fighter, calls it mixed martial arts. He says it’s going to be bigger than boxing.”

“How long have they been together?”

Sarah laughed. “If my mother dates someone for more than a month, it’s a miracle.” She stood up, grabbing the peas from the table and stashing them back in the freezer. She smirked at Carter. “I try not to get attached.”

“How’s Ben doing?”

Sarah exhaled and sat back down at the table. “He’s not much better, but at least he’s going to school, and at least people are leaving him alone.”

Carter nodded. “That’s good.”

“So. What are you doing tonight?” he asked.

“I don’t know. What about you?”

“I’m supposed to go to the movies …”

“Amber,” she said with a frown.

Carter glanced down, avoiding her eyes. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“I don’t know what you’re apologizing for,” she said.

He looked up. “Do you wanna go? We’re seeing
Freddy’s Dead
.”

She smiled, but her eyes were still. “I’d rather not play the third wheel. You’ll have your hands full with Amber. I’m sure she’ll be all over you during the scary parts.”

Chapter 11: Forty Ounce to Freedom

– 11 –

Forty Ounce to Freedom

The air was crisp and cool – perfect football weather. Fans dressed in black and gold, filled the stadium seats. The lights illuminated the field and the stands. The cheerleaders had been doing pushups every time the North Potomac Marauders scored. They started with strict military pushups, but slipped into knee-pushups as the score ballooned into the fifties. A handful of booster club men counted hooded sweatshirts boasting the inevitable district championship.

“You guys are out,” Coach Pitts said.

The first team defense groaned.

“We’ve still got half the third quarter left,” Justin said.

Coach Pitts frowned. “Cheer on your teammates.”

Carter stood next to Devin on the sideline. They watched the second team defense stuff the Washington and Lee Lancers. He thought about Ben.
He could be playing right now.

Carter turned to Devin. “There’s a party at Molly’s tonight. It’s just a handful of guys – mostly girls. You wanna go?”

“I got a date with Tasha.”

“Come after, bring her. District championship tonight, we gotta celebrate.”

“Molly is Zach’s girl, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re my boy, Carter, but I can’t be hanging around them. And I sure as hell can’t have my girl around their bullshit. I don’t know how you can stand it.”

Carter looked away. “Amber’s friends with their girlfriends. They’re not that bad.”

Devin shrugged, put his hands in his armpits, and turned back to the game.

* * *

Carter sat on a stained brown couch wearing a black hooded sweatshirt emblazoned with
District Champs 1991
. Zach snored in the recliner adjacent to him. A half-full forty-ounce was nestled in the crook of his arm like a baby. Carter placed his own bottle on the coffee table in front of him. A quarter-inch of warm malt liquor floated at the bottom. Amber and her friends were laughing in the kitchen. Carter stood up, woozy, and staggered toward their voices. Amber, Lilly, and Molly passed around a bottle of booze and play-fought over who was the biggest whore.

“I’m not a whore, I only fuck Carter,” Amber said with a grin.

“What’s he like?” Lilly asked. Her eyes and mouth were droopy. A piece of lettuce was stuck in her upper braces. She leaned on Molly.

Carter scowled.

“I can’t look at that shit anymore,” Amber said. “It was funny an hour ago. Now it’s just gross.”

Molly cackled.

“What?” Lilly asked.

“Come here,” Amber said. Lilly stumbled over. “Open your mouth.” Amber pulled the green lettuce leaf from her upper braces and held it up to Lilly. “This shit was in your braces.”

Lilly scrunched her face up. “Ewww, you guys. Don’t let me walk around like that.”

Molly took a swig from the strawberry booze bottle, her red lipstick leaving a stain. She was tall and curvy, with black velvet pants and a low-cut red sweater that would’ve been obscene were it not for the long red hair hanging over her breasts.

“You didn’t answer Lilly’s question?” Molly said to Amber. “What
is
he like?” Molly glanced at Carter with a grin.

Carter held out his palms. “I’m right here.”

The girls giggled.

“At least we’re not talking about you behind your back,” Amber said.

“I think I’d prefer it that way.” Carter walked back into the living room and sat on the couch.

“His body’s rock hard, just like his dick,” Amber said. The girls laughed.

“How big is it?” Lilly asked.

There was a pause then more laughter.

“Have you ever had an orgasm?” Molly asked.

“You mean orgasms?” Amber emphasized the ‘s’.

They cackled.

“What about Zach?” Amber asked.

There was a pause.

“What?” Amber said.

“How do you tell a guy to slow down?” Molly asked. “I mean he’s like a jack hammer that breaks down after thirty seconds.”

Amber and Lilly laughed.

“I’m serious, it’s not funny,” Molly said.

They stopped laughing.

“I swear everything he does must come from porn,” Molly said.

“You just have to tell him,” Amber said.

“He’ll be so mad – I can’t.”

“Yes you can,” Lilly said. “He’s not going to find anyone hotter than you.”

“He will when he’s playing football at Virginia Tech next year,” Molly replied with a sniffle.

“Awww, it’s going to be okay,” Lilly said.

Justin emerged from the hallway with a shit-eating grin. He sauntered over to the couch and sat next to Carter. Zach still snored in the recliner. Riley staggered down the hall shortly thereafter. Her dark hair was disheveled, her lip stick smudged. She went into the kitchen. Her friends said she looked like she’d just fallen out of a Mexican whorehouse. They all giggled.

“I love drunk chicks,” Justin said as he leaned back on the couch.

Carter didn’t respond. This didn’t stop Justin.

“You know why?”

Carter glanced at him. His Mohawk was freshly cut, his blue eyes bright and alert.

“Because when they’re wasted, they’ll let you do whatever you want to ’em. I did some shit to Riley …” Justin cackled. “When she gets married – I mean how is she ever gonna explain that shit to her husband?” Justin shook his head. “She’ll always have my stench on her.”

Carter stood up and ambled to the kitchen.

“Where you goin’?” Justin said.

Carter ignored him.

“Hey, fuck face, wake up,” Justin said to Zach.

Amber, Lilly, Molly, and Riley sat at the dining room table, slurring nonsense at each other, still passing the strawberry booze water.

“Could I talk to you for a minute?” Carter said to Amber from the edge of the kitchen.

Amber stumbled from the dining room to Carter. Despite her alcohol-induced sloppiness, she still exuded raw sexuality.

She gave him a sloppy kiss. “I was so proud of you tonight,” Amber said.

“We should get going,” Carter said.

She pressed out her lower lip. “What, why?”

“You’re wasted and it’s getting late. It’s already past one. I have films tomorrow morning.”

“I’m staying here tonight. My mom knows I’m sleeping over.”

“I should get going then. My dad would kill me if he knew I had my mom’s car out this late.”

She grabbed his hand, stroking his palm with her thumb. “I’m sorry, sweetie, that’s my fault. My mom freaked when she got my grades. She never stays mad. I’ll probably get the truck back next week.”

Carter shook his head. “It’s fine. I just can’t get the car very often.”

Lilly shuffled toward them. She looked at Carter. “Have you seen Noah?”

“He was playing video games in the TV room a few hours ago, but I haven’t seen him since.”

Lilly stumbled down the hall.

Carter glared at Amber. “By the way, I would prefer it if you didn’t tell your friends private stuff about us.”

She grinned. “Oh come on, it’s all good stuff. They probably wanna fuck you now.”

Carter took a deep breath. “I’m gonna get going.”

“Don’t go,” she said wrapping her arms around his waist and whispering in his ear. “Pretty please with a cherry on top. I’ll make it worth your while.”

“An hour.”

She let go, grinning. “Why don’t you come back to Molly’s mom’s room with me? I have a present for you.” Amber turned, looking at the curvy redhead. “Hey, Molly, is it okay if Carter and I go back to your mom’s room?”

“Go ahead,” Molly said, smiling. “Does Carter know the rule?”

“Don’t worry,” Amber said with a giggle. “Every drop will be inside me.”

Carter and Amber strolled down the hall to the master bedroom. They heard Lilly arguing with Noah through a closed door.

“Calm down,” Noah said. “It’s not a big deal.”

Amber put her ear to the door.

Carter shook his head. “Don’t. Leave ’em alone.”

She flashed her pouty face. “You’re no fun.”

They continued to the master bedroom. Amber opened the door without knocking, flipping the overhead light on as she did so.

“So bright,” she said.

She adjusted the dimmer switch, turning the light from bright white to dim yellow. Carter closed and locked the door behind them. A king-sized bed took up most of the room. A dresser sat along the wall next to the door.

Amber unzipped her boots and kicked them off. She sprawled on the bed as if she were making a snow angel. Carter slipped off his running shoes and climbed on the bed next to her.

Noah and Lilly continued to argue down the hall, their voices penetrating the bedroom.

Amber gaped up at the motionless ceiling fan. “The room’s spinning,” she said.

“You okay?” Carter lay on his side, his head propped up with his arm.