“I don’t feel like celebrating, Mom. I just want to go down to Texas and check shit out. Abel will be coming down right after New Year’s. Me leaving a few days early doesn’t make a difference.”
“You can’t spend Christmas alone.” She grabs my hand. “Please, son. Reconsider. Harley is getting married on New year’s.”
I shrug her off. “Harley won’t miss me. Besides, I’m not a kid and I won’t be alone. I have a truck full of moonshine and I am sure company won’t be hard to come by.”
A smack thwacks the back of my head. “Just like a man to think with your other head.”
“Ow, damn,” I gripe. That earns me another thump.
“Leave him alone,” my old man intervenes, thank the fuck. I love my mother but damn. I don’t want to be here seeing everyone all happy and shit when I just got fucking dumped. Mom crosses her arms but shuts her mouth. “Your bike is on the trailer. You got everything?”
I look around my apartment. There’s still photos of Coralie and me on the wall. I frown and stare down the dark hallway that leads to the bedroom and the bathroom. It’s time to let go and move forward. There’s nothing left here for me. “Yeah. The rest of this shit can go to the dump or charity.”
I give my mother a hug and a kiss to the cheek.
“You better check in along the way.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Call in at the halfway point and again when you arrive. I mean it,” my old man growls.
“Yes, sir.”