What do you know about it?
“Dude, the whole world—well,
a lot of it, anyway—knows
what you did to her that night.
I know because …” The rest
sticks like tar in my throat.
My face is hot and my eyes
sting and oh my God, I will
not cry. Nikki is on her feet.
Montana is too. Brendan just
stares stupidly, waiting for me
to finish. So here goes, “I know
because I’m her son and …”
CAN’T CONFESS EVERYTHING
I just can’t. But I can still
accuse. “She said you raped
her, you son of a bitch.”
My hands clench, but I’m not
going to hit him. Not now.
Not here. Instead I start across
the wide expanse of floor.
I expect Nikki to come, but it
is not her butterfly hand that lights
on my shoulder just as I exit
the big ballroom doors. Hold
on. I think we should talk.
I whip around, dislodging
myself from his grip. Buzz.
“What the fuck do you want?”
People stare. But Brendan