Read Online I Call Him Brady by K. S. Thomas - Free Book Online Page A

credit. I had no credit at all.”
                  I bit down on my lip hard and continued chewing on it all the way to my nightstand where I pulled open the drawer to retrieve the money from our deposit bag. I hated giving him cash since it was untraceable, but there wasn’t enough in the account and I had no way of getting it there now. With my luck, he’d deposit the check via his ATM and the damn thing would clear first thing Monday morning, causing the account to overdraw and several other payments to bounce.
                  “Here. Was there anything else?”
                  He grinned maliciously. “Yeah. I’m gonna need the truck for tonight.”
                  “What? No. It’s a Saturday night. That’s our busiest night of the week, Austin.” I came out from hiding behind the bed and went to take him straight on. He turned his back on me as usual, letting me know that it was a done deal and nothing I said would make a damn difference.
                  “Not really my problem, Em. Few friends of mine are throwing a huge party and I told them I’d bring the truck and feed everyone.”
                  “It’s my fucking business, Austin.” But he didn’t care. In fact, the more I argued, the more delighted he became.
                  “Well, it’s my fucking truck. And if you’re not a little nicer to me, I may decide to party with my buddies all week. After all, it is spring break.”
                  Tears started to well up in my eyes and there was nothing I could do to stop them. Once again he’d pushed me to my breaking point.
                  Satisfied with his work, he added insult to injury by forcing me into yet another meaningless embrace. “Don’t cry. You know I can’t stand that.”
                  Then he opened the door and walked out.
                  I took a moment to choke down all of my feelings, then followed him. I was just in time to see his regular rendition of ‘best dad in the world’ and my stomach began to churn all over again. At least that was one area of my life he had no control over. Not that he hadn’t tried to, but at the end of the day, Austin had more skeletons in his closet than a serial killer. There wasn’t a judge on earth who would have given him physical custody.
                  “Well, Jack, it was cool meeting you. Call me if the level of estrogen gets too high around here. I know a couple of places you’d really like.”
                  Brady’s demeanor seemed off somehow as he shook Austin’s hand. “Yeah, man. For sure.”
                  And then, thank GOD, it was over.

 

     
    T he look on Embers’ face was enough to make me want to punch her ex. Whatever transpired between the two of them in her bedroom didn’t have shit to do with a busted vent. That much was pretty evident from the way she kept swallowing hard and avoiding my gaze like she was afraid of what I might see.
                  Then, to add to my suspicions, May dragged her straight back into the bedroom as soon as Austin was gone.
     

                 
    “What the hell happened? Wait. Is that our truck?” May flew to the window.
                  “He’s taking it for the weekend. Maybe longer. I don’t know.” I sank down onto the bed and let my head fall into my hands. I felt numb and empty. Drained. I hated that after everything, Austin could still make me feel that way anytime he chose. “Is my head fucking with me or do I hear two cars driving off?”
                  “Your head is fine. The Camaro’s leaving as well.” May was still sitting on the windowsill shooting daggers out at Austin as he disappeared in our food truck.
                  I stood up and came to stand beside her, suddenly curious. “Who’s driving