Make me beg

23. The king in the guest room

Author's note: On a roll, so why not?

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Simon

"I've been trying to reach you for days now, why don't you answer my calls?" my mother said, irritation in her voice.

I tried to come up with some sensible lie, but as usual she never cared if she got an answer and just continued before I could say anything.

"I'm standing here waiting for Grayson, I hear you're in the car so I think you should come and get us. It's the least you can do for all that Grayson has done for you, Simon."

The voice cut like knives into me, demanding and suffocating. I swallowed hard. Had my brother been released from prison? Was she standing there to receive him? I wanted to hang up, throw the phone out the car window. But I couldn't. 

As much as the thought disgusted me to even be near them again, I also knew she was right. I owed Gray, he had made sure I had money for college. He had never said anything about me when he was caught, even though he knew how involved I had been. And I had returned the favor by giving the police the anonymous tip that got him arrested the last time. I couldn't say no.

"I'll be there in half an hour," I answered briefly and hung up.

My stomach clenched up inside me and I realized that I needed to stop the car quickly. Turning sharply into a back street, I threw open the driver's door and leaned out over the pavement, puking hard. The bile stuck in my nose, and I snorted intensely and breathed heavily until the wave of nausea slowly passed. 

With cold sweaty hands, I rummaged in the door compartment until I found a napkin and wiped myself off, then sat down and stared out the window. I had to do this. But it would only be a short meeting, I would drive them to my mother's apartment and then it was over. I would make it. Taking a deep breath, I ran a hand through my hair and tried to focus. It would be over soon.

I saw my mother from afar as I pulled onto the road in front of the prison walls. She was standing next to the gate leading to the prison entrance, smoking, a worn coat draped over her shoulders, her gray hair pulled loosely into a ponytail. She looked worse than when I last saw her, but that had been years ago. I parked in front of the entrance and walked up to her. She only gave me a brief glance, not even seeming to reflect on how long it had been since I had seen her. Instead, she turned to the entrance and looked impatient.

"Why has Gray been released now?" I said in a low voice. "Didn't he have a year left?"

She snorted, as if my question was ridiculous.

"You realize he's getting out on good behavior, right?"

I didn't answer. Good behavior my ass, it was rather smart behavior. My brother may be a fucking asshole, but he wasn't stupid. Of course, he behaved exemplary when the guards were watching, but I knew him. He hadn't changed. The gate inside the fence opened and a familiar face appeared, smiling smugly at the guard who opened the fence door and then he stepped out into freedom. My big brother. I forced down the memories that were trying to float to the surface and tried to look as neutral as I could.

"Simon!" he exclaimed, grinning triumphantly at me as he raised a victorious fist in the air. "The King is free!"

I tried to smile but felt the awkwardness and started walking towards the car again. My mother immediately started asking Gray how he had been, if the food had been enough, but I didn't even hear him answer, I was too focused on getting rid of them as soon as I could.

"Hell of a ride you got," Gray said, admiring my car as he sat in the front passenger seat. "I knew my little brother would pull it off."

I ignored him and waited until my mother got in the back seat and drove out of the prison area. As little talking as possible was best. Without warning, Gray grabbed my cell phone, which was lying unlocked on the dashboard, and started typing. I had to bite my cheek to keep from raising my voice.