Chapter Five
Veronica
“Don’t forget my pillow!” Aiden calls, dancing around with his backpack slapping against his back.
“It’s inside the sleeping bag,” I remind him, putting everything in the trunk.
“I’m going to have the coolest sleeping bag there!”
“No one else will have anything like it,” I laugh. Yeah, that would be because my kid had a heart attack when he saw a Five Finger Death Punch sleeping bag online, and instantly added it to his Christmas list last November. I can already hear the judgmental Hmms being uttered by the soccer moms when they see the heavy metal band bag spread out amongst all the Spiderman and cartoon characters. I can’t give a shit, though. He loves it, slept in it for a week after he got it, and that’s all that matters to me.
The Spring Break Lock In seems to be popular, judging by all the cars crammed into the parking lot of the community center. I wasn’t sure about this whole thing at first. Aiden is only five, and he’s never spent a night without me, but Neal assured me the people who are holding this party are responsible and trustworthy. Wyatt and his wife, Cassidy, are known and well liked on the Circle, since Cassidy used to live in what’s now my apartment.
A parking spot opens up when a minivan carrying two smiling parents backs out. A kid free night during the spring break holiday? People couldn’t sign up fast enough, and I’m betting the liquor stores are doing extra business tonight, along with the condom industry.
Aiden squirms with excitement, dancing around me while I unload the trunk. “Stay with me until we figure out where you’re supposed to go, Ade.”
We make our way inside, and Bailey rushes up to hug me. “Hey, the little kids are in the gym with Miss Cassidy and Noble.”
Aiden slams his hands to his hips. “I ain’t little! I just turned five.”
Bailey grins at the offense in his tone. “Shoot. They have a bounce house in the gym. I guess you’re too old for that, huh?”
Aiden’s ears seem to stand up. “A bounce house?” He jerks his gaze up to me. “Can I?”
“Go for it.”
He’s off with Bailey in a flash, leaving me smiling after him. I’m glad I’m the only one stressing over being apart for a night.
About fifteen kids, ranging in age from five to eight, run around the large gymnasium, climbing in and out of a bouncy castle, and chasing one another.
“Hey Veronica!” Noble approaches with a pretty brunette. “I don’t think you’ve met Cassidy, have you?”
“I haven’t.” Cassidy shakes my hand, and I add. “It’s nice to meet you. Everyone says good things about you on the Circle.” Then I realize how that must’ve sounded. “Not that everyone talks about you. It’s not like gossip or anything. I just live in your old apartment, so it’s bound to come up and—” I stop myself. I’m babbling like an idiot. “I’m going to stop now.”
Cassidy laughs and glances at Noble, then back to me. “You’re going to fit right in here.” She nods toward Aiden who is approaching us with pursed lips. “This is your boy?”
“Yes.” I lay my hand on his shoulder when he reaches me. “This is Aiden, Aiden, this is Ms. Cassidy.” I heard the other children addressing her that way, so that’s what I’m going with.
Cassidy kneels to speak with him. “I’m glad you came, Aiden. We’re going to have a good time tonight. And if you need anything, you just come and find me or Noble, okay?”
“Okay.” He grins. “I like Noble. He’s funny.”
Cassidy grins at me. “Noble is a big kid. They all love him.”
“Mom?” Aiden says, tugging the hem of my shirt. “Eddie is here.”
Cassidy turns to speak to another parent, so I pull Aiden aside. “He is?”
“Yeah, and he tried to say he’s still my boss, and I can’t go in the bounce house unless he says.”
Not this again. “Is he your boss?”
“No!”
“Then why are you listening to him?”
Aiden’s face scrunches in thought. “I don’t know.”
“Just ignore it, Ade.”
Noble overhears the conversation and steps in. “If you have any problems, you come and tell me, okay? Everyone gets to play in the bounce house. We’re going to have fun.”
A smile darts across Aiden’s face. “Okay.” He runs and dives back inside the bouncy castle.
“Just put his sleeping bag and backpack in that corner,” Noble says.
After following his direction, I just kind of stand there, fidgeting. It feels so strange to just…leave my kid somewhere. “If he wants to come home or anything…”
“I’ve got your phone number. I’ll call you,” Noble assures me.
“I know that look,” Neal says, joining us. “First time he’s spent a night away from home?”
“Is it that obvious?”
Neal chuckles and nods toward the door. “You need a drink. Why don’t I stop at the liquor store and I’ll remind you what a night away from kids feels like? You never know when you’ll get another one.”
“Sounds good.” Going back to my empty apartment so I can worry over Aiden every second isn’t going to do me any good. I can’t believe I’m reacting this way. I’ve never been particularly overprotective. I don’t stop him from doing things where he may get hurt, or baby him when he’s made a mistake and needs to apologize. Why am I losing it over one night away from him when he’s in perfectly capable hands?
“I’ll just tell him I’m leaving.”
Neal and Noble accompany me over to the bounce house, and we look through the mesh at the mess of jumping, giggling children. Two voices stand out over the rest, and of course, one is my son.
“You can’t jump over there! It’s against my rules!” Eddie shouts. I can’t blame Aiden for how he feels about him. As sorry as I feel for the kid, he does behave like a little d-bag.
Noble opens his mouth to intervene, but Aiden beats him to it.
“I can do what I want. You’re just mad cause you got Zacktly Disease.”
“What’s Zacktly Disease?” a little girl asks, struggling to stay on her feet.
Aiden faces Eddie with a grin. “Your face looks zacktly like your butt!”
All the kids laugh, and the little girl looks at Aiden like he’s the best thing she’s ever seen.
“Aiden!” I call out, and he runs over, slamming his hands into the mesh, a look of joy on his face. I’m not even going to say anything. I mean, really? How much abuse is he supposed to take from the kid? I taught him to use his words, not his fists. It’s not my fault he’s so damned good at it.
“I’m going to go now. You listen to Noble and Cassidy, and have fun.”
“I will! Bye!” He rushes off without a backward look. A few seconds later, fingers wrap around my arm and Neal’s amused voice fills my ear.
“Come on. He’s fine. Time to go.”
Nodding, I glance at Noble. “Good luck. You’re a saint.”
# # #
When I make the turn into our apartment complex, a laugh erupts from my throat. The playground and the picnic table are covered in people. You can’t give Violent Circle a night with no kids. We don’t know how to act. In other words, this is going to be fun.
Denton waves at me and calls my name as I get out of my car. Before I can answer, all the guys from Frat Hell echo him in unison. They’re a crazy bunch of college guys and everyone likes them. “Get your ass over here!” Denton calls. “We picked up a keg!”
They did. A metal tub of ice has pride of place in the center of the basketball court, a silver keg resting inside.
“Spring break, baby!” Kenny yells, chugging a beer faster than I thought humanly possible.
It hadn’t occurred to me that the college kids were on break as well. Looking around, there are plenty of neighbors out here who will have to drag their hungover asses to work tomorrow. From teenagers to a few of the elderly people who live on the opposite end of the circle, everyone is out and having fun. I’m glad my days off work happened to coincide.
Neal parks his car across the street at his place, then meets me as I’m walking to my door. “We should’ve seen this coming,” he laughs.
“Is this a normal Spring break thing?”
“No, but if the community center makes the lock-in an annual thing, I’m sure this will be too.”
He follows me inside as I unlock my door. A loud bout of laughter echoes outside, and we look at each other. “You want to?”
“Yep,” I agree, switching to my comfortable sneakers. “You know something crazy is going to happen.”
Neal peeks out the window. “Uh…Barney just rolled down the spiral slide.”
A snort leaps out of me. “Rolled?”
“Well, it wasn’t a smooth journey, I can tell you that.”
“Normal Friday for him.” Barney’s name is actually Barry, and he’s our resident drunk, nicknamed after the Simpsons character. Everyone watches out for him, makes sure he gets home, tries to keep him from getting arrested or hurt. He’s dead set against rehab so it’s pretty much all anyone can do.
My heart stutters a little at the nickname, something he’s never called me before. It’s silly, I know. He calls Aiden “A”. It doesn’t mean anything, but it doesn’t escape my notice either.
“As I’ll ever be.”
We start toward the park together, and Samantha, my neighbor from two doors down, falls in step with us. I don’t know her well, but she’s always been nice to me. The consensus around the Circle is that her legs open more than a refrigerator, but no one really cares or judges. We all have our shit to deal with.
“Hi Veronica.” Before I can reply, she’s talking to Neal.
“Neal Chambers, you just get better looking every time I see you.”
Neal grins down at her. “It’s good to see you too.”
Her lips purse a bit at his diplomatic answer, then thin into a knowing smile when she looks at me. I have no doubt she’ll be feeding the rumors of mine and Neal’s nonexistent, but nevertheless torrid love affair.
There are a lot of things I like about our neighbors. Despite it being a poor area where everyone is struggling to get by, they all look out for each other. The downside is you can’t fart without someone racing away to tell the next person how it smelled and sounded. Being the new girl here has been an adjustment, but I think I fit in pretty well.
Samantha heads over to the group of people sitting in the park, and we make our way over to the keg. The ubiquitous red solo cups are piled beside it, but we detour around it since we have our own bottles.
We take a seat at the picnic table, along with a few others and watch as a pickup game forms on the basketball court. “It’s getting dark,” I comment. “No way they’re going to be able to see the basket.”
“Looks like they have that covered,” Neal replies with a chuckle, gesturing to Kenny and Trey, who approach with matching cheesy smiles. They each have a portable spotlight in their hands and a ton of extension cord.
“Where the hell are you going to plug that in, you idgits?”
My mouth falls open in shock when I see who asked the question. One of the few neighbors I haven’t met is Darla. She’s over sixty if I had to guess, and probably one of the stranger people I’ve seen here. Every day Darla walks down the circle, passing in front of my apartment, before crossing the street to a small grocery store. That’s not odd in and of itself, but she always wears the same thing: a black, wide brim, floppy sun hat and a tan, calf length trench coat.
I’ve never seen her in anything else. When I commented on it to Noble once, he chuckled and said, “It doesn’t matter if it’s ten degrees or a hundred, she wears that coat and hat. Just watching her walk down the street like that when the temp is over a hundred and the humidity is sky high makes me sweat.”
He didn’t have an explanation, but he did tell me it does no good to offer her a ride. She always refuses.
Trey gives her a wide smile. “We’ll figure it out, Ms. Darla, just you wait.”
“Do you want a beer?” Neal asks her.
“Of course I do. I was waiting to see who’d be a gentleman and ask.”
As he fills up her cup, I introduce myself. “Hi, I’m Veronica. I moved into 207 a few months ago.”
Darla grins at me, showing a heavily coffee stained set of dentures as she sits beside me. “Nice to meet you. I’ve met your little one. He was with Bailey the last time she took my trash to the curb. Cute little fella. Is he at the community center with the rest of them?”
“Yeah, and it’s the first time he’s ever been away from home.” I take a swallow of my beer. “And the first break I’ve had in five years,” I add with a grin.
“Well, enjoy it. Nobody can be a mom all the time. Still got to be a woman. Drink and get laid, because life goes by fast.”
My beer nearly comes out of my nose, but she doesn’t notice. Her attention is focused down the road. “Oh Lord, there goes Gertie in nothing but her pantyhose. Those no good kids of hers are going to have to do something soon. Dementia has taken over. I’ll get her home.”
“Let me help you.” She lays a hand on my arm, her trench coat sleeve brushing against me, as I get to my feet to accompany her.
“Thanks, but it’s not a good idea. She always recognizes me for some reason, but if anyone else approaches her she’ll freak out.”
Denton gives me a nod when I hesitate, so I sit back down. I don’t want to make things worse.
“Ow! Get your hand out of my ass!”
“Your ass is the last place I want my hand! Get my arm lost in there and never get it back. Fucking Bermuda Triangle ass.”
Everyone turns to watch the show behind us. Trey and Kenny have decided the best way to rig up the lights is to break into the laundry room that’s locked at night to plug in the extension cords. Trey is half out of the window, his rather large posterior bulging in the fading light while Kenny tries to stuff him in further.
“I can almost reach it! Another inch!” Trey cries. The sight is funny enough, but once he starts kicking his legs, it reminds me of the cartoons where the characters run in place in mid-air before sprinting away.
Giggles spill out of me, and Neal’s face splits into a grin. “Those two are crazy, but they have more fun than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“That’s probably true. We might be looking at a Winnie the Pooh situation here, though.”
Trey has managed to plug in the cords and is now trying to squeeze back out of the window. He rocks back and forth until the window squirts him out like toothpaste.
Everyone cheers, and he flips us off.
“I thought we were going to have to get some butter,” Denton laughs.
“Suck my dick, Dent.”
“Sorry dude, I’m allergic to shrimp.”
“I’m hung like a horse. Just ask your sister.”
“I don’t have a sister.”
“You will in about nine months.” Denton jumps to his feet, and Trey laughs, dodging him and running around.
It always comes back to “I fucked your mother” jokes with those guys, but even I have to admit, that was funny.
Emily waves at me as she approaches. Neal is deep in conversation with a few guys about a Dungeons and Dragons group, so I head over to her.
“Hey, Em, want a beer?” I ask, and she shakes her head.
“Nah, I’m not going to stay long. I have to be at work early.” Emily works at the local laundromat. I swear, it seems like half the neighborhood has a job cleaning something. Hotel rooms, cars, laundry. Being poor is a dirty job.
She gestures behind her. “I didn’t want to miss this, though.”
My gaze follows her hand to find Dennis and Sammy dragging what looks like a large, plastic kiddie pool and a pile of wood behind them. “What are those two idiots doing?” I laugh.
“No idea. But they’ve been plotting and planning outside my window for a half hour, so I’m sure it’ll be epic.”
We walk into the playground and take a seat on the swings. “I can’t remember the last time I was on a swing,” Emily says, grinning and pumping her feet. Of course, because of Aiden, I’m no stranger to them, and it doesn’t take me long to catch up to her. The cool night air blows my hair back, drying the sweat on the back of my neck. Between that sensation and the beer, it’s like I’m twelve years old again without a care in the world.
“Can I ask you something?” Emily asks.
“I think you just did.”
“Ha ha bitch. Something personal.”
My feet drag back and forth against the dirt, sending dust billowing through the air, and Emily does the same. “What’s up?”
“Does the age difference cause problems with you and Neal? Because there’s a guy who comes in my work every week and I can’t seem to get him out of my head. But he’s at least ten years older, and I’m guessing he has at least three kids.”
Struck down by the rumor mill again. “Neal and I aren’t together.”
A doubting smile crawls over her face. “Okay, so maybe you can’t give me relationship advice, but how’s the sex? Older guys must be better at it, right?”
Without intending to, I find myself staring at Neal as he laughs and hangs out with the guys. I must be perving on him longer than I think because Emily laughs and adds, “That’s a yes.”
“No! I mean, I don’t know. We aren’t sleeping together. We’re just friends.”
She twists back and forth in the swing like a kid. “Is he gay?”
“No!”
“Are you gay?”
“No!”
“So, he’s into you, and you’re just clueless. Got it.”
I glare at her for a moment, and we both break into laughter. “He’s not into me. We’re both on our own with a kid. We help each other out. That’s all.”
“He’s looking at you like he’d like to help you out of your clothes.”
Neal and Mitch, another neighbor who lives on the opposite end of the circle start toward us. “Hush. Here he comes,” I whisper.
“Ladies,” Mitch says. I don’t know him well. The one bedroom apartments are on the opposite end of the circle, and it’s mostly older or disabled people who live in them. Mitch is around fifty-five if I had to venture a guess, but his eyes roam over me like a greedy teenage boy who just learned how to beat off. “We’re going to walk over to the gas station for some cigarettes. Thought you might want to accompany us.”
“I’ll buy you a candy bar,” Neal teases, grinning at me.
I grab my bottle from the ground and take the last few swallows of beer. “I’m not a child. I want a slushy, not candy.”
Neal drains his beer, and everyone tosses them in the trash can as we pass. It’s not a dry county here anymore, but public drinking is still illegal. No matter how old you are, they can bust you for walking down the road with a beer. Technically, the keg and everything is illegal to be out here like this, but our cops are pretty cool. They know us, and as long as no one is starting trouble, they leave us alone.
The wind picks up, and a shiver runs through me.
Without a word, Neal pulls off his hoodie and hands it to me.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m fine.”
“And I’m hot. So be warned, it may be a little sweaty.”
It’s not sweaty, but it smells like him and I hope he doesn’t think he’s ever getting it back.
The gas station we’re heading to is a five minute walk away. For a split second, I look around for Aiden, then chuckle at myself. It doesn’t escape Neal’s notice, and he smiles at me. “It feels weird to just go…you know?”
“Do you want me to whine that I can’t find my shoes first?”
“Might be helpful. And I’ll try to keep you out of traffic.”
Laughing, he grabs my hand. I’m twenty-three years old. A man holding my hand should not make me blush like a high schooler. It also shouldn’t make my heart speed up, or make me imagine his rough hands in other, far more sensitive places. But it does.
He keeps his hand in mine as we play Frogger through the thin, nighttime traffic to cross the four lane street. Why isn’t he letting go? Why aren’t I letting go? Why am I making such a big deal over holding his damned hand?
Maybe because it’s the most action I’ve had in five years.
His eyes shine under the bright gas station lights, and the words tumble out of my mouth. “Are you drunk?”
“I’ve had two beers, V,” he scoffs.
“Good. I don’t want to take advantage. Of your slushy buying generosity, I mean.” Shut up, Veronica. For the love of dick and tater tots, shut up. Not every thought that goes through your head has to spill out your mouth.
“I’m not drunk. I promise I’ll remember tonight.”
Are those words as loaded as I hear them?
“I’m buying you the slushy. It’s completely consensual.”
“A consensual slushy.” I nod, fighting back a grin. “Sounds perfect.”
“What the hell are you two going on about?” Mitch asks. “It feels like I’m watching my sister’s kids.”
“Don’t get your Depends all twisted, Mitch. I’ll buy you a slushy too,” Neal says.
Emily and I both crack up. I bump my shoulder into his. “Well, now I don’t feel special at all. If you’re buying for everyone.”
“I’ll get you a large one.”
“She needs a large one,” Emily announces as we make our way inside the gas station.
Apparently, Mitch isn’t far off. Take away our kids for a night and we all turn into teenagers. It’s like we’re all just a bunch of children impersonating adults because that’s what’s expected of us.
We all split up when we get inside as Mitch goes after his cigarettes, and I head to the slushy machine. One beer and I’m already done. Guess maybe I’m an adult after all. After agonizing over raspberry versus cherry, I make a half and half and hunt down Neal.
“I’ll never understand how they get away with this shit,” he muses, staring at a display in the back.
“Because none of it is technically illegal, and tweakers’ stolen money is as green as anyone else’s,” I reply dryly.
Anyone who has grown up in a bad or poor area knows about this stuff. The glass tubes containing a fake rose and Chore Boy cleaning pads that are used to smoke crack and other drugs. The small cans of spray paint next to cheap, white cotton socks used to huff it. I remember wanting one of those little rose tubes when I was a kid, and Mom saying no. I didn’t understand what they were actually used for.
A skinny woman edges past us to pick up a rose pipe, giving us a hectic, snaggle toothed grin as she walks away.
We all meet back up in front of the station and start home.
“That skinny girl was checking you out, Mitch,” Emily teases.
Mitch shudders and shakes his head. “No thanks. She had summer teeth.”
“What?”
“Summer teeth. Some are in her mouth. Some are in her pocket.”
“Don’t be mean!” Emily exclaims, through a mass of giggles.
“Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s methamphetamine,” Neal adds.
Emily and I walk side by side on the way back, chatting about nonsense until Neal says, “What the hell are they doing?”
Yeah, remember the kiddie pool and pallets Dennis and Sammy were dragging out? The pool is now set up to the side of the basketball court. It’s filled with water, and a pallet is supporting a black, metal, burn barrel in the center.
A burn barrel.
Which contains fire.
“Hey! Come on in!” Dennis shouts. “We made a hot tub!”
“That is without a doubt the most redneck shit I’ve ever seen in my life,” I announce, as we join the crowd at the edge of the pool.
“What the hell? Is your family tree a wreath?” Mitch asks.
“I hate to say it, but it seems to work. You know the rule. It isn’t stupid if it works,” Neal points out.
Trey and Kenny both kick off their shoes and step in, laughing at how the barrel sizzles every time the water washes up a little higher on it.
Neal grins down at me. “What? You don’t want to get in?”
“Nope, but knock yourself out.”
A horrible retching sound comes from behind us and we turn to find Samantha puking into the bushes, her man for the night holding back her hair.
I’ve had about enough of Violent Circle for the night and apparently, Neal has too.
“Want to watch a movie?”
“My place,” I agree.