Page 130 of Pretty Thing

“Sorry, did you say something?”

“Don’t apologize. I’m fucking ecstatic that Felix found you. He’s been so…lonely and closed off for a really long time. It’s great to see him so happy. I mean both of you so happy. I know you’ve been through a lot as well.”

“Tell me more about Felix. He doesn’t really say much about his past?”

“As long as you don’t tell him I told you anything. Felix is funny about stuff like that. He’s private.”

I nod and settle in as Matt walks around the reception counter and pulls up a stool.

“I know about his father already. He told me how he ended up in jail.”

“Did he tell you that he had to testify against him?” I shake my head. I can’t imagine a child having to do that. “I didn’t know Felix then, but I know it really took a toll. It was his father for fuck’s sake. Travis is…that guy is a piece of work. Did he tell you about the time his father locked him in a pantry for weeks? Who the fuck does that to someone?”

“Oh my god, how did he survive?”

Matt shrugs. “He says he ate some fruit cups, and there was a stale box of crackers. At one point, his father opened the door and tossed him a water bottle. Then he locked it again. The next time he opened the door, he saw that Felix had peed himself. Travis knocked him around before giving him another water bottle. He told Felix to go in it from now on, or get another beating for ruining good clothes. He used to have nightmares, but he hasn’t mentioned them in awhile.”

“Why…why do something like that? It’s horrific.”

I’m completely revolted and angry for little Felix.

“He doesn’t know. Travis came home in a rage over something. All Felix can really remember is his mother screaming and things breaking. Another time his father took a belt to his back. Have you seen the scar on his shoulder?”

I nod.

“That’s from the buckle. It sliced him open so deep he needed stitches. That was when he was eight.”

“Jesus.” I cover my mouth. “What about Sam?”

“His brother? Naw, Travis was already locked up by the time Sam was born. Sam kept wanting to see him. He didn’t believe Felix or June—that’s Felix’s mother’s name—about what an SOB Travis was.”

“It must have been really hard for Felix when his mother died and then Sam in the crash only a year later.”

Matt tilts his head as he looks at me.

“Sam didn’t die in the crash.”

I narrow my eyes. “But…that doesn’t make sense.”

“You must have misunderstood. Sam did pass away, but from a drug overdose a month before the crash. Felix took it really hard, didn’t speak for two whole weeks.”

“I’m confused.”

“Sam was partying with some friends and smoking marijuana, but some asshole laced it with fentanyl. Sam didn’t know, and he smoked like half the joint. No one saw him collapse in one of the bedrooms. By the time the paramedics arrived, he was gone. Felix blames himself.”

My mind whirls with the information. Felix lied to me. But why? What reason does he have to lie about his brother dying in the crash? My heart pounds so hard that my chest hurts.

“You, okay? You look a little pale.”

I swallow and nod, shaking it off for now. I need to confront Felix about this.

“Yeah…I just. I swear he told me Sam died in the crash. He’s never mentioned a drug overdose.”

Matt shrugs, looking just as confused. There is no reason for Matt to lie to me.

“What about June, how did she die?”

“Widowmaker heart attack a little over a year ago. That was another sad fucking day. She was a sweet woman. Never had a bad word to say about anyone. She was the closest thing I had to a mother, and…” Matt stops and looks away. “Just another sad fucking day. Seems to be the theme of all our lives.”