Chapter 4

Mom came barreling toward me, and every pair of eyes in the restaurant turned my way. I wanted to disappear.

"Mom, can we talk about this outside?"

"You have the nerve to call me Mom? You throw a tantrum over a watch, storm off to work at a place like this, and you don't even have the decency to be embarrassed about it?"

I locked my jaw shut. The other diners were openly staring now. I tried to explain, but she wouldn't let me get a single word in.

"Your brother is about to attend a prestigious arts academy. He'll be surrounded by accomplished, well-connected people, and he needs a nice watch to hold his own.

"What about you? You can't even get into a decent school, but you've got no problem spending money. Why can't you just grow up?"

I stared at her in disbelief. All I'd wanted was my own money back. However, in her version of events, I was the selfish one throwing a fit over a watch.

Then, Corey walked over and gently took Mom's hand. "Mom, don't be mad at Logan. He's always liked nice things. There's nothing wrong with that."

He turned to me with a show of generosity. "Logan, I'll give you the watch. It's yours. Just please stop being upset, okay?"

The looks from the people around us shifted, and suddenly I was the villain. I was the jealous older brother picking fights over his younger brother's stuff. I couldn't help letting out a bitter laugh.

"You think this is funny?" Dad had caught up, and his palm cracked across my face before I could react.

"Do you have any shame at all? You're making a scene in public over a watch. Maybe you're not embarrassed, but I am."

The entire restaurant went dead silent. Every single person was looking at me, and not one of them stepped in, including Piper. There was even a trace of disappointment in her eyes, as if I really had done something unforgivable.

My right ear rang, and my cheek burned. I leaned against the table behind me just to stay on my feet.

The manager hurried over, looking uncomfortable. "Maybe it's best if you take him home for now."

Mom scoffed. "Let's go. You're coming with me."

I didn't fight it. Nothing I said would have made a difference.

They marched me out under everyone's stares. The whispers trailed after me like a wave I couldn't outrun.

"Kids these days are impossible."

"All that fuss over a watch? Really?"

"He looks like such a quiet kid. I didn't think he'd be so shallow."

I knew I could never go back to that job.

When we got home, Dad shoved me into my room. "You can come out when you've thought about what you did."

Mom stood in the doorway and added, "You can eat when you admit you were wrong."

The door slammed shut and the lock turned from the outside. For the next two days, I didn't get a single meal.

I was so hungry I could barely see straight. I just lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Nobody came to check on me.

It reminded me of the time during the pandemic when Corey and I both caught it. He had a mild case, but mine was severe. Everyone fussed over him while no one even looked in on me.

I swallowed some Tylenol on my own and lay in bed, shaking and burning at nearly 104 degrees Fahrenheit. I had been drifting in and out of consciousness. All I could think was, if I died right here in this room, how long would it take any of them to notice?

At 13, I didn't know the answer, but at 18, I finally did.