True Confessions. Electa Rome Parks

can I see you again?”

      “Never.”

      “I don’t have to penetrate you. Just let me touch you. Like I used to.”

      “Leave me alone, I cried out loudly.

      “See what I mean, Kennedy? Hang up on me. Scream, do something other than cry. Every time we argue, you cry. Your mom, your exes, Taylor, everybody pampers you. You need to toughen up, girl.”

      I didn’t respond.

      “Kennedy? Kennedy? Answer me, dammit. You will talk to me sooner or later. I guarantee it.”

      “I hate you. You hear me? I despise you. I regret the day I met you.”

      I didn’t even attempt to hide my muffled cries from him.

      “Is that why you did what you did?”

      “I hate your lying ass so much,” I screamed between sobs. “Stop twisting your perverted actions.”

      “I bet you’d do it again—for me. I go to sleep at night with images of that night flashing in my mind.”

      “Sweetie? Who are you talking to? What’s wrong?” I heard Mother ask as she walked quickly up the hallway and into my bedroom to find me simply crying and holding the phone receiver away from my ear as if that would make Drake magically go away. Disappear.

      “Hello? Hello? Who is this?” Mother asked.

      “Hello, Mrs. Logan. How are you? I don’t know what I said that upset Kennedy so badly. You know how fragile she is.”

      “Listen, Mr. Collins. I am not going to repeat this twice. I don’t know who you think you are messing with, but I’m not Kennedy. Don’t call over here upsetting my daughter again. Is that understood…What?”

      I could hear Drake through the phone. “I said she can’t hide from me forever. Tell her that.”

      “I’m ending this call in two seconds.”

      “She can’t hide under your apron forever like she has milk on her tongue. Hand the phone back to—”

      “One, two. Your two seconds are up.”