She left the bathroom, wiping her damp hands on her hoody. The air was heavy with the scent of garlic and herbs and spice and cheese. She breathed deep and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she was back in Pizzaland with her friends, before she’d met Gary. Laughing, joking, her hair covered in a pink glittery spray she’d thought was cool.
Where are those friends now?
“I hope you’re not veggie.” Jayden flipped back the lid on a giant meat-loaded pizza.
“No, I’m not.” Quickly, she walked to the front door and double-checked that Jayden had locked it.
He had.
He didn’t comment on her action.
Sitting on a bar stool, she took a slice of pizza. “And thank you again for this. Looks great.”
“Papa Doms is the best.” He took a huge slice, kind of folded it into a wedge, and shoved nearly half into his mouth. “Mmm.” He nodded approvingly and munched noisily.
“Don’t eat it all.” Zak shot into the kitchen minus his sweater and clambered onto the stool next to Tammy. Kneeling precariously, he reached for a slice of pizza.
“Careful,” she said, steadying him. “Don’t fall.”
“I won’t.” He looked up at Jayden. “I thought you were going to eat it all.”
“Nah, it’s good to share, right?”
“Right.” Zak nodded seriously. “Mommy tells me to share. I like to share.”
“Good man.” Jayden’s expression slipped, just a little, the smile fading and his eyes narrowing.
Tammy followed his line of sight.
He’d spotted the row of four bruises on Zak’s thin little arm.
“I’ll get your sweater,” she said to Zak.
Quickly, she slipped off the stool and went to the bathroom. She scooped up the item of clothing.
When she turned, her nose bumped into a Harley t-shirt covering a wide chest.
“Oh!” She grasped Jayden’s steely biceps to steady herself. “Sorry, I—”
“He beat the kid?”
The low, dangerous timber of his voice had Tammy’s guts tightening. “What?”
“The bruises on his arm. They’re not from playing.”
“No.” She stepped back and released him, her palm still warm from his flesh.
“No he didn’t beat him or no they’re not from playing?”
“Both … kind of.” She kept her voice low. “He never beat him, just grabbed him, pushed him around a bit.” She paused, ashamed to admit the situation she’d been in.
“Go on.”
She was quiet.
“It’s not your fault,” he said, “what happened. You have to accept that, Tammy.”
She swallowed, the words stuck in her throat. Then she looked up at him and realized he wasn’t going to budge until she explained. “Zak was trying to stop me from being hit. That’s why he has those bruises. Gary flung him out of the way.”