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Sabrina

“Crap Crap Crap Craaaaap Where are my keys?”

The clock in the narrow hallway tells ht-et to the party on time

I check h the various locations Dresser? No Bathroom? Was just there Kitchen? Maybe—

I’le of metal behind me

“You looking for these?”

Contees inroom so small that the five pieces of dated furniture—two tables, one loveseat, one sofa, and one chair—are squashed together like sardines in a can The luh of irritation, he grins and shoves them under his sweatpants-covered ass

“Coet ’em”

I drag a frustrated hand downover to my stepfather “Give me my keys,” I demand

Ray leers in return “Da-aht You’ve turned into a real babe, Rina You and et it on”

I ignore theto his crotch I’ve never known a man so desperate to touch his own junk He entleman

“You and I don’t exist to each other So don’t look at me, and don’t call me Rina” Ray’s the only person who ever calls ive me my keys”

“I told you—coet ’em”

With gritted teeth, I shove runts and squir piece of shit he is until my hand connects with metal

I drag the keys free and spin back to the doorway

“What’s the big deal?” he mocks after me “It’s not like we’re related, so there’s no incest problem”

I stop and use thirty seconds of my precious time to stare at him in disbelief “You’re my stepfather You married mywith Nana now So, no, it’s not about whether you and I are related It’s because you’re the grossest person on the planet and you belong in prison”

His hazel eyes darken “Watch your mouth, missy, or one of these days you’ll come home and the doors will be locked”

Whatever “I pay for a third of the rent here,” I remind him

“Well, e of more”

He turns back to the television, and I spend another valuable thirty seconds fantasizing about bashing his head in with my purse Worth it

In the kitchen, Nana is sitting at the table, s an issue of People “Did you see this?” she exclaiain”

“Goodie for her” I grab my jacket off the back of the chair and head for the kitchen door