When To Let Go Read Free Page B

always so quiet and calm; however, he was a monster when he fought, turning bright red with wild eyes. Ryder would never admit this to anyone, but it scared the shit out of him. He was thankful the kid was on his side.
    One day, after Parker had beat the crap out of an adult for thinking he could steal their money, a mechanic from the nearby auto shop called them over. The two boys were ready to book it, but before they shot off the guy came closer, saying he had a job for them if they were interested in earning more money.
    Parker and Ryder didn't trust anybody, but they listened to the man, intrigued by what it could be.
    He needed certain parts for his shop. He'd make them a list and pay them a ten percent finder’s fee. Parker said thirty or no deal. The guy agreed.
    Not only did they earn large sums of money, but the guys at the shop took the boys in and taught them all about cars – how to rebuild them and how to fix 'em.
    Early on they learned that Ryder couldn't be under or inside a car for too long before he panicked (part of the reason why he was so quick with stealing parts), so the man who worked on motorcycles took him on.
    The two boys loved it there. It became their “real” home. The guys even let them borrow magazines full of naked women.
    The guy that had hired them to steal parts happened to be the owner, Rocco. He noticed how the boys were always distracted, staring at the girls’ chests who were always hanging around.
    One night, Rocco had the boys come hang out at his place with the rest of the auto shop workers.
    Women were everywhere, and not just any kind of women: they looked identical to those in the magazines the boys were always gaping at.
    Rocco lead the boys to a bedroom with two big-breasted women who appeared more than twice the boys' age. He left the boys alone with them.
    They both lost their virginity that night.
    Parker became an addict, finding a girl three or four times a day, with anybody who was willing. He even got the older girls at school to do things with him.
    Ryder was pickier, usually sticking to the same couple of women; they understood he never wanted to be touched and never bothered to find out why. All he had to do was pay them some cash.
    He eventually learned Parker had a six-year-old sister. They had been separated when taken into the system.
    Ryder rode along with Parker on the bus the next time he went to visit her. They had a secret meeting place they met at twice a month. They only had about five minutes, but it seemed to be enough to keep Parker satisfied that his sister was being well cared for. She was fortunate to be in the kind of home where the couple actually wanted to make a difference.
    Ryder had had one of those for about a minute and it was awesome.
    The little girl would always jump into Parker's arms, squealing with happiness when they arrived.
    Ryder was envious of their bond. He’d never had anybody love him. Ryder didn't even recall ever being truly hugged. That's why Ryder didn’t like to be touched and always wore long sleeves. He'd had such lack of skin contact that it made his chest and stomach hurt when it happened, so he found it best to just avoid all together.
    Parker's little sister always had a cupcake for him, and after a couple meetings had one for Ryder too. The first time she lept into his arms for a hug, Ryder panicked. Something about the little girl had him hugging her back, a part of him never wanting to let go, relishing the affection.
    Parker and Ryder shared a little bit of their pasts with each other. Both held back details, only giving enough away to better understand the other. Ryder explained how he had one of the worst cases of claustrophobia his social worker had ever seen. The only explanation he could muster was that it stemmed from a nefarious foster home, not having the stomach to explain how when he was four, the couple would lock him in a hole in their closet for days with no food or water, forcing him to sleep