We are bumper to bumper on the five freeway, refusing to even look out the other side of the windshield.
I'm replaying the past weeks as our speed gradually increases.
Theo clearly has an issue with my dad. We weren't supportive of our parents dating in the beginning, but I figured we are adults now and we can't change the past. I'm sure we wish our current lives were different, but there's nothing we can do.
He's ignoring me, and I don't even feel like continuing the topic anyway.
It's literally two steps forward, twenty steps back. Just as we were getting along, something royally screws us up.
We drive the rest of the way home in complete silence—no radio, no music, nothing.
When I park in the driveway, Theo doesn't even thank me for taking him.
I'm not offering to be nice to him anymore. If he can't give my dad the courtesy of being civil, I don't need to go out of my way to offer courtesy to him.
Ican'tgetanythingpast Amelia. She picked up on my problems with her dad immediately. But on the way to an important interview was not the time or place to bring that up. Had she chosen a better approach, maybe I would have opened up to her and told her more. But she sure ruined that moment.
When I'm safely inside my "room," I grab my laptop and send a thank you email to the men I met with. I don't know how to explain my surly demeanor, but I phrase it well enough to make it seem like this isn't normal behavior.
I'm certain my next interaction with Amelia won't be a pleasant one, so for now, I'm going to pretend like she doesn't exist.
I'mabletoavoidher for a few days, spending most of my time either in my room playing video games on an outdated console or borrowing my mom's car to walk along the beach. I'm trying not to spend money, so I bring coffee from home as I sit and watch the waves.
I'm also certain I can't stop by Roasted without being literally roasted by the two women working there.
Tawny, because I'm not texting her back.
And Amelia, because somehow I'm the bad guy in all this.
Not that I'm keeping score, but she was the one who ruinedmyday andmyinterview. I feel like she owes me an apology for the way we left things.
Habitat for Humanity passed on me, which was expected. I apologized to my old supervisor who put in a good word for me. I no doubt ruined the opportunity of ever getting in their good graces again.
I can't escape all my problems by running off to other countries. I figured I had this job in the bag, and I wouldn’t have to worry about my next move. Now I’m back at square one.
I have someone meeting me at the house to look over my dad's car. I think I'm in way over my head because a lot of repairs are beyond what he taught me.
No one is home when Gus comes by.
"Wow, you've got a beauty," he tells me.
"It's been a while since it ran. I don't even know what else it needs."
"Let me take a look and I'll give you an estimate. I work exclusively on Fords, and I've rebuilt more cars than I can count. You can trust I'll be fair in my appraisal."
"Thanks. Take your time."
When Gus is done, he makes a list of all the repairs the Mustang will need. And thankfully, all can be done at his shop.
"You're not looking at too many crazy expenses. I can get this done in maybe two weeks? I have to order the parts."
"That would be great, I appreciate your help."
I sign some papers and give him a deposit for the supplies he'll need to order. We schedule a day for him to tow it back with him.
If I do decide to go to the reunion, looks like I'll have a working car to my name.
Thatnight,Imanageto avoid my mom and Bruce pretty well. They have their usual meal at 6:00 p.m., and spend the rest of their evening reading, with a brief respite to watch Jeopardy.
