“This is a one-time pass.” Guidry shifts, peeping at Security Guy. “I can’t permit this behavior to resume on campus without consequences.”
“Trust me, they’ll be dealt with at home,” Dad states. The child I was would be scared. The adult me knows how to put a quick stop to it. After the first time I fought back, he never raised another fist to me. It says a lot about a man when he’ll only punch a kid who wouldn’t fight back. Until I did.
As soon as we’re in the parking lot, Dad asks, “Micah, care to explain?”
Of course, he asks him and doesn’t get the real answer. “Just a friendly quarrel.”
Dad states, “Keep it clean. We can only keep so much under wraps before the game gets messy and they’ll step in.”
“What else have you intervened in?” I ask. It’s always been a question on my mind. How desperate is he to have Micah win?
He squares up to me. “When you lose, it’ll be by your own doing. You can’t blame me for your mistakes forever. She chose to leave you behind. That says a lot about you, doesn’t it. She always wanted Micah around though. Why is that?”
“Because he kissed her ass like he does yours.” And the second Micah stops; Dad will turn on him too. It’s a given.
“Better pucker up then, because you’ll be kissing ass for the rest of your life.”
“Or you’ll have to kiss mine.” He knows exactly what I mean. Mercy. If I win, I’ll have more control over him and Micah than ever. And he won’t let that happened.
“The only reason you’re even eligible is because of your bloodline. They don’t know it’s wasted. Do the right thing and bow out discreetly so your brother can take his rightful place. You’ve never had the backbone needed to succeed. Just like with your mother. Besides, it’s all politics. Ass kissing and campaigning. I don’t even know why you’re bothering.”
“Not from what I hear. Because you wouldn’t regret failing and missing out on the utmost critical and influential position of your life, right, Dad?” I repeat the advice he gave Micah, which is completely contradicting the way he’s downplaying the significance of what’s at stake to me. Mind games. That’s all he’s ever been good at. “No wonder you didn’t win. You’re as bad of a liar as you are a father.”
38
IVY
Being back at the accident scene is dreadful. Although, it’s not like I don’t already see the crash in my head. And now in photographs.
I’ve lost track of time, but I’m not alone for long. Luca doesn’t speak as he drops on the curb next to me, his head staying forward. There’s a strange but comfortable silence that hangs between us. When I peek over at him, I notice the swollen gash on his lip. Without thinking, I reach over, my fingers touching just below the wound. “What happened?”
He doesn’t pull away. That’s when I realize the touch is too intimate, too natural to be shared between us, so I remove the contact. That’s when I notice his fists are covered in gashes and dried blood. He was obviously in a fight with someone. That alone isn’t shocking. The serene, silent version is as he just sits with me. He’s not pushing me to talk or to be alright. Every time with Everett, he would try to fix me—he’d want me to talk or want me to forget. That’s not possible. Somehow, Luca understands that. It’s unsettling. My best friend should be here, not the boy I barely know.
I’m on my feet and driving away minutes later. Part of me is shocked Luca didn’t speak a word or try to stop me. The otherpiece is relieved, because it’s getting harder to walk away from that side of him. But I know the other version will surface soon enough.
Once I arrive at my house, I remain in my car for a few minutes until my phone rings. When I see it’s Uncle Shawn, my immediate instinct is to brace for bad news. But as soon as I answer, he responds with a chipper greeting and says, “I was just checking in on you.”
“I’m good.”
“That’s wonderful to hear. I was a little worried after the mishap with Grandma. Her doctor adjusted her medication, so hopefully that’ll help.”
“What was she talking about?” I ask, knowing I won’t get an answer. And I don’t. At least not a truthful one.
“Nothing at all. She doesn’t even know what she’s saying at times. In one ear and out the other is sadly the only way to manage the outbursts.”
Maybe I can find out the truth from her. I don’t want to upset her again but there’s something she was speaking about. And it wasn’t because her meds were off. And I believe Uncle Shawn is aware of that.
“I’ll stop by soon to see her.”
He confirms my suspicions as he tells me, “Give her a stretch. It’ll take some time before everything is regulated in her system. But you’re welcome to join Kathleen and I anytime. We miss having you around. Maybe we can catch a football game and watch you in action, cheering on your new team from the sidelines.”
I tell him again, “No, I’m not cheering this year.”
“Oh, okay. Just give me a call whenever you’re ready to hang out. We can catch a movie or grab lunch. A fishing trip would be awesome. We haven’t been to the camp in forever, and I’m way overdue for a day on the water.”
“Sounds nice.” Except it wouldn’t be. Because he’s hiding something from me.
“Tell Zachary to give me a call. He owes me a lunch date. That boy is as hard to pin down as you.”
