“So, Clyde, how do you know my mom?”I take a bite of steak and start chewing.
He looks down at his plate before his eyes slide to my mom and then back to me.He sets down his utensils and props two bony elbows on the table, his head resting on his knuckles.“I’m so glad you asked.I’m not sure you remember me, son, but I work down at the high school.I’m a history teacher there?You never were in my class, but maybe that helps place me...”
I tilt my head sideways, and he does look familiar, but I say, “No, I spent most of my time on the field.”
He laughs.“I remember well.You were very good.”
“Levi, there’s something I should have told you a long time ago,” my mom cuts in.“Clyde and I have been seeing each other for a while.”
I stop mid-chew.“What’s a while?”I ask, knowing I should exit the conversation while I still can.
“A little over a year now.You had such a hard time with your dad leaving, and I didn’t want to trigger you.It just never felt like the right time, so I...”
“So, you lied?!Because that always makes it better.”I stand from the table, my chair scraping against the floor.
“Young man, don’t talk to your mom like that.”Clyde stands immediately after me.I feel my jaw tense as my heartbeat is surely pounding outside of my body.
“Stay out of this, it has nothing to do with you,” I warn.
My mom stands slowly.Her face has gone pale, and that’s when I notice it.She’s wearing an engagement ring.Was that there when she picked me up?How could I not notice that...
“Mom, how could you?”My voice cracks, and I’m pretty sure that isn’t the only thing.I turn to walk away, but she grabs me.
“Levi, you’re right.I’m sorry.I was such a mess when your dad left, I didn’t know how to operate anymore...”
“Yeah, and what about now?”
“Levi,” Clyde barks, but Mom holds out her hand over his chest.
I walk straight to my truck.I wish I had never come home.The strings in my chest start to pull tight as the air thins.I try to think about the beach.The waves.In and out.In and out.Buzz.I reach down and slide the phone out of my pocket.It’s Jan.It’s like she knows when I’m at my weakest.I open the message and it’s a picture of Tate, with the text, “Don’t do anything stupid.”
I click the image to make it larger and see she’s with another girl on stage at Chief’s down on Broadway.Wait, she’s here?I chew at my bottom lip.You know what...I’m going.She owes me an explanation.I turn the key in the ignition, the rumble of the truck feeding my adrenaline.
Chapter 32
Tate
