Laurence snorted. He leaned back in his office chair and stretched his arms over his head. The collar of his dress shirt rose up, and he stopped his stretch to smooth it downagain.
TeenDad2: He startedit.
KnotMyProblem: love you TD. You know I’m just yanking yourchain.
TeenDad2: I’m sure you do, Knot. I’m sure youdo.
Gwynning: What have you guys got going on tonight? Any exciting plans for when I’mgone?
TeenDad2: I’m about to go afk towork.
xVerity: We’re doing pizza night. Nikki is running around like crazy waving the bag of pepperoni everywhere, singing about meat. I’m in the kitchen, waiting for the crust to bake for the firsttime.
KnotMyProblem: You’re working tonightTD?
TeenDad2: lol, when am Inotworking?
KnotMyProblem: Pointtaken
There was a knock at the bedroom door. Laurence turned away from his bedroom desk to find his son, Matthew, standing in the doorway. His black band hoodie was zipped up to his chest, the hood up. His hands were shoved in the pouch on the front. “Hey,Dad.”
“Hey, kiddo.” Laurence offered him a smile, his back to the computer screen. “What’s goingon?”
“Fidelity asked me if I wanted to head over to her place. She’s inviting some other kids from school—but not like a party. Just a couple of us. It’s going to be low-key and I can be home bywhenever.”
“Sounds like a good night. I’m heading out, too. Do you need alift?”
Matthew looked at him suspiciously. Laurence watched his eyes trace the buttons of his shirt, then glance over at the jacket hanging from the footboard of the bed. Matthew frowned. “You’re going out? What is it? Like, some work thing? Did you get yourraise?”
“No, not yet. I’m actually heading out with somefriends.”
“Oh, like your internet friends or whatever. Cool.” Matthew shrugged. The answer satisfied his curiosity, and that was good enough for Laurence. There were some things Matthew didn’t need to know. “I’m going to take the bus. If it gets too late and the bus stops running, I might stay over. Fidelity’s mom is really cool about letting us stay over, and nothing bad happened last time,remember?”
“Text me to let me know you’resafe.”
“Yeah, I always do, right?” Matthew flashed him a smile that reminded Laurence too much of Ann. “And if you’re going out, text me to let me know that you made it home okay, or if you end up having fun or something and stay out late. If I’m sleeping and you come home at, like, three in the morning and I wake up, I don’t want to think there’s a burglar in the house, youknow?”
“You gotit.”
Matthew pushed away from the doorframe, then seemed to change his mind and remained in place. He folded his arms over his chest and gave Laurence a curious look. These days, Matthew afforded him as little time as possible, and it was strange to see him actively engaging. “I just wanted to say thanks for being a cool dad, and everything. You know my friend Jason I talk aboutsometimes?”
“Yeah?” Laurence furrowed his brow. “What abouthim?”
“He’s been through some hard times with some really strict household rules, and I guess… I guess I’m coming to see how grateful I am that you’re so cool about everything. I know that I’m not always the easiest guy to get along with, but I want you to know that it’s not on you… orwhatever.”
Warning bells went off in Laurence’s head, but he refused to start pinning blame or placing accusations. Matthew deserved his respect, even if he was hiding whatever was going on beneath sugar-coated praise. Instead, he looked his son over carefully for clues. The baggy hoodie he was wearing wasn’t unusual for his style, and neither were the skinny jeans he insisted on wearing. His hair was no less carefully coiffed than usual, and his eyeliner was tastefully smudged, just as he liked. Whatever had riled him up wasn’t a fight with friends—he would have looked more beat-up over it. Laurence had coached him through enough of them before to know what friendship drama fallout looked like. His suspicious turned to a bombed test. Maybe math or history, Matthew’s weakestsubjects.
For now, he’d leave it be. It was the weekend. If Matthew didn’t approach him by Sunday night, Laurence would bring it up and find out what was going on, and they’d work out a solution. There was no sense ruining both of their nights by harping about itnow.
“Thanks, kiddo.” Laurence hooked an arm over his chair. He gave Matthew a few more seconds to admit that there was something wrong, then gave up hope that the conversation would happen tonight and dropped the subject. “Do you need money for thebus?”
“Nope. I’ve got my pass.” Matthew took his phone from the pouch of his hoodie and waved it back and forth. “And it’s fully charged, by the way, so you can get in touch whenever and I won’t be stuck or anything.Cool?”
“Cool.”
Matthew pointed over Laurence’s shoulder. “Your screen is going crazy, by the way. I think your friends are excited to see you tonight. I’ll let you get to it. Have a good night,Dad.”
“Only if you do,too.”
