Whether they meant well or not, the way everyone freaked out was insulting and infantilizing. Even worse, it exposed exactly how they see me—not as a team player on equal footing but as a weakling.
Campbell’s a cripple.
I shake my head, desperate to crawl into the sofa, turn on another episode ofDeath Noteand forget all about today.
Just then, my dashboard lights up.
‘New text from Chris’
The car’s text to speech reads out:
‘Hey, Campbell. Where’d you see that picture of Riley? What guy was she with? I can’t find it.”
Riley?
Rats.
I promised her I’d swing by her garage after training, but that was before I was humiliated on the ice. I don’t want to talk to Riley right now. I don’t want to talk toanyone.
Then you shouldn’t have made the promise.
Internally, I throw myself to the ground like a flopping toddler screaming ‘do I have to’?
Yes, you do. You gave your word.
That calm, internal voice sounds a lot like my dad.
I sigh heavily.
The road that leads to my house unfurls before me, but I flick the indicator and pull over to the side. Maybe, if I explain that I’m having a hard day, Riley will let me off the hook and we can catch up some other time.
I call her shop’s number.
The line rings.
After several loud shrills, it beeps loudly and an automated voice tells me that ‘the person I’m trying to reach isn’t answering the phone’.
“Great. At least I tried.” I turn the engine back on.
You call that a try?
My dad’s voice again.
Why’d he have to be such a good husband and father? The least he could have done was set a bad example so I could be as selfish as I want to be right now.
I call Riley again.
She doesn’t answer.
I massage my forehead, debating my next step when the phone lights up.
It’s Riley’s garage number.
“Hey, Riles. It’s me. Are you at the shop?” I realize it’s a stupid question and blunder on. “I mean, are you busy? Because I’m about to swing by, but if now’s not a good time, that’s totally okay. Better than okay.”
My rambling stems from guilt. I know good and well this isn’t ‘trying my best’. My dad is probably rolling over… in his bed in Florida where he and mom retired the moment their savings matured.
“Nathan, I can’t talk right now. I’m waiting for a customer.”
