“You know what his father is like. What he did.”
That draws my eyes up to his. Whatever I’m feelingturns to anger at that moment. “You’re basing your judgment on him from an opinion that is twenty years old.”
“A leopard doesn’t change his spots, Angela.”
“He did. I’ve met him and?—”
“You what?” He’s back to the eerie calm.
I straighten my spine. I’m not backing down from this conversation. “I went to Troy’s hockey game and sat with his parents. They are lovely people if you’d get to know them.”
“So you’re into hockey players again? What happened about not dating them after everything that happened with Kyle?”
I fight the eye roll. If I want to keep this productive, I have to be the mature one here. “Troy isn’t like other hockey players. Maybe if you would sit down and talk with him instead of judging him before we’re in the door, you’d see that.”
Dad shakes his head. He’s about as done with this conversation as I am.
“Mr. Young–” Troy starts, but Dad is quick to stop him.
“I’m not done with Angela yet.”
“Dad. Can you please just calm down?”
“Uh-oh,” Aunt Marley whispers, eyes flying to my dad.
“Calm down? I think I’m being as calm as the situation warrants.”
“How am I the more mature one in this conversation?” I shout.
“Angie…” Troy whispers, but I ignore him.
“Aren’t you the one that talks about being open and inclusive to everyone from all walks of life? Or is that all just talk to you?”
“It’s different when you know someone.”
“You don’t know him though!” I shake my head. “Why are you being like this?”
“Are you really going to throw away your family for him?” Dad nods his head toward Troy.
The floor drops out from under me. “What?”
I couldn’t have heard him right. There’s no way my dad would say those words. All over some guy?
Except it’s not justsome guy.
It’s Troy.
The man I love. I don’t think that will help me in this situation.
“Alex,” Pops cuts through. “I think we all need to take a minute to cool off.”
Dad is seething. If fire came out of his ears, it wouldn’t surprise me.
“I’m going to leave,” Troy whispers, backing toward the door. His face tells me everything I need to know.
“Please don’t.”
“I can’t stay.”
