I awoke to the sound of music, which was strange. My mom had all but abandoned listening to the radio or anything else that might remind her of my dad. I think that’s why she found herself with daytime soaps or talk shows on in the background so often. When I heard masculine laughter along with music coming from the other room, I jumped out of bed, my heart practically bursting from mychest.
“Mom?” I called out, as I pulled on some jeans. Just enough to make sure I was ready for whatever was out there. “Mom, what’s going on?” I yelledagain.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I made it to the living room. Sitting on the couch, freaking guitar in hand and wearing the biggest shit-eating grin I’d ever seen, was my dad. Next to him, wearing an equally bright smile, was my mother. It was the happiest I’d seen her sinceheleft.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, not bothering with agreeting.
“Julian!” My mother sounded horrified. “Is that anyway to talk to yourfather?”
“I don’t know. He sure as hell hasn’t acted like a father.” I raised my brows at the man sitting in front of me andsmirked.
“Julian!” My mom cried again, sounding even more upset thanbefore.
“No, love, the boy has apoint.”
Love?
“Of course I do. You left us. You chose thatguitar,” I spat the word, “over your family. Your family! And you left me to pick up the pieces. So you’ll excuse me if I don’t give you the same welcome as the wife youabandoneddid.”
“Oh, Julian, don’t be so dramatic,” my momargued.
“Are you kidding me?” I flung my arms up. “Mom, dad left. Marco went off doing God knows what. And I’ve been stuck here doing everything I can just to make sure you don’t lose the house and you have food to eat. I had to give up my wrestlingscholarship.”
“No one asked you to do that,” mom said at the same time dad asked, “What’s going on withMarco?”
“Oh, didn’t mom tell you? He’s run off with a bunch of guys and has become a complete tool. And in case you’re wondering, yeah, he’s responsible for the bruise on my face. Or at least he didn’t try to stop it. And, mom,” I said, looking at her. At least she had the decency to look chagrined at this point. “You might not have asked me to. But what was I supposed to do? Sit and watch you loseeverything?”
“Oh,Julian.”
“Don’t. Just don’t.” I looked at the clock on the wall. “I have another shift this morning, unless dear ol’ dad came bearing gifts of money.” He didn’t meet my eyes and it was all the answer I needed. “I didn’tthinkso.”
I stormed out without sayinganotherword.
I didn’t have gas in my tank, and even if I did, I think I would have still chosen to walk to work that morning. I was pissed beyond belief my mom had let that man back into our lives. He left us and didn’t seem to care about us while he was gone. I never received a call or a visit. He came back empty handed. My guess was he ran out of money and needed a place tocrash.
Lucky him, my mom was just the sucker he waslookingfor.
I’d been so angry when I left the house, I’d forgotten my headphones. Listening to music on the walk to work was one of the few pleasures I had. It would be a long, silent walk today. But there was no way in hell I was going back inside that houseanytimesoon.
I didn’t even want to go back there to sleeptonight.
Settling into a fast stride and trying not to focus too much on my dad and the fact he was back, I noticed as a runner approached farther down the road. As she got closer, I realized it wasKatie.
Her blond ponytail swayed back and forth wildly every time her feet hit the pavement. It was starting to get downright cold during the early mornings, probably freezing to her. But I could see she was sweating even wearing a sweater and leggings. The pants were skintight and looked really good on her. I forced my eyes up to her face just in time for her to be close enough to tell I was checkingherout.
I wanted her to keeprunning.
I wanted hertostop.
She slowed her run to a stop in front of me before I could decide what I hopedshe’ddo.
“Hey.” Her voice was breathless and she gave me a shy smile. She had small pieces of hair stuck toherface.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing out here?” she asked, looking around at the scenery to punctuate herpoint.
A hundred smart responses were on my tongue, but instead I simplysaid, “Work.”
