With a deep breath, he holds his arms out. Voice softer, he says, “We can talk about this, Locke.”
“No. Get out.”
Every word is getting easier to say. Control slips into my hands and tone.
His eyes widen. I always associated the emerald green shade with my father, because that’s the trait I thought held us together the most. But now, they don’t look gemstone at all. Just dark, stained, and pitiful.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing. How hard life would be without me, looking over you and taking care of you every step of the way.”
My teeth grit together, nails digging deep into the palm of my skin. “I said, get out. Don’t make me repeat myself again.”
“You need me, Locke.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Grant stands, shoulder bumping into mine when he crosses his arms. “You heard my brother. He said get out.”
I’m not carrying the weight of his criticism alone anymore. The muscles around my neck loosen.
His nasty eyes turn to focus on Grant, huffing. “I pay for this fucking apartment!”
“Paid.” Billie chimes in from the kitchen.
“Even if you didn’t,” I sneer. “I have my own money. I can take care of myself and my family for a long time. None of us need you. Soleave.”
Grant snorts, and my father’s face falls.
I’ve never stood up to him before. Billie has never talked back. The three of us have never stood together, staring down my father like he’s a stain on our lives. Doing it now is a nail in the coffin for him, and a permanent door opening for us.
Liliana calls out from her place behind the island, “Grant’s name is on the lease. This is his apartment. I believe he and his brother told you to leave. If you don’t, I’ll call security.”
Usually, when my father is threatened with authority, he claims more power. To Dad, no one is above him—usually. He doesn’t throw around any intimidation tactics this time. The only way he responds is with wide eyes bouncing around the room.
It’s Derek next to the door now. Wordlessly, he inches the wood open and nods at the exit, signaling for my father to walk through.
Then, with her arms cross and face unflinching, Rosie snarls. “Get. The fuck. Out.”
Dad glances back at me. I don’t have anything to say to him. I just point to the door and let the silence talk for me.
Stare cold and posture stiff, he picks up the cards at his feet. He walks silently to the door, turning around right as he walks out. His eyes are about to connect with mine, but Derek slams the door in his face before it happens.
“Good fucking riddance.” Billie’s voice calls out immediately through the quiet. We stare at her, while she carelessly chewsthrough her second piece of pumpkin crunch, and shrugs. “What?”
“I cannot believe that just happened.”
It hits me all at once.
It’s not just inside thoughts anymore. The supportive sentences my loved ones have given me aren’t just words. They’re real. They’ve become tangible in this apartment and in the folds of our lives. My life.
I’ve cut ties with Dad, on my own accord, leaving him with no place in my life.
No longer am I just my father’s son.
An arm comes around my shaking shoulders. “I’m so proud of you. You needed that to happen.”
Grant would know better than anyone else. How tiring it is to look at the man who has been your life’s sole father figure and tell him he’s fired from the position.
My brother whispers a few more encouraging things in my ear. Mostly about how it might feel like the end of the world now, but it’ll get better once I adjust to a life without him. I don’t have it in me to tell Grant that, if anything, it feels like my life is barely beginning.
Eventually, he walks off. I’m alone for just a few seconds before my space is overflowing withher. Soft hands, beautiful brown eyes, and a gold L necklace sitting over her brown turtleneck sweater.
