Page 95 of The One I Left Behind

Coach Smith comes shoulder to shoulder with me.

Waylon says, “You don’t know me, but… jeez, I can’t believe how amazing you were out there. Impressive.”

My dad steps next to me as my brothers saunter over and stand shoulder to shoulder with Coach Smith. All of us have our arms crossed, staring Waylon down.

“Who are you?” Clayton asks again, not thanking Waylon for his compliment like he normally would.

Waylon looks past Clayton at Gillian, approaching slowly now that she’s close enough. He probably wants to see how this is going to play out before answering. “I’m your dad.”

“You’re Waylon Knight?” Clayton asks.

“And here I thought I was your mom’s dirty little secret.”

I turn my hat backward and step forward, but my dad puts his hand on my stomach to stop me.

He has to be kidding me.

“So, you’re him.” Clayton looks at me again.

I’m not sure why he keeps seeking me out.

Gillian comes up next to her son. “What are you doing here?”

“I saw your boyfriend’s little segment on TV. Looks like you and me did good. He’s a star player.”

“She—” I start to say, but my dad shakes his head again. Fucking hell.

Gillian glances at me—the first time her eyes have been on me in over a week. But I can’t read her. I don’t know what she wants me to do.

“You didn’t do anything but donate sperm,” Gillian says.

“Come on, son, I’m back. I thought you’d want to see me. What nasty stories has your mom told you about me?”

I finally step out of the circle, and my dad willingly lets me go this time. “That’s enough, Waylon. Get the hell outta here.”

He turns to me, and his hair is greasy and long. His teeth are yellow and stained, one is missing. And he stinks of alcohol.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with you, Noughton. Nice welcome sign, by the way.” He laughs, and there’s more than one tooth missing.

I hate that Clayton has to see his dad in this condition.

“It does.” My jaw tics.

His head falls back. “Oh, that’s right. You two are back together. How cute. A story for the ages. But see, this boy is mine. Not yours. I bet that fucking burns you up inside, doesn’t it?” He grins and puts his hand on Clayton’s shoulder, and I break the distance.

Clayton shrugs off the hand. “I have a question.”

“What is it, son?”

By now, everyone is circled around, making it appear as though it’s the town of Willowbrook against Waylon Knight. As it should be.

“Did you hit my mom?”

Grunts echo in the night air under the lights. Gillian glances around.

Waylon glares at Gillian. “Did she tell you that? She’s a lying bitch.”

I cock my fist back, but before I can land a punch, Clayton’s fist connects with Waylon’s face. Gillian’s eyes bulge, and her mouth falls open.

---