Page 105 of Waiting for Friday Night

“Waiting on you. Shouldn’t you be home early? You’ve got an important game coming up this weekend.”

Quinton waved off his dad’s words. “I’ll be fine. I’m going up to bed.”

“Quinton, wait.”

Quinton stopped at the door of the kitchen and sighed. He turned, lifted his chin and faced his dad. “Sir?”

“You can’t ignore me forever.”

“I’m not ignoring you.” He just didn’t know what to say right now.

“Then what do you call it?”

“Processing.”

His dad scowled. “What the hell is processing?”

Quinton hated it, but he wanted to smile at the ornery look on Willie’s face. “What do you want me to call it? Trying to get my anger and frustration under control so that I don’t say something to you or Mom that I might regret later.”

His dad waved his hand as if urging him to come back. “Go ahead and say it. No need to hold back.”

“I’m going to bed.”

“Just say it, Quinton,” Willie said firmly. “Don’t be afraid. I’m a grown man. I can handle whatever it is you want to say.”

Quinton eyed his dad and then crossed his arms. “I should have known. You all lied to me for years.”

Willie flinched but didn’t look away. “We did what we thought was best.”

“Best for who? Was it better for me to hear this shit from Khris? From the guy who made my life hell for years?”

His dad’s shoulders slumped. “I didn’t think his dad would ever admit it.”

“That doesn’t make it better.” Quinton turned to leave. The anger at them keeping this from him for so long bubbling like acid in his midsection.

“I didn’t want you to leave.”

Quinton turned around. “What?”

Willie glanced away before dragging his gaze back. “I thought that if you knew he was your dad, you’d wish you had something better.”

Quinton came back into the kitchen. “Why would I do that?” He never would have chosen Mr. Simmons over Willie.

“Because kids don’t always appreciate what they have. I heard you one day wishing that we had something better to eat. You mumbled something about betting Khris had better for dinner.”

“When did I say that?”

“It was so long ago you probably don’t even remember, but you said it. That hit me like a knife through the heart. I loved you from the moment you were born. I never once thought of you as anything other than my child, but that day, I worried that if you knew the truth, you’d turn your back on me and try to be more like him. That man didn’t want you then. He would have made your life a living hell or worse, used you to get back at your mom and play with your emotions.”

“I never would have chosen him over you. Do you think I didn’t see how much you sacrificed for me and Dawn? You’re my dad. Always have been and always will be. You should have trusted me with the truth.”

Willie’s chin wobbled before he nodded stiffly. “Maybe I should have.”

“No maybe.” They were silent for a second when Quinton scoffed and shook his head.

“What?”

“I called Khris today. To see if he knew. Which of course he did. He admitted that was why he treated me the way he did. Said his dad was horrible to him and planted the hate he felt for me.”

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