Page 185 of Catfish

“Jim,” my father greets, his broad hand extending in front of me to shake my current talking companion. My eyes glint to the gray sleeve of my father’s suit, falling onto his black and white peppered hair and the shit-eating grin on his face.

That stands right next to my mother, Nora.

"Wade," she squeals, fake, auditioned, and loud. “You did amazing up there tonight. Your father and I are so proud of you.”

“Outstanding job,” my father adds in, giving my shoulder a slap for added encouragement. “Better speaker than I ever was.”

Because you lied about everything, you dumb son of a bitch.

“We brought you a surprise,” Nora beams, clasping her perfectly manicured hands together. Peering over her shoulder, as if to signal, two more people walk up to our small group.

Two fucking people that I don’t want to see right now—my younger brother and sister.

"You don't mind us stealing Wade from you for a few moments, do you, Jim?" my father presses, but it's more like a polite, subtle order.

Jim holds up both hands. "Not a problem." He turns to me and extends a hand. "It was great meeting you, Governor. All the luck in the world to you on your campaign endeavors."

I give him my thanks—more like it seethes through my teeth—as he takes off, leaving me to the pack of piranhas that is my family.

My eyes slam into my siblings, both appearing fearful like I’m about to order the firing squad to march in here and finish them off.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snap in a whisper to the both of them.

They know better than to be in the same room as me. The last thing I remember saying to them was more of a promise that I’d fuck their whole world up if we ever crossed paths again when I didn’t summon them.

And just like my mother always does, she coddles them and tries to make them look like weak children without half a fucking brain.

“Wade,” Nora scolds gently. “You haven’t seen them in well over two or three years. The least you can do is ask them how they’re doing.”

“If they’re still under your roof, they aren’t doing so hot,” I retort, bellowing at them with my eyes to get the hell out of here.

Nora’s eyes widen. “What’s that supposed to—”

“Enough with the dramatics,” my father interjects. “It’s time we settle this family shit like a family.”

“Get fucked,” I counter. “I already told you that I didn’t want—”

“You’ll lose this election without the facade of a united front. The press knows we exist, you dumb idiot, and they’ve been calling our house and staff asking why we’re not at your events. Why we weren’t at the last debate and—”

“Because you’re a crock of shit, Henry, and I don’t want you or them—” I point at the two human beings who are testing my everliving patience. “—near me. I’ve said it to you several times, so let me say it again while Mom is here too. I don’t want your help. I don’t need it. I got this far on my own, don’t need you four meddling in my shit.”

“You got where you are because I built our name. I’m the reason you got into politics. My connections got you to where—”

“You killed my dreams,” I fume, flicking my gaze to my sister. “Especially when she helped screw me over, kept shit from me, and almost got me thrown—”

“That’s enough," Nora chides then smooths down the black satin of her dress. "That was years ago. You were both young, immature, and reckless. That's the past, leave it there."

I shake my head. “This little bombarding you’ve planned, it’s worthless.”

“But it’s going to work,” Henry alludes. “We’re going to be with you when you win the Democratic party.”

I glare at him, this back and forth, it’s going to stop when I cease from talking.

I’m not about to sit around a group of legislators and argue with my parents in a crowded hall. Nor am I going to cause any gossip when I’ve done a good-as-hell job keeping it to a minimum so far.

“If you’re going to force yourselves into my shit,” I concede. “Get with Emmy, not me, I’m fucking busy.”

“You’ll have to speak with us,” Nora quips, taking a step closer to me. “You can’t ignore us when—”

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