Page 105 of Faithful

Next evening at quarter to eight, I get another call from him. He’s about to arrive and wants to ensure I’m home. That’s a nice way to let me know I better not make him wait outside my door because he really shouldn’t be seen in this part of town at this hour. Too liberal of a neighborhood.

I’m not sure why I expected things to be any different when he steps inside and grunts a hello, then proceeds farther into the apartment without bothering to take off his footwear. Flecks of fresh snow that were brought from the street are now turning into wet spots on the floor and carpet.

“So, this is where you live?” Gavin says with a sour face. His voice, loud and commanding, fills every crack and crevice of the room, smearing the walls and surfaces with its implied aversion and judgment.

“Yeah, Dad. Nice to see you too.” I position myself in the center of the living room, right next to the couch. My hands are shoved into my sweats’ pockets.

“Have you spoken to your mother recently?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.” He nods. His eyes continue to study the interior, then return to me.

“You’ll be taken off our family auto insurance plan effective January,” Gavin says. “You should start looking for a new provider.”

Shit. I totally forgot about that. The Charger was paid for in full when I got it, and I never really bothered with all the paperwork. And why do I feel like I’ve just been fucked without lube? “Merry Christmas to you too, Dad.”

“Enough with the sarcasm, Dylan,” he says through gritted teeth. “You’re being stubborn for no reason. There’s an easy way to fix this.”

“Become your political puppet? Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

“You think you’re going to be young forever? It’s all fun and games right now, but one day you’ll wake up and realize you’re thirty without a reputation or a penny to your name.”

“'Cause you took all the pennies away.”

“You did not earn any of that money!”

“Neither did you. It’s Grandpa's money!”

“And he would be rolling in his grave if he knew what became of you.”

“He’s fucking dead. He doesn’t care what I am.”

Gavin’s features harden. “You need to stop this nonsense, Dylan,” he says, using that tone of his that sends a cold shiver down my back and makes me want to curl into a ball and hide under the bed.

But I’m not a little boy anymore. I stand my ground. “What do you mean by nonsense, Dad? I’m doing fine. I have a job and a place, and I don’t want you to come here and threaten me in my own home.”

“You need to put a stop to this–” Gavin’s expression changes from blank to disgusted, his thick brows pinching. He’s so fucking bigoted, he can’t even say it.

“Put a stop to what?” I ask. “Living my life?” At six foot four and with a face like his, my father is quite intimidating, but I’ve been on my own long enough to develop a bit of armor. “Your son is gay, and he is in a relationship and happy.”

“This young man you’re shacking up with… He killed your sister.”

I feel my blood bubbling up in my veins like there’s some kind of chemical reaction happening in me. My hands leave my pockets and form fists. “He didn’t,” I snap, my voice pitching high. People talking smack about Kai online is part of being famous. I can take it. My father talking smack about him in front of me isn’t going to fly. “You killed my sister.”

Gavin doesn’t react. He’s a statue, taking up all the space in my apartment.

“Don’t you ever feel any guilt at all?” I say, my anger moving to the driver’s seat and assuming control of my thoughts and actions. “You knew she was ill, and you didn’t lift a fucking finger to try and help her. You chose to save your reputation instead of your daughter.”

I’m shaking with fury. I never planned on confronting my father about Ava’s disorder or revealing the fact that I know the truth. Part of me is scared I made things worse for my aunt, but mainly I’m just outraged on behalf of my sister.

“Very well,” Gavin barks. “I warned you, Dylan.”

And then he leaves.

* * *

I’ve been feeling restless ever since my father’s visit.

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