Page 50 of Under Pressure

Dan steps in, trying to smooth things over. “Just invite her. Your brothers are both bringing girls.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I grit out, shooting him a nasty look. Do I need to spell it out for his thick skull?

“Well, then just as a friend. You never bring anyone over.”

Yeah, because I don’t want them to meet you.

I stay silent, watching Riley continue to masterfully avoid her broccoli with every bite until her plate is clear, her napkin filled to the brim with bits of green. She wads it up tightly in her fist, declaring, “I’m finished. Can I play with Tyler now?”

Dan looks at her fondly. “Honey, he’s twenty-one. I doubt he wants to play—”

“Come on, squirt.” I stand and grab both our plates, heading into the kitchen to rinse them off.

Riley skips off to her bedroom to set up whatever game she has in store for me and I hear Dan sigh faintly from the dining room. “I’m never going to get through to him, am I?”

There’s a pause and then Mom says, “Let’s put it in perspective. Things have gotten a lot better since he moved out. Remember how it was when he was a teenager?”

“Oh God, I’ve blacked that out. I still don’t understand how he was so different from his brothers.”

I set the plate I’m holding down carefully. They must think I went in Riley’s room already. And yeah, I got in some trouble as a teen, but they only had to talk to the police one time, big deal.

I sidle nearer to the entryway, not sure why I’m eavesdropping. It’s not like I care at all what they have to say about me. But still…

“For some reason, he won’t let things go,” Mom murmurs, her voice barely audible. I lean in even closer. “He’s easily the most stubborn child of ours.”

“I just don’t know what I can do for him to accept that I’m his dad.”

I nearly laugh out loud before remembering they’re not aware I’m listening. No matter what it says on my birth certificate, I know he’s never wanted to be my father. He made that clear. Brandon and Dylan always came first, then Riley once she came along.

“He still remembers when he was little, the times it was just me and him when the boys were at your house—”

“You were the one who asked me not to include him.”

I brace a hand against the wall. What? I never knew about that.

“I know. I thought having alone time with me would make him feel special, something for just the two of us. I didn’t realize till later how much it isolated him instead.” There’s a sniffing sound, like she’s trying to hold back tears. “It was selfish of me. I was lonely when Brandon and Dylan were with you.”

I peek around the corner as Dan slides his arm over her shoulders. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up old hurts.”

She wipes at her eyes. “No, it’s my fault. Just… just give him time. I’ll talk with him again—”

“No. I should have done a better job making clear to him how much I love him. He’s my son as much as yours.”

I return to the kitchen sink, my heart pounding. He was… he was probably only putting on an act for Mom. Making himself the martyr. So she’ll take his side over mine. She doesn’t see through him like I do.

I make my way as quietly as I can to Riley’s room, softly shutting the door behind me, and she looks up from her spot on the floor. “Do you want a unicorn or a mermaid?”

She holds up two stencils and I stare at her blankly, my mind still on that conversation. “What?”

“The glitter tattoo kit you got me for Christmas. Which one do you want?”

Oh, yeah. Mom wasn’t happy when Riley unwrapped that. She despises glitter. “Um, whatever you want.”

I sit down next to her on the floor while she applies something to my arm, and I ruminate over everything I overheard. Is it possible they knew I was in the kitchen and it was all an act?

No, that’s too elaborate of a setup. And Mom wouldn’t lie to me like that.

Except, it seems she did. Or withheld information from me, at the very least.

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