Page 146 of Something Rad
“Oh, you know,” Mr. Summers says, “it would just be nice if you could teach him to put a little effort in. To something other than his hair, of course.”
My mouth falls open, but my voice is caught in my throat.
“I mean, as someone who has no example to follow in life, you’ve managed to make something of yourself. Robert has absolutely no excuse to have no desire to be worth something.”
I feel the last ounce of blood drain from my face the moment the last drop of wine is emptied from Robbie’s father’s glass.
Robbie’s. Father.
Does he even deserve to be called that?
Mr. Summers’s head swivels around, looking for something else to fill his glass with. His eyes land on the wine bottle just to the side of Robbie. I assume he’s about to ask him to pass it to him, but instead, he pushes back from the table, walking over to stand by Robbie as he pours himself another glass of wine. The dining room is silent, but, as I look around the table, I realize the rest of Robbie’s family aren’t quiet because of shock or mortification in the way I am. In fact, most of them look barely half-interested to be here. Janet’s examining her fingernail polish while her husband picks absentmindedly at his mashed potatoes. Mrs. Summers is staring off into space, like her mind is in a totally different place. Steven is the only one showing any ounce of emotion, yet he’s the one infuriating me the most, unable to wipe the shit-eating grin off his face.
Finally finding my voice, I look up at Mr. Summers. “I…I can’t believe you’d say that.Anyof that.”
He looks completely unfazed by my statement, setting the wine bottle down and taking a sip from his glass. “Just being truthful, Sara Beth. I think Robert has a lot to learn from you. That’s more than I could say about any of his previous trysts.”
“I–” I begin, but am immediately cut off by Robbie.
“She’s not just atryst, Dad,” he grits. “And she just goes by Sara.”
Robbie’s father narrows his eyes at him, but I don’t give him a chance to say anything in response.
“I don’t think you’re giving your son enough credit, Mr. Summers.”
He breathes a laugh. “I think maybe you’re the one giving him too much credit, dear. The boy hasn’t even filled out a single college application. He’s an embarrassment. But it’s nothing he doesn’t know. Right, son?”
I can already feel the rage flowing hot through my body, but it makes me feel like I’m about to burst into flames when Mr. Summers reaches down and roughly messes up Robbie’s hair until it’s entirely disheveled, the chestnut brown strands jutting off his head in every which way.
I’m out of my chair before I even realize it, my hand slamming down on the table. “Why do you do that to him? He’s not a child, you know.”
“Cooper, it’s fine,” Robbie mutters, subtly pushing his hair out of his eyes.
“No, Robbie, actually, it’s not.”
Mr. Summers laughs, looking taken aback. “If he’s not a child, maybe he shouldn’t insist on acting like one. And I think I’m perfectly aware of who my son is.”
“Really?Because I’m not so sure.”
“Young lady–”
“No,” I hold up a hand, cutting him off. “I don’t know who you think your son is at home.Worthless? Anembarrassment?” I shake my head, my cheeks burning with heat. “I don’t know about any of that. But what Idoknow is, at school, he’s agod. Everybody knows who he is. Everybody looks up to him. People make a path for him when he walks into a room because they look up to him as a leader. In fact, up until a few months ago, many people would considermethe embarrassment. I wasn’t anybody until Robbie came into my life. He’s opened my eyes to so many things and possibilities I never thought existed. He might not be applying to Ivy League schools, but he’s one of the smartest people I know. There are some things you simply can’t be taught in school, and he’s the master of every single one of them. Because of that, people at Bay View value him. Theyrespecthim. Maybe if you opened your eyes for two seconds– something I’d think a family ofoptometristswould be at least somewhat decent at– you might just see what everyone else sees. And you might respect him too. He doesn’t have to be a carbon copy of you to be worth something. And, you know what? As far as I’m aware, every person I’ve ever met thatwipes down tablesdeserves a whole lot more respect from me than any of you do.”
I place my hands on my hips, taking a moment to catch my breath before I scan the room to find six sets of wide eyes glued to me. “Well, with that being said. Thank you for allowing me into your home. It’s truly been as unpleasant as I could’ve imagined. I’d say I’m sorry for causing a scene, but I have a feeling it was well overdue.” I turn, glancing down at the chair to my side. “Robbie, would you care to take me home now?”
I swear I watch Robbie’s eyes shift from dark to milk chocolate in real time, his lips pulling up ever so slightly at one corner.
“Yeah,” he nods. “Yeah, I would.”
thirty
ROBBIE
Neither Cooper or I have said a word to each other by the time I pull to a stop in front of her house. I swear she still hasn’t caught her breath since her epic speech she laid on my father.
The same one that still has my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
I glance over at her in my passenger seat, still seeing the shallow rise and fall of her chest. She’s chewing on her bottom lip and tapping her foot as she stares out the window at the evening sky. With our early exit from my house, it’s barely half past six. She has several hours before her mom is supposed to come home, and I feel an odd sensation of guilt pinching in my chest at the thought of leaving her here for all that time.
