Page 2 of Swiped By My Dad's Best Friend
Disappointment might as well be my middle name.
I kept my voice light. “Aw, Dad, what good is an employee discount if you don’t reallyuseit?”
Dad was the college dean. His whole life was academia. My inability to get my act together drove him up the wall, but he wasn’t the type to yell and scream.
There was a beat of silence, in which I couldhearevery ounce of his disappointment. When he spoke, he was calm.
“Just be at the dinner this weekend. It’s important, okay? I need you there. No excuses.”
“Okay, I’ll be there.” Linc made an impatient gesture at me. “Text me the details. I’ve got to go.”
“Sure, kid. Love ya.”
“Ditto, Daddio.”
Disconnecting, I brushed the chip dust from my hands and grabbed the cue stick, taking a moment to chalk it. I was deflated after my talk with Dad. I knew how much my apathy bugged him. It bugged me too. That’s what he didn’t understand. It frustrated me to no end that I couldn’t figure out my shit and just be the son he wanted me to be.
I wanted to know what to do with my life. Wanted to graduate. Wanted tofeelsuccessful.
But I didn’t. Maybe I never would.
“Let’s put you out of your misery,” I said to Linc, leaning over to line up my shot.
If only it were so easy to put myself out of my misery.
Linc grabbed my chips and started chomping obnoxiously, intent on payback. I ignored him, narrowing my eyes in focus. Linc’s shot had left me in a good position to sink the last solid. I did it with a quick tap of the cue stick.
Linc grumbled. “You were too fucking distracting!”
“You’re just a sore loser,” I said with a smirk. “Mellow leads to yellow…in the side pocket.”
“Even high, he’s a better pool player than you,” Kev said with a laugh. Simon just watched, smirking a little. He was always kind of quiet and intense, observing more than joining in when the brothers got to ragging on one another.
“And you,” Linc retorted.
“No argument. Our man, Coop, has always been good with a stick,” Kev said.
“That’s what she said.” Linc’s words made me laugh as I lined up my next shot.
“Or maybe that’s what he said,” Kev added, always quick to have my back. That’s one of the things I loved about this frat—it was inclusive. With Jonas graduating, I was the sole queer man in the house, but Kev was a good ally.
I sank the eight ball, then straightened with a grin. “Trust me, that’s what theyallsay.”
“All right, I’m done,” Linc said. “Gotta head back to dorm hell.” He smirked. “Unless you want to let me finally move in, Coop. Since you’re so mellow.”
“Aw, Linc, that’s sweet, but you’re not really my type. And besides, I’m not that kind of boy. I can’t move so fast.”
I batted my eyes innocently, and he turned red while Kev and Simon laughed. “Fuck off, man.”
“I’ll walk out with you,” Simon told Linc, grabbing a crutch to lever himself up from the couch. He was still healing from a sports injury, which was probably the only reason he had more time to hang with us. “Gotta get back to the dorms, much as I’d rather veg with you idiots.”
“Night,” I called as they headed out.
“I’m grabbing a beer. Want one?” Kev asked.
“Nah. I should hit the sack.”
“Want to meet up for some hoops in the morning?” he asked. “Ty will be there, and I know he’s your type.”
