Page 134 of Withered

“Bradshaw’s.” Dad suddenly sounds interested. “They’re the talk of the town.”

Mom looks at him and says, “Aren’t they the ones who brought the Baytown mansion?”

“Yes. They are also invited for the annual fundraiser,” Dad tells us.

I nod. “Good for Kristy.”

My parents look at me, and I add, “She’s dating Tyler.”

“Is she doing okay?” Mom asks. Kristy is like her second daughter. Even she saw Kristy at her worst.

“She is finally happy,” I tell her.

“And what about you? Are you dating anyone?” Dad asks.

I stay silent, unsure of what to do. I haven’t even asked Jake about this. “I do have a boyfriend.”

Dad looks surprised, and Mom places her book down and asks, “Who? I thought I was like your best friend.”

I set my phone down. “Sorry, I just didn’t know how you’d react.”

“Who’s the boy?” Dad asks, intrigued.

“U-uh. You just met him,” I respond.

“Jake?” Mom asks first, “You’re seeing Jake? I like that boy.”

My phone rings, and Jake’s name flashes on the screen. Dad notices and says, “Call him here. I’d like to talk with him.”

I pick it up.

“Where did you go?” Jake asks from the other side.

“Uh, Jake. Can you come here?” I ask him, hoping he’ll say he’s busy doing something.

“Right now?” He asks.

“Yeah.”

“Okay,” he says before hanging up.

I look at Dad. “Please be nice to him.”

The doorbell rings in a minute, and I rush out before anyone else can. When I open the door, Jake stands there with his hands in his pockets. Aria stands by him, and she clings to me as she notices me, then runs inside.

“She was alone, so I brought her,” Jake explains. I nod.

“So, what happened? Why didn’t you reply?” He asks.

I sigh. “I may or may not have told my parents about us.”

Jake looks taken aback, surprised by the information I’ve thrown at him. I add the cherry on the cake: “Dad wants to talk to you.”

“Fuck!” Jake growls, and I feel awful for not talking to him about it sooner.

Jakelooksbehindmeand then back at me as he recovers from the shock. “Should I consider today to be my last day on this planet?”

I try not to roll my eyes at his ridiculous behavior. I understand why he feels awkward around Dad. The first time he met my dad, it was a matter of minutes. When Jake joined us for breakfast the second time, he had a little talk with Dad. Perhaps because he spent so much of his life without his father, he is unfamiliar with such feelings.

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