Page 139 of The Secrets We Keep

I walked over to him, collecting myself as I did.

“Dad.” I kept my voice calm, controlled, and most of all quiet. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”

I held out a hand while his ass was still firmly planted on the ground. Those glassy eyes looked up at me and he tried to focus.

And then his head fell back, and he cackled.

“You expect me to listen to you?” His laugh was borderline manic. His free hand gripped his belly, and tears fell from his eyes. “You?” he shouted.

“This is not the time or place for this.” I gritted my teeth.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” He struggled to stand, sloshing beer onto his hands and clothes. No doubt it was just an accessory at this point.

He’d probably shown up like this.

“Am I embarrassing you? Captain Green?” His words slurred.

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. I’d been so close to leaving.

So close to this being someone else’s problem.

But it was never going to be someone else’s problem, was it?

He would always be mine.

“Come on,” I urged. “Let us take you somewhere.”

His eyes flared. “Us?”

He looked past me toward Marin. The moment his gaze locked on her, he seemed to realize the hush that had fallen across the lawn.

He looked around, noticing the number of people watching us, and he visibly winced.

Finally.

He took a step forward, but then stopped. His defeated expression turned heated. “You think you’re better than me?”

Here we go.

“You and your no-good brother think you are so much better than your old man.” I reached out to grab him, but he shoved me. “Your girl know the real you? She know you’re a drunk, just like me?”

I tensed. “You need to stop talking and leave.”

His smile turned deadly. “So, I’m only worth talking to when you’re drinkin’? That it? Well then, come on, son.” He motioned with his beer. “Grab a drink. Let’s enjoy ourselves, like we used to.”

My eyes darted around as people started shifting around, looking uncomfortable.

And then I found Marin. She was standing there, her expression a mixture of confusion and horror.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed it.

“Come on, boy. I just want to spend some time with ya. Like we used to.”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat.

Like father, like son.

“But now, you’re too high and mighty for that, aren’t you? You dried out and kicked your old man to the curb, like I didn’t even exist.”

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