Dad snickered. “More time for me to work, then.”
I shook my head. “Do you always have to win every fight?”
The room fell silent as my eyes fell to my father’s on the computer screen.
“Because I really want to believe that you aren’t the sorriest sack of shit I’ve ever known. That you say these things just to—”
“What did you say to me, boy?”
I raised my voice. “Any other half-decent father would be here with their child in the hospital. I almost died, Dad. Actually, I did die there for a little while. I’ve been resuscitated twice, and you act like I’ve stolen your last damn cookie from the fridge.”
Cecilia took my hand. “Clint, take some breaths. Your heartrate is climbing.”
“Yeah, because I’m talking with Dad. So now I’m done talking with Dad. You can take the laptop away.”
My father glowered. “You’re lucky I’m not there, son. Because a hospital bed doesn’t protect you from the whooping you deserve.”
“And I believe I’ve heard enough.”
The doctor’s voice rose from the corner of the room and I looked over. That man looked me square in my face before nodding his head softly. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but damn did I ever want to know.
“Who’s that?” my father asked.
Cecilia paused. “The doctor, honey. It’s the doctor.”
The man in the white coat walked over. “And this conversation is done.”
“I’ll let you know when I’m done speaking with my son.”
I scoffed. “No worries. I’m done talking with him.”
The doctor nodded. “You can remove the laptop now, Mrs. Clarke.”
My father got in one last glare before Cecilia picked up the laptop. I heard him making remarks to himself as she carried the laptop out of the room. Typical remarks from my father. ‘He’s asking for something like this to happen.’ ‘How much did that doctor hear?’ ‘Maybe he needs something like this to teach him a lesson. He drives that bike much too recklessly for my tastes.’
I mean, did my stepmother have the damn volume turned up all the way on that thing?
I sighed as the doctor sat down on the edge of my bed. He patted my knee, holding his hand there as I stared at the wall. I heard him and my stepmother bickering. Again. Over thr computer, out in the hallway. Pissing off people, including me.
“If your heartrate gets any higher, I have to sedate you.”
I snickered. “Good.”
The doctor paused. “You know, there are services for adults, too.”
I slowly turned my head toward him. “What?”
He shrugged. “You don’t fall under the protection of child services anymore. But there are adult services. You know, if it’s always like this with your father.”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“I don’t think you are.”
I shrugged. “Then, that’s what you think. But I know how to handle my dad. And in a few months, when I graduate, I won’t have to at all.”
“You know damn good and well that boy had a hand in what happened, Cecilia!”
“He’s just a kid, Howard. Go easy on him. Your son almost died. Don’t you have a heart anymore?”