I smiled, and I hoped he could tell it was as conniving as he was. “I know you’ve been fucking Madeline’s mom—amongst others—for years, Dad. Fucking years.”
His face blanched as he took a step back. “That’s not true. Stop filling your mother’s head with lies. It’s no wonder she won’t answer my calls and is threatening divorce.”
Good for her.
“You really have the audacity to stand there and lie to my face?” I asked with an even tone. The rage was bubbling up, my mother’s cries echoing in the back of my head, Madeline’s sad face when she told me why she threw me out of her life so long ago. It was the calm before the storm. I was ready to punch my own father right in the fucking face. He was a selfish asshole.
“Eric.” His voice grew deeper, like he was reprimanding me.
“Admit it. You’ve been fucking her since we moved into the neighborhood.”
I heard a door open, and I wasn’t sure if it was mine or Madeline’s. I would prefer that neither she nor my mom heard this conversation, but that was inevitable. I continued stalking toward my father, watching him scramble for words.
“That is not true…”
“Yes, it is.” A ding went off in my chest at the sound of Madeline’s voice.
“Madeline.” My father looked past me, and I almost snapped.
“Don’t you dare say her name like that.” I could feel the grittiness in my mouth as my words carved through. His face faltered for a moment before he put two and two together.
Yes. That’s right. I’m fucking your mistress’s daughter. How do you like that?
Another door opened, and my mother appeared on the porch steps. “What’s going on out here? Brett? What are you doing here?”
“He was just leaving, Mom.”
He snapped at me. “No, I wasn’t.” Then he turned to her, lowering his voice. “We need to talk, and since you”—he glanced at me—“both have been ignoring me. I thought I’d just come by.”
“Brett.” My mom was tired. She had worked a shift last night and didn’t get home until after I had gone to school. I eyed her sleepy eyes and messy hair.
“Heather. We need to talk. You said so yourself.”
Make him leave, Mom.
“Fine,” she sighed. “Let’s go.”
“Mom.” I pushed past my father, shouldering him hard. His hand reached out, and he gripped my arm hard. “Get your hand off me,” I snarled, hearing a gasp from ahead.
“Eric.” My mom was warning me, but there was no need. I knew exactly what I was doing.
“I’m still your father, and you will respect me. You will not talk to me like that.”
“Oh really?” I asked, ripping my arm from his grasp. “What are you going to do? Cut me off?” I laughed. “Oh, wait. You’ve already done that.” I looked to the sky, the sun just beginning to set. “You won’t pay for college? I couldn’t care less.” We met face to face, both of us the same height. “You always taught me to respect my elders, but you’ve ruined my respect for you, which means I will punch you right in the face if I learn you’ve mistreated her again. So, you go in there, and you hear what she has to say, and then you accept it.”
“Eric, baby, calm down.” My mom’s voice was distant even though she was only a few yards away. Everything was distant except for the feeling of hot blood running through my veins. I couldn’t stop the words from coming out. “And how dare you keep fucking Madeline’s mom when you knew her daughter was keeping your secret. Do you even realize how much hurt you’ve caused? Not just with Mom, but with me and Madeline, too?”
My father looked flabbergasted. He was stunned, as if I truly had punched him. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. I was ready to throw something else in his face, but then I felt two tiny hands land on my tight forearms. “Eric, come on.”
I glanced down and saw Madeline staring up at me with her baby blues. She was worried. “Let’s just get out of here. Come on.”
“No,” I said as she pulled me away. “I, at least, want him to admit it.”
She shook her head lightly, rubbing her soft palm down my arm. “He knows the truth. He doesn’t need to admit it. Let’s just go, okay?”
I glanced back at my father, who now had a pale face. He looked sick, but maybe I was the sick one because it made me happy to see him like that. To see him hurt. My mom shouted to Madeline. “Madeline, you drive. Okay?”
Madeline nodded quickly, continuing to drag me away.