Shit. Swallowing hard as I push through the doors into the cool breeze, I tuck my hand into my pocket and say, “Yeah, he is.”
“Did you ask him to?”
“No,” I say honestly. “But when he asked, I told him when the game was.”
“So you two are talking like that?”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I shrug, even though he can’t see me. “I don’t know, Jude. I don’t know what to say here that isn’t gonna have me watching my back from you and Jay.”
“Well, tell the truth, Jace. I don’t get it. I mean, how can you want someone like that in your life?”
I shake my head. “He’s our dad.”
; “He was our dad,” he corrects quickly. “He was stripped of that when he decided some whore was more important than us and his wife. When he raised a hand to our mother and then came at us. Did you forget that?”
Closing my eyes, I swallow hard. “No.”
“Then, what’s the problem? Are you really that spoiled that you can’t care for yourself?”
“No, I can. I am, but I feel shitty just cutting him off when he helped me out at the start of the year.”
“But you don’t feel shitty you’re hurting Mom?”
“No, I do, Jude. Come on, man, you know I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“I do know that,” he says and then inhales. “I think that’s what I’m so mad about, because you don’t want to hurt anyone. But the thing is, you’re gonna be the one hurt, and all of us are gonna have to watch it. I won’t tell you I told you so because there is no need, you’ll know it. But, man, separate yourself now before it’s too late.”
“Okay,” I say softly, my heart pounding in my chest. “I hear you.”
“Good.”
“I should have called you and told you.”
“You should have. But whatever, it’s fine,” he says offhandedly and shame drowns me. “Just be careful, Jace.”
“I hear you.”
“I told Jayden and he told me to handle it ’cause he was worried he’d say something that really hurts you.”
“Well, thanks,” I say because I know that to be true. Jayden’s temper is something scary, especially when it comes to my dad.
“Okay, I love you. See you tomorrow.”
“Love you, bye.”
Hanging up, I don’t feel better. I know calling Jayden will probably only make me feel worse, but I dial his number anyway.
“Hey,” he barks and my heart drops. Maybe I shouldn’t have done this.
“Listen, I know Jude told you, and I wanted to call and say I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, Jace. We’ll deal as a family. He doesn’t matter. All that matters is watching you kick ass.”
I smile because it’s so unlike him to say that when it comes to our dad. He would rather cuss me out than say something like that. “Did Baylor tell you to say that?”
He laughs. “No, Mom.”