“I’m glad to hear it,” I interrupt. “Now, get the hell off of my property and do not come back.”
“I’ll go,” he chuckles. “I just figured that maybe after all these years, you’d’ve learned that family still means somethin’ to some people. With that rich boyfriend ya got, I bet you’re just cleanin’—”
“Is that why you’re here?” I ask. “You heard that thing on the radio?”
“Nah,” he says. “I heard that on the cab ride from the airport. Handsome fella, ain’t he. Don’t seem too bright, though.”
“You know,” I sigh, “for someone who says things like ‘don’t seem too bright,’ you’d think your gauge of another person’s intelligence would be a bit more modest.”
“I’ll be at the Steam Hills Motel if ya wanna get in touch,” he says. “I got the room all week.”
“Funny how you have the money to travel across the country to beg me for more money, but you don’t have enough to take care of your own bills,” I scoff.
“Just missed it by a hair,” he says, and he walks off into the night.
I go back inside and lock the door.
This has got to be the most fucked up, surreal day of my life.
When Damian shows up, I’ve already forgotten that he was coming over.
“Hey,” I mutter, answering the door.
“Hey,” he says. “Are you all right? You sounded a bit wound up over the phone.”
“You could say that,” I tell him.
I go on to tell him how my dad showed up asking for money and how he’s staying at the Steam Hills Motel.
“You know,” he says, “I don’t know about the money and all that, but it might be a nice gesture to have him stay at your place while he’s in town.”
“That is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard,” I snap.
“Easy there,” he says. “I’m just saying, you know, he came all this way. It might be nice to have family stay with you for a little bit.”
“That’s not an option,” I tell him. “No way am I going to let that happen.”
“I take it you and your dad don’t get along so well, huh?” he asks.
“Brilliant deduction, Inspector Jones,” I answer.
“Well, there’s always time to fix that,” he says.
“I don’t want to fix it,” I tell him. “It’s been broken for a very long time and that is exactly how I like it.”
“You know, I’ve been seeing my ex-former-almost-father-in-law,” he says. “Ever since I met the guy, he has hated me. Well, it’s not perfect or anything, but we’re actually making some progress. I mean, we’re in the same room and we’re making small talk. It’s not a lot, but it’s something.”
“Could you let this drop?” I ask. “I’m not looking for a happy reunion with my father. That’s the end of the story.”
“Okay,” he says. “Why?”
“It’s not really any of your business,” I tell him.
“Haven’t you been listening to the radio?” he asks. “Apparently, I’m your boyfriend.”
“Oh, will you just stop it with that?” I snap. “I know that I screwed up and I know you wanted to spend however long avoiding that particular decision, but it happened, I can’t change it, and let’s talk about something else. Clear?”
“What is with you today?” he asks. “I know you’re stressed, but jeez—”