Page 37 of Always Love You More

Luke waves a hand. “Don't be. It can get boring sitting out there alone. Trust me, I know.”

She watches him wearily, like his words are a trap.

“I’m a big reader myself,” he says.

My father gives a condescending laugh, but Luke ignores him.

“You are?” Sam asks.

“Oh, yeah,” Luke answers. “Ask Billy.”

Billy nods. “If he doesn’t have a wrench in his hand, it’s a book.”

“Explains your lack of living in reality,” my father mumbles.

“What was that?” Luke grits out.

My father looks right at him. “You live in a fantasy world. Always have.”

Luke starts to respond, but my father cuts him off before he can get a word out.

“You have no idea the shit I do for you.” He pushes his plate away. “For this family.”

“Oh, give me a fucking break,” Luke snaps. “Keep telling yourself this is all for us. You know you only do what’s best for you.” Luke points to me. “You can’t even see what you’re doing to your own son.”

My father is up from his chair in an instant. “Don’t bring him into this.”

Sam’s attention slows on me, but I lower my eyes to the table, wanting nothing to do with this conversation. It’s not like they haven’t had it before.

“Outside,” my father demands.

Luke slides his chair back. “Gladly.”

They both storm out, and Marcus gets up to follow them. “Stay here,” he says to no one in particular, but I know he’s talking to me. The door slams shut behind him.

“You know what that was about?” Billy asks me.

I shake my head.

Johnny shifts in his seat. “They like this a lot?”

Billy sighs. “All the time.”

Johnny catches my eye, and there’s pity in his expression. I don’t forget how he saw my father hit me that first day he came in.

I turn from him to Sam, but there’s no pity on her face. Instead, she looks sad, like she understands, and that only makes me feel worse.

She clears her throat and turns to Johnny. “There’s a thing at the park tonight.” She motions to me and Billy. “Can I go with them?”

Johnny looks between us. “What kind of thing?”

“Just a few of us hanging out,” Billy says. “We go all the time.”

“What park?” he asks.

“The one off of Cromwell. We can walk.”

Johnny grabs another slice of pizza. “You’ll look out for her?”