Page 89 of Twisted Control

Levi grunts and reaches for his beer. “Not in the mood.”

I raise an eyebrow. “She was pretty.”

He takes a long pull from the bottle, then gives me a look like I’m an idiot. “I don’t care how pretty she is. Can’t exactly bring random women back to the apartment anymore, can I?”

He leans back in his chair, eyes narrowing as he studies me. “You look like shit, by the way. What’s wrong with you?”

I don’t answer. Just take another sip of lemonade and stare at the bubbles.

Theo wanders over, wide hopeful eyes fixed on his brother. “Can I get a juice?”

“You’ve already had three,” Levi says.

“I’m thirsty.”

Levi sighs, pulls out his wallet—a fat brick of cash as usual—and hands Theo a single dollar. “Fine. Go on.”

Theo grabs the money and runs off toward the bar.

I nod toward the kid. “How’s it going with him?”

“Swimmingly,” Levi says, thick with sarcasm. “School’s up my ass every other day. Apparently I’m a bad influence.”

“Any reason in particular?”

“Some older kid was giving him problems, so I told him to take a knife to school, flash it, give him crazy eyes. They’ll leave him alone.” Levi shrugs. “Apparently that kind of thing is frowned upon. You’re supposed to let them beat the shit out of you and then have your parent go whine to the school. It’s backwards if you ask me.”

I just stare at him.

Theo comes back a minute later, clutching his cup of apple juice with both hands. It’s barely half full.

Levi frowns. “That’s it? They only gave you half?”

Theo nods, disappointed.

Levi’s jaw tightens. He reaches over and gently takes the cup from Theo’s small hands, inspecting it like it’s insulted him.

“Go back up there,” he says, voice softening just a fraction. “Tell him to fill it to the top. If he gives you any shit, tell him you’ll smack his head in.” He pauses, then adds, “He’ll probably laugh at you. Then you point at me and tell him I will. Got it?”

Theo nods and heads back toward the bar.

We watch him go. Levi leans back in his chair.

“Got to teach him to fight his own battles, you know?” he says, like this is some profound parenting wisdom.

I don’t know much about raising kids, but I’m pretty sure Levi knows even less.

I check the time on my phone and stand up. “I better head off. Got to get changed for tonight.”

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Levi warns.

I wave goodbye to Theo and head out to my car.

I won’t do anything stupid. I have no reason to.

Grace hasn’t said a single word to me since I walked out on Wednesday. Not one text. Not one call. Nothing.

Fine.