things,

y beside him. It looks like Dane told him he was invited when my mother never agreed. Dane shrugs back

next to me that sits between his father and me and the place setting clearly for him, then at Elisa bes

from earshot, and motions towards Tyler with a polite finger wave. Gesturing towards the seat fac

times he has had to bail him out of the sheriff's office, or the number of times he's scraped his drunk ass off the driveway at four am. Just think

kid who had their

ly confident and casual vibe no matter what he's doing, and that alone makes me grit my teeth. Nothing ever gets through that outer 'who car

to wish your father

o it

he air around her with her snappy tone, and the steak in my mouth suddenly feels like I'm chewing

f to say thank you. Dane waits until he sees Tyler being served food before he starts to dig in, obviously done with his well wishes

ing properly and res

wardly at

n and let it go where he's

him and not moving to pick up her cutlery as the rest of us have. Bringing the black cloud firmly over o

just.." Bryan interjects b

Dane snorts and doesn't look her way but leans in and stuffs food in his mouth, unphased by the audience, the bad atmosph

father on his birthday." My mother snaps, tone frosty and eyes glued to Dane. "Wa

is growing, and that inner ache of utter contempt that I carry with me whenever I share air space with this idio

nt of Tyler and Elisa when she doesn't even know Tyl

bsolute worst in her. I never thought my mom could hate a person, given she's a doctor and people lover

ther sunk into her hair because she is awful with drama. "Cousin It, with me." He frowns, seemingl

jerk." I huff at him, incensed

sult to my friend, so the impulse to use my fork

cutlery back up, uncaring about this train wreck atmosphere or my mom's sarcasm, and

eing me angry and causing all of this? I have tried to include you ever since I

e falls from that smug and casual look he always wears to instant anger and despisal. Energy vibrates around him that feels like aggress