Page 7 of Rox

“And you know who at this table is business savvy?” I ask pointedly. Looking from my dad to Angel a few times. Daring one of them to open their mouths, but they don’t dare. “You, Angel. You grew a business from nothing to everything. I could be learning everything from you, street smarts over book smarts. But you decided to hitch yourself to his wagon of reason. Instead of supporting me. You two have broken my trust and my heart.” I try to stay strong, but I can’t help the emotion that clogs my throat at the last word.

Anger may have been the main emotion, but it was masking the hurt and even betrayal I felt at my dad and Angel’s stance on me living my dreams. Even if they changed their minds on paper right now, the damage is done. How was I supposed to trust them going forward on this? I turned to look at Mom when I felt a large hand grasp my knee.

“Permission to speak, Prez?” Mimic’s low timber caused a chill to roll through me.That wasn’t expected.

“It’s a family dinner, Mimic; you’re allowed to share thoughts,” Mom says softly, looking from Mimic to me. Her look tells me she knows something or thinks she knows something. But me? I’m so confused.

Four

Mimic

Icouldn’t help myself. I had to reach out to her. It’s clear she’s heartbroken, regardless of how hard she tries to hide her emotions. She’s stronger than anyone seems to give her credit for, but it’s clear that her father’s reaction is too much for her. I touch her arm, hoping to convey she isn’t alone. I want her to know she has someone on her side. She needs to know she has people in her corner, ready to fight for her. I’ve heard her and her father going at it for weeks, and it’s all coming to a head right at this table. Frankly, this should be between her father and her, but since they brought it up with me present, I’m no longer going to hold my tongue. I can’t. Not when it comes to Rox. She’s everything to me, even if she doesn’t know it. I’d rather him hate me than his own daughter over this chaos.

“Prez, I need to be honest here. This fight isn’t something you should be having in front of all of us, but because you are, I’m going to give my two cents on the matter.” He starts to interrupt me, but I hold my hand up and continue. I need to say something for her. She needs to know I’m with her. This may be the onlything I can do for her. “I understand you’re worried about her and how her life is going to turn out; you’re her father; that’s your job. But can’t you see what your stubbornness is doing to not just you but your family as a whole? This fight has been ongoing for a while now, and you’ve brought us into it now.” His hands ball up into fists while the veins in his neck pop. His peachy skin starts to turn purple. It’s clear he’s ready to rage out and allow the darker side of himself to come forward. It’s probably dumb on my part to confront him, but I can’t stand by and do nothing. When it comes to Rox, I’ll put myself on the line every time.

I hear a chair scrape across the floor, and a quick look tells me it’s Meg’s. She makes her way out of the room, leaving me alone in this fight for Rox. It’s fine. I didn’t need her to back me up. I’d do anything I need, regardless of who’s standing behind me. I’ve done and will continue to do the best I can under the immense pressure I currently feel.

“Mimic, know your place,” Angel growls at me.

His response has me fuming, and I say some more stupid shit for Rox’s honor. “I get that you are a part of this family in a different way than any of us, but you need to back off, Angel. You are not her parent. You’re supposed to be her friend. She looks at you as her best friend, not her second father. Last I checked, friends are supposed to support each other, not make demands for their lives. Are friends supposed to call you out on your choices and mistakes? Yes. They’re the sounding board we need sometimes, but you’ve taken it too far. Think back to when Duck got his dick pierced. We mocked him because he didn’t realize he couldn’t have sex for a while and cried about it, but we didn’t tell him no. We didn’t demand he take it out. That’s being a friend.”

“That and this have nothing to do with each other,” Angel cuts me off.

“That doesn’t matter. The point was about how you should act. You are acting like a second father. The one she has is overbearing enough.”

“Brother, you better get to a valid point. You’re pushing your fucking luck,” Prez growls at me. I know he’s pissed. I know I’m going to regret this later. I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes me to the ring in an attempt to teach me a lesson. The problem with that, though, is he won’t teach me shit. No matter how hard he hits or how many times, I will not change my mind or take back the words I’ve said.

“Your wife walked away because she disagrees with you—”

“—Do not bring my wife into this! You’re already on thin ice. Are you wishing for me to kick your ass?”

“Do what you need to do, Prez. Did you even notice that Duck and the children are gone? Did you forget they were in the room when you started arguing about her life? Have you taken one look at your daughter yet and seen the pain in her eyes because of this?”

I look at Rox. She watches me intently. I can tell she’s wondering what I’m doing while also wishing I’d stop. But I can’t stop. She doesn’t know how important she is to me, and this may show all my cards, but that’s okay. I’ll let her see me for who I am when it comes to her. She’s the center of my world. I’m already madly in love with her, even if she’ll never return it.

“What I do with my daughter is none of your business, Mimic,” Dizz tells me as he stands up at the end of the table.

“But it is. You made it my business and everyone else’s business when you brought it up in front of us. If you wanted this to remain between you and her, you would have waited. I don’t know if you did it thinking we’d all take your side, but I’ll tell you right now, I don’t. I’m on her side. You should seriously listen to your daughter. She’s a grown woman who knows exactly what she wants out of her life. Which, when you compare to probablyevery brother in this club, she is on track for success. She doesn’t need to go through all the bullshit to get to what she wants. She knows, she’s prepared, and she’s making her way through her life. You and Angel making demands isn’t going to help her succeed. It’s going to make her fail. If you keep pushing her into something she wants nothing to do with, you’re pushing her to failure. You’re pushing her to be something she isn’t. All because you refuse to see her for who she’s already become.”

“Wanting my kid to have an education isn’t setting her up for failure.”

“She already has an education, and it absolutely is when that further education is something she wants nothing to do with. Listen, I understand the want for her to have a business degree. I do. But what I’m trying to make you understand is she doesn’t need it. You, Angel, and everyone else who works here don’t have one. You’ve all succeeded immensely. She’s already ahead of where any of us were at her age. You need to give her the shot she’s asking for. But keep pushing Prez. Keep pushing and making demands, and see where that gets you with her.”

With that, I give her shoulder a squeeze and turn to leave the room.

“Don’t think you’re gonna get away with this, Mimic.”

I stop and turn to face Dizz. “I never thought I would, Prez. Do what you gotta do, but just know, I won’t take anything I said back.” With that, I turn back and make my way to walk out of the house. Before I’m even to the front door, I hear her. What she says causes me to pause.

“Well, this was fun, but I’m leaving.”

“Roxanne, sit down.”

“No, Dad. I won’t. You don’t get to control me or make decisions about my life. It’s mine. Until you can see me as who I am, I’m gonna stay away for a while. I love you more than anything, but what you want isn’t what I want. I’m gonna dowhat I know I can accomplish. You’ll either support me or you won’t.”

I look back, and Rox comes around the corner. She’s looking down, so she doesn’t notice me right away. It causes her to startle once she looks up and sees me standing by the door.

“I thought you were gone already.”

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