Page 46 of Coping Skills

Marcus gave him a look, as though waiting for Daniel to contradict their father. Marcus didn’t have the same hang-ups, having been less aware of how their dad had used them and the custody agreement as a way to punish their mom. If she asked for money for anything for them, he’d try to get the custody agreement changed until she either relented or agreed to whatever he wanted to avoid the hassle of going through the court systems and the costs of an attorney.

It pissed Daniel off, because their dad could always afford the costs of the special football camp or whatever. He just took any and all opportunities to make life more difficult for Mom, mad at her for being unhappy with him and asking for the divorce.

With a manipulative jackass like his father, Daniel couldn’t blame her. All their interactions left him feeling cold, wondering what angle his father was working with his offers of gifts and expensive trips. Daniel let him pay for school and his expenses and buy him things like his car. In exchange he had to attend these farcical “family” holiday celebrations with his dad and whatever girlfriend he was currently seeing. One more year, and he’d be done. He’d get a job and pay his own way, see his dad on his own terms. He couldn’t wait.

Speaking of girlfriends, a tiny, blonde white girl peeked around the doorway into the kitchen. She looked like she could be Hannah’s older sister. That oblique reminder of Elena was enough to make him dislike her immediately.

His dad motioned her forward. “Don’t be shy. Let me introduce you to my boys.” She took a few tentative steps until she was close enough for their dad to wrap his arm around her waist. “Boys, this is Jennifer. Jennifer, these are my boys Daniel and Marcus.”

She gave them a shy smile. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you both.”

With a look at Daniel, Marcus held out his hand, gracing her with one of his charming smiles. “Pleasure to meet you, too. It’s nice of you to join us for Thanksgiving a day early.”

She giggled, simpering at Marcus’s attention. “I see you’ve got your dad’s abilities as a flirt.”

Marcus chuckled, and Daniel rolled his eyes, looking away. He made the mistake of clashing eyes with his dad, who looked irritated. Dropping his gaze, he felt a little guilty. It wasn’t Jennifer’s fault that his dad was a manipulative jackass or that Daniel was a moody bastard. He decided that he’d keep his head down and engage as little as possible while they had to be here and try to get them out as fast as he could.

Marcus wasn’t on board with the plan, chatting and regaling everyone with stories of his freshman year at the University of Oregon, talking about his off-season training, and making new friends in the dorm. Marcus was attending on a track and field scholarship, having won the state two hundred meter dash his senior year, and taking fourth place in the one hundred ten meter hurdles. He’d start training hard once the spring semester started.

Daniel ate the traditional Thanksgiving meal—turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, the works, and didn’t add anything to the conversation, letting Marcus, his dad, and Jennifer talk as much as they wanted. He kept his eyes on his plate, and as he finished the last of his food, he hoped maybe they could make some excuse to leave soon, glad that it looked like he might escape without having to either make conversation or come across as unbearably rude.

His relief was short lived, though, because Jennifer turned to him and said, “Your dad tells me you play football.”

Daniel looked up, meeting Jennifer’s brown eyes, wondering what this young woman who couldn’t be more than twenty-five was doing with his dad. Was she looking for a sugar daddy? Or did she have a fetish for black men?

“Daniel.” His dad’s voice, low and tight, interrupted his musings. “Jennifer asked you a question.”

Letting out a sigh, Daniel sat back in his chair and wiped his mouth with his napkin, shaking his head in a quick negative. “Not anymore. The season ended last weekend. I’m student teaching next fall, so I won’t have time to play.”

Jennifer made a sympathetic face. “Oh, that’s too bad. Your dad told me how much you played growing up. He seemed to think you might try to play professionally. He mentioned one of your former teammates got drafted last year?”

Daniel let his eyes drift to his father, irritated that the man felt the need to tell everyone that. It had gotten worse since Watkins got drafted last year, especially since he’d overheard Coop saying something about registering for the Regional Combines if he didn’t get scouted. Daniel shook his head. “Yeah, Watkins did well in the Combines and got drafted. There were some scouts at a few of our games, but none of them have contacted me. And I’ve always planned on getting my degree and becoming a math teacher. Probably coach, too.”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful.” Jennifer gave him a bright smile. “Teachers are so important.”

Something about the way she was trying so hard irked him. And before he could stop himself, he jerked his chin up in her direction. “What about you?”

Her brows crinkled. “What do you mean?”

He gestured between him and Marcus with his hand. “Well, you’ve heard all about what Marcus and I want to be when we grow up. What about you?”

Her cheeks turned pink, and Daniel felt like an ass even before his dad stood and said, “That’s enough, Daniel.”

Daniel stood, too. He looked at Jennifer and tried to give her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me. I probably won’t see you again, so it was nice meeting you. Good luck with him. If he offers to buy you expensive gifts, let him. Might as well get what you can while you can, right?”

“Daniel!” His dad’s face was thunderous, but he was beyond caring.

“Come on, Marcus. Let’s go.”

Marcus looked pissed, but he stood and followed him back to the living room where they got their coats.

Their dad came after them. “Don’t you leave. You owe me an apology.”

Daniel met his dad’s eyes, trying to keep his expression as bland as possible. “The only thing I owe you is time on the holidays. You get that in exchange for paying for college and my car. We came. We ate. And now we’re leaving.”

He steered Marcus out the door, their dad spluttering in their wake. But he didn’t care. He couldn’t keep up the pretense anymore.

Marcus waited until they were back in the car before he spoke. “Why are you being such an asshole?”

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