Page 142 of The Chaos She Brings
"Ohhh yeah, wrong person for that conversation. We’re all part of the Shit Dads Club."
"Helpful, man."
"Look, I know nothing about parenting—and I have zero desire to learn—but if you’re trying, how badly can you really fuck it up?"
I glare.
"No, seriously," he says, suddenly more grounded. "You’re not your dad. And I’m pretty confident you’re not gonna be a rapist or a nonce like mine and Carina’s fathers. So... you’re already doing better."
"Wow, the bar is in hell," I mutter.
My phone lights up with Tess’s name.
"Hey, Hurricane. You good?"
"Yeah! I’m fine!" she says in a tone that screams the opposite.
"What’s wrong?"
"Nothing! It’s just..."
Silence.
"Carina left, and then the house got all quiet, and I just... wanted to hear your voice."
Before I can respond, she keeps going.
"Gosh, that’s so pathetic, isn’t it? I’m so embarrassed.Seriously, I’m fine. Forget I even called."
"Hurricane?"
"Hmm?"
"I’ll be home soon. Put some music on. Cook something—that usually helps."
"Oh! Good idea. Okay. Thanks. Love you."
"Love you too."
She hangs up. I start to stand, and Nate does the same.
"So, we’re saying I love you now?" he teases, waggling his eyebrows.
I roll my eyes, heading for the door.
He claps me on the back in a half hug. "Seriously, man. You’ll be a great father."
"You and Carina gonna start popping out kids soon?"
He shudders. "Abso—fucking—lutely not. We are not about that life." He laughs. "You have fun though."
I use the drive home to think.
Nate’s right, I guess—I’m not my father. I’d never do what he did.
It’s all happening so fast. Too fast.
Tess and I are only just starting to find something that resembles normal, away from the bloodshed and chaos.
