Page 68 of The Fake
I’ve learned not to come out of the gate asking about Mom or he shuts down and I don’t get any information.
Heath: Good. Uncle Doug is taking me to NMU next week to visit. Coach Frazier is gonna let me skate with the team.
Me: That’s awesome. Congrats.
I hesitate.
Me: Mom going?
Heath: Doubt it.
I pocket my phone with plans to call my mom later and talk to her. Not going with him is… well, it’s shitty. And I’m tired of her flaking and making excuses. I know that her pain is different. I lost a dad, but she lost a husband… not the same, I get it, but Heath still needs her.
When Wes shows up, most the guys don’t even bat an eye. He’s a likable coach. God knows why he’s such a grumpy bastard.
He grabs a beer from the kitchen and takes a seat next to me. “Hey. How’s it going?”
“Fine.” I take a drink from my beer and watch the TV. Shaw and Fresh are playing NBA 2K20. “How are you?”
“Fine,” he says in a mocking tone and shakes his head. “Seriously, how are you? Blair tells me you and the volleyball chick are serious.”
“You wanna have girl talk?”
“Or I could just come right out and ask about the rest of the shit going on?”
“Chloe and I are just dating, but I like her. She’s cool.” I might be downplaying my feelings, but a few obstacles still stand in the way. Most importantly, I need to return the money she paid me. It feels all wrong now that I know how she feels, but it puts me back at square one—needing paper.
Wes chuckles. “Dodging like a pro. Nice.”
I lower my voice. “I’m not using. You’ve seen my piss tests.”
“And dealing?”
I shoot him a death glare and start to stand.
“Stop. Sit. I’m sorry, man. I’m just worried. You totally blindsided me. I knew you were struggling, but I had no idea it was that bad.” He sounds sincere so I sit back down.
“Things back home are shit. It was stupid, I know. I made a mistake. You gonna hold it over me for the rest of the season? Because if so, I need to invest in earplugs to tune you out.”
“I know all about shitty parent situations. That shit’s not your fault. The rest… well, that’s on you.”
Anger rises faster than I can control and my tone is hard. “I don’t have shitty parents. My parents are awesome.” But as quick as it came, it falls with the realization I’m living in the past. “Well, they were. Ever since my dad died, my mom is…” I choose my words carefully. “Having a hard time. And my brother is still there dealing with it.”
“Your dad died?” Genuine shock shows on Wes’ face and the reality that yeah, my dad is gone smacks me hard. It’s one thing to say the words, but every once in a while, the full weight of it hits me all over.He’s gone… really gone.
I nod. “Month before my freshman year.”
“Fuck.” He takes another drink from his beer. “I had no idea. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”
“My parents don’t give a fuck most the time, but at least they’re alive.”
I’d sort of gathered that from his grumblings in the past and the fact I’ve never met them, but it breaks down something between us to admit our shit to one another. “I’m sorry, too.”
“Talk to Coach Daniels. If there’s anything he can do to help, he will. And if not, you know the guys and I got your back.”
I hate asking for help, but in this instance, I think Wes might be right. It might be time to admit I can’t figure this out on my own. “Alright.”
