Page 113 of Burnout
None of us say a thing and he continues on, taking a seat in the first row just past half court.
The players on the opposing team are being announced, but I barely hear anything. I can’t believe he showed up here.
“I gotta say something.” I stand and all three of my brothers sitting with me move in front of me.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Hendrick says.
Brogan shakes his head in agreement.
Archer looks torn. Like maybe he wants to be the one to go over and deck our old man, but he doesn’t want to make a scene.
I have zero issues doing either of those things. All I want is him gone.
“Let’s just wait until halftime,” Hendrick suggests. “And if he does anything before then, I’ll go over there with you and help you toss him out.”
I glance back at Flynn. The hopeful smile on his face is broader now and it breaks my heart. I can count the times I hadthat exact same smile on my face when Dad would show up. Only to have it snatched off the next time he let me down.
The game starts and I do my best to focus only on my baby brother, but when Dad stands up and cheers after Flynn makes a three-point shot off the wing, I lose it. Like he has any fucking right to stand here and act like he’s some dad of the year, proud and present.
I’m aware of Brogan calling after me and the looks I get when I face off with Dad, but I’m driven by a singular force to remove him from my life, and my brother’s too. He doesn’t get to just show up and act like everything is hunky-dory.
“I don’t want any trouble, Knox,” he says when he sees me.
“Then you shouldn’t have shown up here.”
“Flynn looks happy to see me. He should have his dad here.”
“Yeah, he should,” I agree. “If he had one that wasn’t a piece of shit.”
A woman clears her throat in the row above Dad.
“What are you doing?” Flynn asks, catching me off guard. He jogs by the sideline slowly, watching me and Dad. The expression on his face is a mixture of embarrassment and anger. My stomach drops. That look isn’t aimed at Dad, but at me.
“Everything’s fine. We’re just talking. Get back out there and show the other team what you’re made of, huh?” Dad assures him, and after a moment of hesitation, Flynn runs off to catch up to the action on the court.
Hendrick’s voice booms behind me. “Knox, let’s go. He isn’t worth it.”
Dad’s jaw tightens as he stares past me to my oldest brother.
When I don’t move, Hendrick lays a hand on my shoulder. I know it’s meant to be reassuring but my skin crawls. The only touch I want to feel is my fist against Dad’s jaw.
I spin, clenching my hands at my side.
The rest of the first half I’m anxious and counting down the seconds until I can step outside. Archer suggested we go, but there was no way I was letting him run me off or cause me to do exactly the thing he’s known for. The only one that would have hurt is Flynn.
“What do we do?” I ask, looking to Hendrick because I can’t think rationally. And I can’t stop seeing that look on Flynn’s face. Is he upset because we were making a scene or does he actually want Dad here?
“I don’t know. We can’t force him to leave,” he says.
“Unfortunately,” Archer adds.
Dad ambles over to us before we’ve decided. “Good to see you, boys.”
The man is ballsy, I’ll give him that. Hendrick is the only one that acknowledges him, grunting something that might have been “why are you here?” He steps partially in front of Jane like he wants to shield her from the shitty human parading around as our father.
No one else speaks. I’m clenching my jaw so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve cracked a molar.
He doesn’t take the hint and fuck off. “Flynn’s good. Probably the best kid on the team. Is he planning to go to college?”
