Chapter 10
Shane sipped his coffee in the breakfast nook, watching colorful leaves fall to the ground outside. His bruised elbow and knee were sore from the night before, but he only smiled at the reminder of skating with Alisyn. Crashing onto a rink had never been more enjoyable. He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed so hard, actually making his stomach hurt.
That was why he was up so early—he was so eager to spend the day with Alisyn at the festival that he'd woken a full hour before his alarm.
Pookie got up from her bed and trudged over to him, her claws tapping on the hardwood. She curled up on his feet and lay down. Shane reached under the table and scratched her head.
Footsteps sounded just outside the kitchen. Shane sat back up, cupped the mug, and glanced over, hoping to see a makeup-free, messy-haired Alisyn. Instead, it was Dad, clean-shaven and wearing a nice shirt and slacks. Shane held back a groan of disappointment.
Dad glanced at him. "Didn't take you for an early riser."
"Surprise." Shane sipped the coffee and turned back to the window and watched a spider crawl across the outside of the glass.
"Did you find a date for the dance yet?"
"I told you, I'm taking Alisyn."
"Are you doing this just to get under my skin?" Dad's shadow covered Shane as he stepped right next to the nook.
Shane glared at him. "This has nothing to do with you. Neither does any other decision I make, by the way. I'm not a barista to piss you off. It's because I enjoy it."
"You like being poor? Having a job that nobody respects?"
Shane gritted his teeth. "Well, one of the benefits of not being raised by you is that I'm not obsessed with money and social status."
"That much is clear."
Father and son stared each other down.
"Look for someone else to take. Nearly the whole town will be at the festival today. I'll be working, but most won't be."
"I'm fine, thanks."
"And I'm serious. Leave my nanny alone."
"Why? She actually likes me."
"Because she's good at what she does, and I don't want her leaving when things don't work out with you."
"When they don't work out?" Shane scoffed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"You live in Seattle. She lives here. Do you really see it working out?"
"Ever heard of a long-distance relationship?"
"I—"
"Of course you have! That's what you had with Carrie when you were married to Mom. She was in Vancouver and you—"
"Enough!"
Shane sat taller. "Can't handle the truth?"
"You do realize it takes two people to ruin a marriage, don't you?" Dad furrowed his brows. "You act like our family fell apart because of me. Well, newsflash, son. It didn't. If things were going well between your mother and me, I wouldn't have given Carrie a second glance."
"But you did. You could've tried to work things out in your marriage, but you didn't."
"Do you really want to go there? Now?"
Shane set his mug on the little table. "Sure. Have a seat."
Dad's nostrils flared. "Can't. I need to be in the office for my first appointment in a half an hour."
"Figures." Shane turned back to the window.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that I wouldn't expect you to take time off to spend with Shayna or me when you haven't seen us in five years."
"I have to work!"
"Exactly."
"How do you think this house, the cars, and everything else gets paid for?"
"Hey, I already said I didn't expect any different. You've never been there for us."
"Look at me when I'm talking to you, Shane Peter."
"Oh, the middle name. Things just got real." He turned slowly and glared at his dad.
Dad's face reddened. "You act like I never did anything for you and your sister, but that's wrong! I never missed a child support payment. I sent extra money for your birthdays, school clothes and supplies, and every single Hallmark holiday on the calendar. That's not even counting the fact that I paid half the college tuition for the both of you. Every single month, I set aside extra money on top of everything I sent your mom to make sure the two of you would have access to the best education possible. I even let your scholarships and grants go to her half."
Shane's defenses softened, but didn't disappear. Maybe his dad had thought that was all they had needed?
"Didn't realize all that, did you?"
"I know you gave us money, but I would have traded all of that for seeing you at hockey practice once in a while. Maybe a birthday or Christmas."
Dad threw his arms into the air. "I can't change the past!"
"It's also the present. Any time Shayna or I see you, it's when we make the trip down."
"I told you, I'll pay for your gas."
"And I told you I don't want your money!"
He narrowed his eyes. "If that's the case, why not pay me back for your wasted college education?"
"Maybe I will."
Dad flinched. "Right. Well, if you need any money to get ready for the party, I've left a credit card on my desk in the office."
Shane stared at him. Hadn't he heard a word Shane said?
"Meet some girls at the festival today."
"Whatever."
They glared at each other until Dad went to the fridge, grabbed a paper bag, and stormed out of the room.
Shane scowled. That hadn't been the start to his day that he'd wanted. Now he was going to be in a bad mood when he saw Alisyn. Another win for Dad.