Chapter 5

Leo

The steady rhythm of Jon’s headboard banged against my walls as I rolled over and tried to adjust my eyes. Without my contacts, I couldn’t see a thing, but from the sounds, Jon was still entertaining from the concert.

When I’d gotten home, his music was on, and an unfamiliar car was in my spot out front. I’d showered and went to bed without bothering to let him know I’d made it home.

Not wanting to disturb the party, I dressed for the day and then went to the kitchen for something to eat. I made sure we still had milk before pouring myself a big bowl of cereal and was surprised we did. It seemed like when I didn’t check, that’s when we didn’t have any. Must be my lucky day.

I had just finished my last bite when I heard the door open across the room and looked up to find Breanna and Mindy walking out in front of Jon who picked up the rear. “Hey, Leo, when you did you get home?”

“Last night. I didn’t want to interrupt.” I wondered how Kya was doing but tried to push her out of my head.

“You could have joined in,” said Breanna, who seemed like she was in a much better mood.

I gave her a wink. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind for next time.” The two girls giggled as Jon walked them to the door, and while Breanna gave my best friend a simple kiss on the cheek, he practically stuck his tongue down Mindy’s throat.

He saw them out and then joined me in the kitchen. He wore nothing but his shorts and scratched his chest like he was a bear coming out of hibernation. “I’m starving.”

“I bet you worked up an appetite with those two. I’m proud of you, man. You’re really coming along nicely.”

“I learned from the best, and as it turns out, both of them enjoyed each other’s company as much as mine, so let me tell you thank you, brother. You really left me in a good place.” He grabbed the cereal and milk and poured himself a bowl before sitting with me at the table. “So, what happened with you and Kya Campbell? Am I the only one who got laid last night?”

“Come on, haven’t you any faith in me, man? Of course, I got laid. Do you know she was my first?”

“Wait, that’s the girl who fucked you and then broke your heart?”

“The one and only.”

“Fuck, man. I wish I’d known that. I’d like to meet the woman who created The Legend.” He had called me The Legend because of the way I’d become over the years, not only with my reinvention but my love ‘em and leave ‘em motto.

I got up and tossed my bowl into the sink, causing a loud clatter. “I wouldn’t give her that much credit.”

He grinned. “So, did she break your spirit again?”

I gave him a dead stare. “No, I broke hers.”

“You mean she wanted more than a quick fuck?” He didn’t look like he was buying it.

“She said she wanted to see more of me, but I made up my mind a long time ago that she’d never get another piece of my soul.” I wouldn’t give her the opportunity if she begged for it.

Jon gave me a sideward look. “So you walked away and haven’t thought of her since?”

“Yep, who needs her? Besides, even though she claims she’s not the same as she used to be, why should I believe her?”

“I don’t know. You changed, so maybe she could have too? And I’m not convinced, by the way. You’ve spent the last five years waiting for this revenge of yours, and I bet it was a lot more than just that once you got her horizontal.”

I had liked being close to her, and the sex was amazing, but Kya wasn’t worth the pain I’d felt before. “Nah, I’m over her. It’s not like she’s still worried about it. She’s got thousands, millions, however many fans now to stroke her ego, so she probably already forgot about me again.”

I didn’t believe she’d called my mom asking for my number. It was just a poor excuse for abandoning me all those years ago.

“Well, I’m glad you had a good time. I, for one, think I’ve found the girl for me. Mindy is incredible.”

“And it helps that she likes sharing other chicks, right?”

“That’s not a turn-off, but no, we actually have a lot in common. We talked for hours after Breanna crashed and even made love without her.”

“Made love? That sounds serious.”

“Well, I wanted to show her the tender side of me, you know, since I already baited the hook.”

“Good job, man. She didn’t even run from the house screaming.”

“No, and she insisted that she and Breanna take care of my morning wood. I woke up in heaven, my friend.”

“And you haven’t mentioned the overwhelming fear you have of the bar exam since you came in here, so that’s a plus.”

“Fuck, you had to remind me.”

“Yeah, but don’t worry. I’ll help you study when I get back from my old man’s. I have to pick up some mail.” I grabbed my keys and told him goodbye before heading down to my car.

It was a good day to put the top down, so when I started the car, I did just that. I pulled away from the lot thinking about Kya and how good it had felt to be with her physically. I wouldn’t allow myself to feel the emotions, but they had been an intense battle of wanting to hurt her and wanting to rekindle and give her everything she wouldn’t let me have before. But there was something I felt the moment she mentioned my mother. When the woman had passed away two and a half years ago, Kya wasn’t there. Even though her parents still lived next door, even though her parents surely told her all about my mother’s struggle, I’d never heard a word.

I pulled up at Dad’s house, and even though he had enough money to start over in a much fancier home, he’d kept the house he’d shared with Mom. The only problem was, that day in and day out of coming home without her there had taken a toll on him and made him bitter.

I got out and walked up to the house, knocking and announcing myself as I opened the door, “Hey, Dad, it’s me.”

He didn’t give me a response, as usual, so I went in to find him in his armchair, kicked back in the old recliner as if Mom were still in the kitchen cooking his dinner.

“I graduated yesterday.” I walked to the kitchen and stared across the open concept room to see that he was still unfazed.

“You think I don’t remember?” He barely took his eyes off the game he watched to give me a glance.

“Oh, so you remembered the ceremony but not that you were invited to it?” I didn’t know why I argued with him. Nothing I said was going to sink in or make him understand he’d turned out to be a shitty father.

“Did you set up your bar exam?”

“Yes, Dad, I’m working on it.” I wasn’t the type who put things off, but I could never be good enough in his eyes. He’d never once been proud of me or any of my accomplishments, and even when I won, he always pointed out how the other kid did it better. Pretty soon, he’d be comparing me to Jon.

“As you should be. Instead of being out with your friends. That’s all about to change, you know. I expect you and Jon to work hard and show me I didn’t make a fucking mistake taking the two of you on together.”

“Yes, sir. That’s the intention.” I walked up the stairs to my room and sat on the bed. My mom had kept it just the way I’d left it, and Dad hadn’t bothered to mess with it either. I looked over to the window and remembered all the times I used to sit out on the roof and listen to Kya’s band while I ate sunflower seeds and dreamed of having sex with her. Now, I’d gotten that privilege twice and screwed it up both times.

I heard footsteps, and my father walked into my room. “When are you going to clean this shit out of here?”

“I don’t know. Mom always wanted me to leave it alone. She said I’d always have a home here.”

“Yeah, well, that’s not happening, so you may as well pack up what you want and take the rest of it to storage. Looks like a lot of it could be thrown away, if you ask me.” He walked over and stood in front of my trophies and ribbons, none for anything he’d have called a great achievement. “Who the fuck keeps second-place trophies? So you can be reminded you’re the first loser? Take this shit down.”

“Yeah, I heard you. I can’t do it today, but I’ll come by this next week and get it out of your way.” I wanted to tell him that maybe he could use the room and adopt a son he could be proud of, but I’d had enough of his shit, and if I wanted to keep the peace at work, I’d bite my tongue. I heard my mother’s voice, whispering like a ghost in my memory, choose your battles.

Dad walked over to the mock trial banner. “I remember this. Best thing you ever did with your extra time in high school. Too bad they don’t hand out trophies for that.” He turned and walked over to the window. “I’m thinking of selling the house.”

The reality of his words settled deep and heavy in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t stand to think about anyone else living in my mother’s home. She’d always been so particular about everything, and it had taken her years to get everything the way she wanted it. She had done a home improvement project every summer, and since I was out of school, she’d recruited me to help every chance she got. We’d painted nearly every wall, and there was that time we’d installed the wood floor in the kitchen. It was the first time I’d ever heard my mother curse. “I understand, Dad.”

“No, you don’t. You never will.” He started out of the room. “Whatever is left at the end of the week, I’m tossing to the dump.”

I went ahead and went down to the kitchen to get a few garbage bags and made a sweep of things I might want to keep and other things I knew I definitely didn’t want.

When I was on my way out, my father, who had returned to his chair and his game, stopped me. “Make sure you’re on time for work and don’t embarrass me down there. I’ve built that firm around my reputation and my name, and I’m not having you come in to do your usual half-assed job and make me look stupid.”

I was starting to think I should have taken a job elsewhere. It wasn’t like I didn’t have other offers. Of course, none were going to be better than my father’s. His firm was the most prestigious in the state. “Right, Dad. I’ll try to remember not to be such an embarrassment.” I rolled my eyes and headed out to my car, slamming the door behind me for what might be the last time. I threw the bags over the door and into the back and looked up at the door. If I ever have a kid, I will not be a shitty father.