Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
Duncan
We’ve been at rehearsal for nearly two hours, and I feel like I’ve run a marathon.
Maybe getting on the treadmill in preparation for this damn show wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Though, of course, I’m dragging ass, too, because by the time I did get home—to find my kid sleeping like a baby, in his bed where he belonged, thank goodness—it was damn near four in the morning.
I’d barely even heard Bobby wake up, but I suppose as a parent that sixth sense will never truly leave me.
I can’t remember the last time I stayed up until damn near four in the morning, passed out, and got up only two hours later and I wasn’t fucked up.
Thank God for coffee and Lou’s “come in at ten” text.
But Felix looks right as rain. While I practically crawled in here at nine fifty-six, Felix was already jamming away before the rest of us arrived.
How the fuck does he do that?
Especially sober?
And I can tell the man is one hundred percent, stone cold sober.
We’ve just finished up three quarters of the set when Lou’s voice comes over the loudspeaker and he holds up my phone, which I can see through the thick soundproof glass panel.
“McKay, you’ve got a phone call.” His voice isn’t ominous, but it does impart some sense of concern, and immediately, my brain dives into the deep end of possibilities.
I barely register his words before I jump off my seat, sprinting to the door and throwing it open.
I grab the phone out of Lou’s hand, pushing past him while he barks out something at Felix and the band.
“Hello?”
My heart is in my chest as Principal Weatherby speaks on the other end.
“Mr. McKay, I’m calling about your son.”
I feel like I might pass out.
“Is he okay?” I ask, my voice shaking.
“The school nurse checked him out, and he is indeed, fine, though he may have a swollen lip for a few days.”
Before I can speak, he continues. “Your son had an altercation with another student in the boys locker room this morning. Several other students came forward as witnesses that he was defending himself.”
My eyes fall shut in relief, and some sense of pride shoots through me.
I always told him I’d never be mad if he was defending himself. Which was why I’d insisted on boxing, but Marci won out with karate.
I guess all things considered, it still came in handy even though he quit in eighth grade.
“Oh, good,” I replied, nodding even though Principal Weatherby couldn’t see me.
“However, as policy states, both individuals must be punished, all the same. We’ll need you to pick your son up as soon as possible. We can discuss the terms of his suspension when you arrive.”
Suspension?
For defending himself?
What the actual fuck?
Fury boils in my blood, but I know freaking out on the principal of one of the best private schools in my fucking county is probably not going to help matters. I can just hear Marci in my head, trying to calm me down.
I grit the words through my teeth, telling him I’ll be there as soon as I can.
When I turn around, I see Lou and Felix both staring at me.
“Everything okay?” Lou asks gently.
Eddie and Corpse are still in the studio, tuning their guitars.
“My kid got in a fight,” I say gruffly, my breathing heavy. “I have to go.”
Lou nods as Felix raises his eyebrows.
“You have a kid?”
I sigh in exasperation, not in the mood to deal with Felix and his shit at the moment. I can only handle one unruly person at a time, and right now, my flesh and blood takes priority.
I push past them both, grabbing my duffel and making my way toward the elevator.
Lou mumbles something, but it is incoherent.
I press the elevator button a hundred times, anxiously awaiting the sleek silver doors to open.
Felix catches up to me, just as they open, slipping in before I can say anything.
I sigh, grinding my teeth.
“How old is... your kid?” Felix asks curiously.
“Sixteen.”
“Huh.” Felix’s tone is careful, and I’m thankful when the elevator doors open, that I don’t have to respond to him.
I slip my car keys out of my back pocket, pressing the unlock button as furiously as I banged the elevator button.
I’m tired, I’m hot, and my kid is apparently getting suspended. This is seriously the worst fucking day ever.
Felix’s footsteps are still behind me, and I am annoyed.
What does he think he’s doing, anyway?
Shouldn’t he be inside rehearsing?
My family shit has nothing to do with him.
I’m in the car, turning the ignition within seconds, but nothing happens.
Putt putt plunk.
“Oh fuck, no, not now... not today...” I curse as I try to turn the ignition again, harder.
Putt putt putt puttttt plunk.
I try again, and again, each time to no avail. It won’t kick over.
“Fuck!” I growl as the anger hits me like a volcano. I hit the steering wheel, which doesn’t do shit.
My head falls against the horn, and I let out a shaky breath as a fist raps on my window.
Slowly, I turn to see Felix standing there, looking as fucking cool as a cucumber.
God damn this fucking man.
He just doesn’t know when to quit.
I open the car door, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Car trouble?” he asks with a smirk that is equally annoying as it is sexy.
“What, were you a detective in a previous life?” I bite.
Felix shrugs.
“You know, I took the Porsche this morning. I could give you a ride, if you want.” His voice is even, solid and unwavering.
It’s not a suggestion. It’s a direct command, framed as a question.
Something about that makes me feel even more agitated.
Who is this man to tell me what to do?
But I also know, as I sit here, hot as hell, sweating bullets in my fucking piece of shit truck that I’ve had way longer than should be allowed, that I have no damn choice, not really.
I could call a taxi or an Uber, but I can never get the damn app to work, no matter how many times Bobby’s shown me.
“What about rehearsal?” I say, hoping maybe he’ll falter or that Lou will show up and call me a ride or...
“I mean, technically, I am the boss, at least where you’re concerned. It’s my band, so if anyone dictates shit, it’s me.” He shrugs apathetically. “Besides, I’m sure we could all probably use a little break. We’ve all been putting in the hours, not to mention you look a little beat.”
Maybe because I’ve clearly lost my marbles.
“Fine,” I utter as I get out of the car, feeling on edge. I slam the door shut, looking down at Felix who stares up at me like he’s fixing for a fight himself.
“But only because my car is having a damn meltdown at the moment. “
Felix’s lips twist up in the corner, making his eyes sparkle.
“Of course.” He nods for me to follow him across the parking lot to the prettiest, sleekest black Porsche I’ve ever seen.
I’m only partly surprised it isn’t bright pink, since clearly, the man has a thing for the color.
He slides up next to the passenger door, his hands in his pockets, and I hear the clicking of the locks.
Confused, I look around, because he didn’t press anything and he didn’t pull out any keys.
He opens the door for me with a smile.
“It’s linked to an app on my phone,” he says, his tone dripping with saccharine sarcasm.
“Right.” I grunt as I fold myself into the passenger seat, and he shuts the door. I watch as he pulls out his phone, tapping away a text insanely fast before he opens his own door and slips into the driver’s seat.
I feel like King Kong in his sleek, fancy car, but I can’t deny he looks good in it.
All those long limbs, tattoos, and tight pants...
I bet you could photograph him in this damn car in his everyday clothes, and he’d still sell out copies of Playgirl.
The music that blasts over the speakers makes me feel even more on the spot as the familiar sounds of Loose Canon ring out in the air.
“Oh fuck...” he mutters, immediately switching off. “Sorry about that.” He queues up the digital screen with GPS.
I know cars nowadays have all the bells and whistles, but I’ve never been a fan of having computers in my car.
My truck might be one of the last cars around that doesn’t even have a backup camera.
Bobby’s always trying to get me to “embrace technology”, but as far as I’m concerned, I don’t need a computer to drive.
“Where, uh... where to?” Felix glances from me to the screen, and I realize he’s waiting for me to put the address in.
Shit.
“Oh, uh... hold on,” I reply as I lean forward, feeling oversized in the deep, ass swallowing seat.
My fingers are thicker than the keys, so it takes a couple tries to get the name of Preston Academy tapped out along with the address, but as soon as I do, Felix wastes no time backing out and practically speeding off.
Normally, I’d probably be concerned about how fast he’s going, but with my anxious heart and Principal Weatherby’s phone call, it’s almost like he can’t drive fast enough.
When we finally arrive at the academy, it’s in record time. I’m kind of surprised we didn’t get pulled over, but I’m thanking my lucky stars.
“Do you... want me to go with you?” Felix asks, and I can tell he’s somewhat uncomfortable, but I appreciate his attempt to be nice.
“I’m good, thanks.” I say the words much more briskly than I mean to, but I don’t really have time to waste.
“I’ll just stay in the car, then.” He nods, chewing his lip, the lip ring jiggling from his obvious fidgeting.
I nod back and climb from the expensive seat of the car, heading into the school.
I buzz the front desk, letting them know I’m here to pick my kid up, and they let me in without a fuss.
When I round the corner to the office, I meet Bobby’s gaze immediately. His eyebrows shoot up, and he looks worried, his lip swollen something fierce, streaks of dried blood accentuating the reality of what happened, but true to the Principal’s word, he looks just fine otherwise.
Well, a bit shaken up, but fine physically.
“Dad!” He jumps up and I don’t wait to pull him into a hug. His arms hover at my waist, as if he’s afraid to return the action, but I can’t say that I blame him.
I turn to see the Principal standing behind the counter. The man nods in greeting.
“We take fighting very seriously, and as such, Robert will receive a one day out of school suspension, while the other student will receive out of school suspension for the rest of the week.”
I ease up a little bit knowing whatever little asshole is responsible for my kid’s busted lip is at least getting some form of punishment, but I still don’t think Bobby should have to be punished at all. Especially if he was defending himself.
“Understood,” I say sternly as I nod at the principal.
“Come on, Bobby, let’s get out of here. You can give me the highlights on the way home.” I wrap my arm around his shoulders and escort him out. Once we are out of the office, his entire body slumps and he won’t even look at me.
“Bobby...”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Dad, can we just...”
“No. You don’t get to weasel out of this one,” I say, shaking my head. “I had to leave rehearsal early, and you know I’m practically a zombie today, and?—”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to be such an inconvenience ,” he bites, pushing through the solid doors.
I pick up my pace, my blood boiling once more as I chase after him.
“Don’t cop an attitude with me, Robert James,” I hiss as I catch up to him. I nearly knock him over as he stops, looking for the truck, obviously.
Which isn’t to be found, and suddenly I feel more on the spot than ever.
“Dad, where’s the?—”
My heart stops as I see Felix get out of his Porsche, all languid and badass, his aviators on like he’s God’s gift to women and men everywhere.
The last part is a strange assumption, but I don’t doubt he isn’t filling some man’s dreams somewhere.
Felix takes his shades off, narrowing his eyes at me and my son.
“Ah... you must be the kid,” he says as he approaches us cautiously.
I don’t miss Bobby’s wide eyes or his stutter as he looks between us.
“Car trouble,” I murmur, crossing my arms as Felix stops in front of us.
“You’re—”
“Felix Hart.” He nods, extending his hand and holding my son’s gaze.
Bobby looks at his hand like it’s made of snakes.
Though, to be fair, the snake tattoos are rather realistic looking and the dark ink covers a good bit of his forearm.
“Most people call me Bobby,” he replies, politely, extending his hand carefully.
His grip on Felix is firm, which is good. I always told him you could tell a lot about a man by his handshake.
A strange sense of pride swells within me.
“Nice to meet you, Bobby.” Felix nods, clearing his throat. “You hungry?” he asks, and I come back to the present.
“What?”
Felix nods for Bobby to follow him, and I’m more than shocked that my son listens. Without arguing.
“I know this great place, a couple minutes from here, actually, that makes the best fucking frozen yogurt, and I swear they have, like, every fucking thing you can think of to top it. Including those little juicy boba balls... Fuck, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.”
“We are not getting fucking fro-yo,” I bite as Felix opens the door for Bobby, who watches me intently like a science project. As he crawls into the backseat, I head for the passenger door, but Felix beats me to it, opening it for me once more.
“No one calls it fro-yo anymore. It’s just frozen yogurt.” Felix rolls his eyes.
I slam the door shut, backing him up against the door as a fresh batch of anger and unfamiliar feelings swirl inside of me like a cyclone.
“He got suspended for a day, Felix. Granted, he was just defending himself and that idiot principal?—”
“My mother always said no matter what shit life deals you, ain’t no one frowning when they eat a big ol’ bowl of ice cream.”
For the moment, his carefully constructed rockstar persona slips, and I can almost detect an actual accent beneath his voice, though I can’t place it.
His words settle on me for a moment, and before I can protest, Felix crosses his arms and gazes up at me over his shades, pouting his studded lip as he jiggles his lip ring.
“Besides, frozen yogurt tastes a lot better than an ice pack. It should help cut the swelling on his lip down, too.” And with that parting shot, he opens the door for me once more, leaving me standing alone as he heads for the driver’s seat.
The drive to Gustav’s Gelato & More is the longest drive of my life.
“What really happened, Bobby? And don’t tell me you don’t want to talk about it. There is no avoiding this topic.”
Bobby glares at me from the back seat.
“It doesn’t matter, okay! It doesn’t matter how it started or who threw the first punch, or?—”
“Did you?” Felix asks coolly. “Start it, I mean.”
I snap my neck, glaring daggers at him as he speeds around the neighborhood like he owns the place.
For all I know, he just might.
Note to self to ask Lou if this pain in the ass owns any real estate out this way.
I half expect Bobby to evade Felix, but he doesn’t.
He answers him without hesitation. “No, I didn’t.”
“But you finished it.” Felix’s words are not judgmental, but they are solid and direct.
It isn’t a question.
“Yeah,” Bobby sighed, leaning back against the cushions.
I look at him, seeing the glimmer in his eye of sadness, of pain.
Felix’s lyrics reverberate in my brain once more, the ones from Black Sea, about trying to be a shark, but being weak.
Right now, I can’t deny my kid looks beat in more ways than one. My heart hurts to see him like this, and anger and frustration ebb in me that there isn’t anything I can do to take that pain away.
“What happened?” I ask softly.
Bobby’s gaze catches mine and he frowns. “Not everything needs a reason, Dad. Sometimes people are just assholes.”
Felix’s voice carries through the air, the truth in his words loud and clear. “True that, Bobby. True that.” Felix parks the car. He says nothing else as he gets out, heading into the shop, leaving Bobby and I alone for the moment.
Giving us space.
The notion isn’t lost on me, and I have to admit, I’m surprised.
Just when I think I know Felix, he mystifies me yet again.
“I’m not mad at you, you know,” I say softly.
Bobby looks at me from beneath his lashes. “I didn’t think twice. He hit me, and I just... I couldn’t just let him get away with it like everyone else does. Just because I’m...”
His words disappear, and for a moment I think he’s going to tell me the truth, but instead he changes his path.
“Just because I’m different.”
Something about the way he says the words feels like he means something else, but I’ll be damned if I know what.
Why can’t kids just say what they mean?
Why do they have to make everything so complicated?
A part of me wishes Marci was here. She’d know how to handle this situation.
I look through the windshield, through the window of the cafe. The place isn’t terribly busy at this time of day, but then again, school’s still in session.
It’s pretty much just Felix and a couple other folks—women.
He smiles as they take selfies with him. Then he looks directly at me, and I can’t help but look away.
“What happened to the truck?” Bobby asks softly.
I sigh. “Wouldn’t start.”
Bobby huffs as he rolls his eyes at me in disdain.
“See, if I had a car, I could just drive myself. Maybe even have picked you up.” He tries to change the subject.
“If this is your way of trying to get me to buy you a car, you need to try on a day you don’t get suspended from school,” I declare as I open the door.
Bobby follows, huffing his own sigh of annoyance as I head into the cafe.
My stomach growls, and I hate to admit I am kind of hungry. I didn’t really eat much more than a bowl of oatmeal before heading out today.
“Grab whatever you want, it’s on the house,” Felix states as he hands a bowl to Bobby.
I watch as my son takes it carefully.
“Thanks,” he says softly, heading toward the dispensers.
I’m about to protest when Felix whacks me in the stomach with a bowl, as well.
“You too. Maybe some fro-yo will change your fucking attitude, too.”
“Aw, crap!” Bobby snaps as we round the corner to our street.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, panic flaring once more.
Bobby closes his eyes, pursing his lips.
“I forgot, I have Study Group tonight! In, like, thirty minutes.”
“What?” I ask, feeling whiplash again. “Since when did you go to study group?”
“Since the beginning of the semester... I tutor three gu— students.”
Felix pulls up to our driveway, but he doesn’t turn the car off.
“Where at?” Felix asks, completely unbothered by this announcement.
“Usually, we meet up at Starbucks or Percolators.”
“How long is this study group?” I ask.
Bobby bites his lip. “Uh... three hours, usually. Give or take a break for food.”
“It’s a?—”
I’m caught between grounding him indoors for the night and forbidding him from hanging out, but a part of me also knows that Bobby is more than punctual, and loyal when it comes to academics.
“You’ll be home by seven,” I reply sternly, and Bobby sighs.
“You need a ride?” Felix asks, but Bobby shakes his head.
“My, uh... friend... Brendan usually picks me up. He just texted me that he’s almost here, so...”
Brendan... There’s that name again.
I need to make a point to meet this kid. This is the second time Bobby’s mentioned him, so they must be somewhat close.
Bobby’s eyes meet mine, pleading with me not to make a big deal.
Felix turns the car off.
“Cool. Maybe you and I can jam out a bit while we wait for the car? Catch up on some rehearsal time?” Felix suggests, just as a little red Volkswagen shows up. Bobby immediately jumps out, looking at me.
“I promise I’ll be back before dinner,” he says, and I feel more than torn.
But all I can do is nod.
“Be safe and stay out of trouble.” I sigh.
Bobby smiles a half-smile, but it isn’t genuine. “Scout’s honor.”
“Was nice meeting you,” Felix chirps as Bobby shuts the door, running toward the bright red bug.
I watch as it drives off, feeling more alone than ever.
There’s so much I don’t know.
So much I should know.
“My guy should be finishing up with your car. Should have it fixed and delivered before Bobby gets home tonight.” Felix says, his voice cutting through the ominous silence.
I turn to look at him, to tell him no. He doesn’t have to do this, any of this.
I’m tired. I’m spent.
“You don’t have to?—”
Felix dismisses me with a wave. “It’s fine, really. It’s... it’s the least I can do.”
Silence falls between us for a moment as he takes his aviators off, his bright blue eyes fixing their gaze on me as his expression softens.
“I assume you have a studio in there,” he says softly.
I nod slowly. “Of course.”
“Cool. We can jam a bit, while we wait for your truck to be delivered.”
I want to argue with him, but I’m in no mood to argue, so I just say, “Okay,” and open my car door.
Felix follows suit as I grab my duffel bag, fishing my house keys out of my pocket.
My blood rushes as I walk up the sidewalk, and I know it’s not just from the heat.
My hands shake only a bit as I try to open the door, but thankfully, my larger frame hides me from Felix’s sight.
I open the door, glancing into the entryway, and then back at Felix, who looks a bit pale.
Maybe all the fro-yo and the mountain of candy on top of it paralyzed him.
That weird tension is back, but thankfully, it is interrupted by Felix’s phone ringing. I don’t waste a moment as I head inside, leaving the door open, leaving Felix on my doorstep.