Chapter Four #3
We must have been more emotionally entangled than I had even realized because fuck—all that bickering ended up doing a number on me.
Petty shit, really, now that I’ve had years to calm down and look at things in the rearview, but I’d be lying if being in his presence for just a few moments didn’t dredge all that back up.
Now, there's the added mystery of that scar as well…
“I’m sorry, Brody,” I tell him earnestly. “I know how much you’d like to make more friends who are more like you, and I didn’t mean to spoil that for you just now. You know how Ryker makes you feel though? He pushes your buttons and makes your feelings go into the red-zone?”
Brody nods.
“Caleb makes me feel that way. I have no problem with Cameron whatsoever. In fact, he seemed like a good kid, a nice boy, someone whom I could see being a good mentor for you.” My palms tighten on the wheel, cracking the leather. “But Caleb? Rrgh, he really ruffles my sails.”
I can feel the heat from Brody’s gaze as he studies the side of my face while I drive.
“Mum says that when someone picks on you, like the way Ryker picks on me, that it can sometimes mean that they really like you. That they have big feelings about you and dunno how to deal with them, so they try to get your attention by getting under your skin—which sounds really creepy and kinda gross.”
I chuckle. “It’s a figure of speech, Brode. No one is actually skin-wearing… I hope.”
He giggles. “I hope not too. I dunno how true any of that is anyway. Ryker just likes being a meanie to everyone.”
“Sometimes when people are outright mean like that, it can be a sign that there’s a lot more going on under the surface that we have no idea about.
So long as he is not physically harming you or anyone else, or saying really horrible things, my best advice would be to shrug him off and try not to react at all.
He’s likely just seeking attention. If you don’t give it to him, then he’ll eventually tire of it and move on. ”
He’s silent for a bit, stewing on that information, most likely. Finally, “Dad, can I ask you something?”
“You just did.”
“Huh?”
“Asking me if you can ask a question is, in and of itself, a question.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him scowl for a second.
Then, he peers back up at me. “Can we try to make friends with them, even if you don’t get along with Cameron’s dad?
Pepper was sooo cute and not at all smelly.
I want to know more about how he got to have a skunk as a pet!
Maybe I could get a snake to be my emotional support animal? ”
Now it’s my turn to scowl, and of course, Brody notices that once again.
I swear, this kid is the most perceptive person I know.
Lauren and I often wonder how he’s so sage at his age.
“Dad, you just said that I gotta not react when Ryker gets on my nerves. Shouldn’t you do the same thing with Cameron’s dad? ”
“Can’t I just get you a opossum or something instead?”
He groans. “No, Dad. I want an albino ball python! It could cuddle on my lap with me when I play video games!”
Gew. No thanks. I hardly think those things cuddle so much as they size you up—plotting their next meal.
“Listen, it’s not even like I know how to get in touch with Caleb or Cameron anyway, beyond delivering packages to their house.”
“Well, we know where they live and you know how to apologize, right?”
“I can’t just show up and be all like, ‘Hey, I’m sorry. Can we play with your skunk?’”
“Why not?”
I chuckle. “Because…” I trail off, not knowing how to answer. Because that sounds too damn simple, I guess? I don’t know! I hurt the guy, and I don’t know how to apologize for that—especially since he still seems to harbor some resentment as well.
“I don’t know, Brody. I really don’t. Why don’t we table this now, until I can find a way to make this happen. You know I’d do anything for you, bud. So this isn’t me blowing you off or anything; this is just me asking you for a moment to think on it, okay?”
He nods. “Okay.”
“Now, let's get our butts back home and settle in for boys' night. Video games?”
“Yeah!”
“I’ve got some of that root beer in the glass bottles. We can kick off our shoes and put our feet up on the coffee table without Mum getting on our cases about it, right?”
He giggles. “Can we also have messy snacks?”
“Absolutely! Popcorn or ice cream?”
“Both?”
“You got it, dude…”
He peers up at me. “You know sometimes the kids at school make fun of me for still sayin’ ‘I love you’ to you and Mum.”
I frown at the steering wheel. I know they do, I saw one young girl tee-heeing to her little posse when he signed it to me at the drop-off on his last day of school.
I sigh. “I don’t know who decided that wasn’t the cool thing to do at your age…
but I’d like to wallop them. Well, not actually, because me and your mom wholeheartedly believe in gentle parenting, but you should be able to openly tell someone you love them, without worrying what other people think. ”
Brody nods. “Yeah. You should…”