CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE #4
“The guy does not like me, I’m telling you. So yeah, everything points to him not knowing. My parents and brother don’t think so, either.”
“Wait, they know about all this?” I’m beginning to wonder whether I’m in a simulation.
“Yeah, but none of them agree with it.” The emotion in his voice as he speaks about them makes a palpable difference to how he explained things about Coach Campbell.
“They think I’m just setting myself up for heartbreak by staying in this close of proximity to my biological dad.
I don’t feel like that, though. It just really isn’t that deep to me.
You can’t lose something you never had. If I wanted a relationship with him, I would have tried to make that happen.
He’s literally right there.” I lightly brush my fingers against his palm.
“But I don’t,” he continues. “He’s a good Coach and that’s what I care about when it comes to him.
My parents don’t like him. Demetrius hates him, but he’s still a little curious, I guess.
But he took our step dad’s surname too and we’d choose him anytime.
It’s kind of a… weird situation, I know that.
I’ll be the first to admit it. Especially because he’s got a daughter who I’ve now met. ”
I nod. “Oh, yeah, Mimi.”
“Yeah. We’re the same age, both in second year.
” He lets out a sigh. “I’ve been assuming that he started another family behind my mum’s back and then left us for them.
It’s also possible, though, that we’re the other family, and they’re they’re the main one that he’s keeping us a secret from. It’s fucked either way.”
I wince at hearing that, my once lacklustre feelings towards Coach now becoming something of anger.
“It is, and I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with him to be doing that.
I’m sorry. I’m so glad you have a dad who’s there for you, but that doesn’t take away from a paternal father who should be there for his kids. ”
He blows out a breath. “I think hearing you put it like that…I would be lying if I say I never get pissed about it. It’s not an active thing, but just…”
His voice trails off but I mentally complete his sentence.
It hits him sometimes. “It’s understandable.
I’m pissed for you. I hate a fucking deadbeat.
” But trying not to get too sidetracked, I return back to the original conversation with, “Hearing the whole situation gives perspective to a lot of things and for you, it’s something that you’re managing the best way you can.
He’s made it clear he doesn’t care, and if he really did, he would probably know what his own son looks like and try to start a relationship with you.
Bit I think things start to get messy when we get factor Mimi into it. ”
“You don’t even have to say anymore.” He looks frustrated as he says, “This is where me being selfish comes in because yeah, I’m thinking about how there’s a strong chance she doesn’t know that she has a brother, let alone one at the same university at her and I can’t tell whether that’s something she would even want to know.
But then it’s like…surely she deserves to know?
” The genuine worry in his eyes has me clasping his hands tightly, and he leans softly into my shoulder.
“This is why I’m annoyed at Campbell,” I say. “He brought you all into his shit and now you’re harbouring secrets that you didn’t even ask for. If it was me…I think I would want to know. But she’s not me. But maybe Mimi already does know. But maybe she doesn’t. Ah, this is hurting my brain.”
I can tell he’s thinking by the way his eyes drift off to the wall while he plays with my fingers. He eventually leads with, “If I don’t tell her, that would mean you would be keeping the secret from her as well, which is a position you don’t deserve to be in.”
Shaking my head, I express, “Okay, I think we need to just calm down for a second because…we’re here trying to make sense of all of this, but…
we don’t know what Mimi knows. I’ve barely had the chance to find out much about her because, yeah, it’s a new friendship, but I genuinely am interested in like, her family and stuff.
Whatever she tells me, I’m gonna believe that that’s what she knows, and if nothing about her having a while other family comes up, then… ”
“Then you should tell her. Or maybe I should tell her. Which one do you think would be the better choice?” He pauses. “Or wait…we tell her together?”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” I push his arm excitedly.
“I’m learning,” he says with a smile, then leans in to kiss me, groaning into my mouth as soon as our tongues touch. “Good team chat, Captain.”
“I love this for us,” I begin, “apart from, you know, the whole thing we’ve been discussing ‘cause it’s obviously very deep.
Did I mention I hate deadbeats? ‘Cause I’ll say it again, no problem.
And to abandon you?” I feel awkward about the direction my mouth takes me sometimes, but not right now, not when Julius is watching me with the fondest look in his eyes, a declaration that he takes me just the way I am. -
“I know, I’m so exciting to be around, right?”
I can’t help but laugh at that, and the mood continues to get lighter when Julius releases his own chuckle.
“Thank you for telling me,” I say, my gratitude true and complete.
“I want you to know everything.”
“Me, too.”
“Do you still want to be my girlfriend?”
I pretend to think. “Hmm, I guess I don’t really have anything better to do, so…”
“I’m humbled by your charitable act.”
“I love it when you talk dirty to me.”