“I think most of you boys get your romantic side from him. Your Uncle Ronnie is the same way. Unfortunately, your father is not. He’s not a lover, but a drifter. He doesn’t know what he wants. He never has.”
I stare at the clock and chew the inside of my cheek before asking my next question, not sure I want to hear the answer. “Do you ever hear from him? My father?”
She shakes her head and frowns. “No. Not since your grandfather passed.” Her voice drops. “But that’s okay. He told me about you and Vandal, and that’s all that matters. I can’t chase your father anymore. He’s taken years off my life already.”
“I don’t understand what his deal is. Why doesn’t he care about us?” I’ll never understand why my parents didn’t want me, and even though I try to tell myself it doesn’t matter, and that it’s their loss, and all the other bullshit that therapists and shrinks fed me growing up, it still bothers me that I was given away and forgotten like trash.
“Sweetheart, he doesn’t even care about himself. He’s not capable of caring about anyone else. We all love you and Vandal, no matter what. Don’t let his bad choices and shortcomings affect you.”
I crack my knuckles and stand up. “I should get going.” I take her hand and help her up. “Thanks for listening to me.”
“Anytime. You’ll be here for Christmas? You can bring your friend, and her children. The more the merrier.”
I’m not sure Ivy will be ready to have a family Christmas dinner with me in a few weeks. Especially with this crew. “We’ll see, Gram.”
Vandal and Katie are still at the kitchen table coloring when we return from our talk, and my cousin Talon has joined them. Vandal is grinning like an idiot.
“What’s so funny?” I ask him.
He nods his head at Talon. “Tell him.”
My cousin just shakes his head and says nothing. “Tal, tell me,” I say. “What’s up?”
“He’s getting married!” Katie yells excitedly.
“What? To who?” I don’t even remember him having a girlfriend.
“In a month or two, I’m not sure yet.”
Vandal nudges him again. “Tell him all of it.”
Talon makes a face, and I can tell Vandal is pissing him off. “It’s a social experiment that a group of psychologists and relationship experts are running. My mom is friends with the director.”
I squint at him. “Social experiment? What’s that mean?”
“He’s gonna marry a total fucking stranger,” Vandal interrupts. “Like a lab rat.”
My gaze rivets on Talon, shocked. “Wow, really? A stranger?”