Kaden
I've never been fond of doing dishes. As a kid, I used to come up with any excuse to give my parents so they would let me out of the task. But here I am, nearly elbow deep in a sink full of soapy water with the biggest smile on my face.
Bethany is the reason for it.
More specifically, my mom talking about Bethany is the reason for it. "Bethany is such a beautiful girl." "Bethany is so kind." "She really makes you happy."
All of those things are true. I could give my mom a million more things to say about Bethany, but we'd be here forever.
"So you were saying you met her on New Year's?" she asks, handing me a rag to dry my hands.
"In the most unconventional way possible." I laugh to myself at the memory. I laugh at how one of the most painful nights of my life ended up giving me the most pleasure, the most joy.
"I wanna hear that story," Kyle says with a grin.
The back door flies open and scuffing sounds against the floor. Bethany runs by.
"Bethany?" I call her name.
She doesn't stop. She keeps running until I can't see her.
"Bethany?" I yell again, this time jogging out of the kitchen.
The front door slams before I can see her again.
I run towards it.
"Kaden."
My dad's voice is like a hand on the back of my shirt, gripping it and pulling me to a sharp stop. A silence falls around us and I don't dare turn around. I stand in the middle of the foyer, staring at the closed door Bethany just ran out of, trying to calm my mind. What the hell just happened? But the only answer to that is standing right behind me.
On my heels, I turn to face him. He's leaning in the doorway, cigarette held loosely between his teeth. There's some kind of sick satisfied grin tugging the corners of his mouth. He plucks the remaining nub out of his mouth and flicks it to the ground before stepping inside and closing the door.
"Kaden," He says my name again. Like nails on a chalkboard, it sends a cringe through my entire body.
The sound of Bethany's feet, the slam of the door, and his voice make my ears ring and my teeth grit. I'm not looking anywhere except at him, but I know Kyle and Mom are staring at us from the kitchen.
"What the hell did you say to her?" She wouldn't just leave. Not without saying goodbye. No, she wouldn't do that. What the fuck did he do.
He lets out a long sigh.
I repeat myself. Making sure each word is clear as fucking day. "What. The. Hell. Did. You. Say. To. Her?"
"I told her I want what's best for my son."
"What the fuck does that mean?" I'm furious now, taking a step towards him.
My mom speaks out my name, but I ignore her, silently telling her with a slice of my eyes towards her to not get involved in this.
"I'm not about to let you jeopardize your future, something we worked so hard for, over some girl."
"Some girl," I mumble to myself, sucking my lips in hard, nodding my head. It's more of a tick. Something to keep me from running over to my father— no, that man standing in front of me— and punching him in his smug face. And the word We, the only thing he has done for my future is solidify the fact that no matter where my future takes me it'll be far away from him.
"I will not allow this. I'm sure Bethany is a nice girl—"
"Don't say her fucking name."
"Kaden—"
"No!" I charge forward pointing my finger at him. "I don't want to hear her name on your fucking tongue."
"Kaden," My mom says from the kitchen, her voice cracking through a sob she's trying to contain.
"I just want what's best for you, son," he says, looking up at me with the fakest sincerity in his eyes.
I shake my head and look away. "No." I lock my eyes back on him. "You are just trying to make up for the fact that you worked so hard for a future in baseball and lost it. Now you are forcing me to follow in your lead. You want me to be just like you." I take a step back, rubbing my jaw. "Well, that will never fucking happen." I take a few more steps back and turn to face the front door.
"Do not leave this house, Kaden," he shouts after me.
But I don't listen. I flip him the bird and leave to find my girl.
YOU ARE READING
The Good Intentions
Romance{COMPLETE} Bayside University Book 2 Bethany Harris is in love. In love with school, in love with her family, in love with Teddy Wilson, a guy who has no idea she even exists. Why would he? Fun isn't a word in Bethany's vocabulary. But when she mee...
