A Tall, Dark, and Gorgeous Mystery

Chapter Ten

Tyler's POV

I watch as Antoinette walks to her door and drag my bike into my garage. I can't believe she forgave me so quickly.

I smile to myself and walk into my house through the garage door. I walk into the kitchen and see Caroline at the stove.

"Hey, Caroline," I greet her.

She smiles. "Hi, Tyler. Why are you home so late?" she asks.

I sigh. "I gave Antoinette a ride home."

"Well, that's nice."

I nod. "Where's Harry?" I ask.

"He's upstairs," she says, pointing in the direction of the stairs with her spatula.

I give her a smile and walk up the stairs. As I walk further down the hallway, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes becomes stronger.

"I know, I know," I hear him say into the phone. "No, my family doesn't know."

Doesn't know about what?

"No, I can't send Tyler away. He would disown me."

I furrow my eyebrows and continue to listen. "I love you too, but I can't do this to my family. It would tear us apart."

He loves who? I ask myself. There's nobody left in our family to love.

"No, Amy. You can't tell Caroline. She would leave me."

Amy. Why is that name so familiar? Amy. Amy.

I clench my fists when I remember. Amy is the whore Harry cheated on my mom with.

I push the door open and stare at my surprised father. "You're fucking cheating on Caroline?" I yell.

He hangs the phone up and looks at me. "Tyler, please, settle down," he says.

"I can't believe this. You come home so late from 'work' just to beat Caroline. Then you cheat on her with the same slut you slept with when mom was in the fucking hospital? What the hell is wrong with you?"

He stands up, a bottle of vodka in his hand. "Tyler, you don't understand, I-"

I cut him off. "I understand. I'm not fucking stupid, Harry."

He drops the bottle on the floor, glass and alcohol spreading across the floor. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that? I'm your father, God dammit!"

"What're you going to do, huh?" I test. "Beat me. Just like in middle school. Go ahead, be the monster you truly are."

He clenches his jaw. "Get the fuck out."

"You're kicking me out because I caught you cheating on your wife? Low life piece of shit you are."

I walk out of his room and slam his door loudly. I grab my jacket and run down the stairs.

"Tyler, what's going on?" Caroline asks.

I give her a soft smile. "Harry kicked me out."

She furrows her eyebrows. "Why?"

"Go ask him."

She shakes her head. "You're not getting kicked out without my say. I make most of the money in this household."

I give her a hug. "You should go talk to the useless fuck. He might tell you why."

I walk out of the house and down the sidewalk. Walking sounds better than riding my motorcycle at the moment.