I look at her, already regretting the question, the weight of my failure settling heavy in my gut. "You're not helping."
She grabs another slice of toast, raising it in a mock toast, the crust held between her fingers like a tiny flag of surrender. "Here's to surviving breakfast."
My head sinks into my hands, palms pressing hard against my temples as if I can physically push away the image of new scratches appearing on my car's pristine surface—each one a permanent reminder of my inadequacy. The morning light filtering through the kitchen windows suddenly feels too bright,exposing every crack in my carefully constructed facade of fatherhood.
I'm outplayed again, not by a business rival or a studio executive, but by my own daughter. The thought settles in my stomach like lead: this isn't just about a stolen car or burnt toast; it's about the widening chasm between us, one I seem incapable of bridging no matter how hard I try.
Chapter 26
The Group Chat
Vince
Vince:Can you still ground your kid if they’re almost eighteen?
Vince:My oldest is out of control.
Vince:I just had to call the cops on her for taking my car to get it back.
Cynthia:Seriously?
Eli:You're the only one here with kids, man. Good luck getting proper advice.
Todd:Eli is such a good friend.
Aubrey:Eli tried to dance with Wayne at Tony’s Nightclub last night and ended up getting kicked out by the bouncers.
Eli:Shut up, both of you.
Wayne:I told him to stop, and he doubled down. I didn’t have a choice but to flag them down.
Aubrey:Did it hurt when they threw you onto the curb for spitting at them, Eli?
Eli:Did it hurt when Todd broke up with you for being a bad lay back in high school, Aubrey?
Wayne:What?
Cynthia:Eli...
Todd:Are you serious?
Gary:Eli, that’s enough.
Eli:Did it hurt when Todd wouldn’t dance with you on the stage last night and you had to suck off some other dude in the bathroom instead?
Frank:Eli, you’re about to get kicked off the group chat.
Eli:Did it hurt being the shortest guy dancing on stage? Did they even give you the height clearance to be up there?
Aubrey:I hate you.
Eli:I hate you too.
Eli:You have no right to talk to me the way you do.
Eli:I don’t know why you think you’re so much better than me, and I’m tired of putting up with you.
Aubrey:You’re the one who’s bullying me!!!
