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Man, this kid is dramatic.
I look over at Izzie with myWhat the hell was that?face.
She shakes her head and shrugs.
“These situations happen all the time.” She places her chin on her hand. “I wish there was something more I could do. I hate that he has to grow up feeling different or feeling like he lacks something that everyone else has.”
I reach out and try to stroke her hand, but she moves her hand away. I try to brush her hair behind her ear, but she waves that off, too.
“Come on, knock it off,” she whispers. “Liam’s just in the next room.”
That’s weird. Is she mad atmeor something?
Crap, now I’m going to spend the rest of the day mentally reliving everything I’ve done in the past twenty-four hours that could’ve possibly pissed her off. Honestly, knowing me, it could have been anything.
“Anyway,” Izzie switches the conversation back. “He’ll get over it. He always does. Don’t take his anger personally.”
“I don’t.”
I look up through the doorway at the mezzanine, where Liam is trying to kill my foosball table. He reminds me so much of myself that it’s weird. I had the craziest temper when I was a kid, and it was mostly due to me not feeling wanted by my biological parents.
Or at least that’s what my old coach back in college used to tell me. Hey, I believed him.
I turn to Izzie. “Hey, what if I take Liam to his pancake breakfast thing? I could totally do it. It’s not a problem at all. I love me some pancakes.”
Izzie looks up at me with a bewildered expression. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
She stands up and starts walking away, and I chase after her.
“Why don’t you think it’s a good idea?”
Her words genuinely hurt my feelings a little bit.
She sighs. “Because,” she says, then stops and lowers her voice since she’s aware Liam’s nearby, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to make promises that you can’t keep.”
Wow, that was a low blow. “What makes you think I can’t keep my promises?”
Izzie opens her mouth and closes it again. She looks like she’s trapped in an argument she doesn’t want to be in.
“Geez, Brady.” She runs her hands through her hair. “I mean, can we just be honest with each other? You’re not exactly someone who likes kids.”
“That’s bullshit!”
“Hey!” She shushes me. “Lower your voice.”
She points at Liam up on the mezzanine, who continues punishing my foosball table.
“I like kids,” I angrily whisper. “Especially Liam. He’s the coolest kid I know.”
“He’s theonlykid you know.”
“Why does that matter?”
It’s crazy how angry I am about this. Why does she think I don’t like kids? I mean, I admit, I’ve never seen myself as a family man, but I’ve been great with Liam.
And frankly, I’ve enjoyed having Liam around. Although he’s been killing me atMadden.
“Because, Brady, this breakfast is a big deal to him. And if you suddenly become too busy and you can’t make it, it’ll crush him. Completely destroy him.”
