“No, it doesn’t. You’re going to make me go whether I want to or not.” She put her hands on her hips. “What you and Mom want is all that matters. It’s all that ever matters.” She’d been furious with her mom the entire drive into Baltimore, and now she was furious with him.

“We want what’s best for you.”

“That’s not true!” He was the most annoying person alive. “You only want what’s best for you! I’m not a little kid. I’m sixteen! What gives you the right to decide what’s best for me?”

He lifted his eyes from his computer display. “Lower your voice. This is an office, and people are working. I’m your father. That’s what gives me the right. Now get yourself a drink or something. I’ll only be a few minutes. We can discuss this in the car.” His attention returned to his computer.

“Being my father is just biology. I have my own brain. You don’t even know me.”

“Well, if that’s how you feel, we’ll have to start spending more time together, because for some reason God decided I should be your father, so you’re stuck with me.”

“I’m not spending a second more with you than I have to,” she fumed before stomping across the office to the large window overlooking Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The sound of his fingers tapping lightly on his keyboard grated her nerves. She could barely think, she was so frustrated, but he had no problem continuing to write his stupid email. “And I don’t even believe in God.” The office was suddenly quiet, and she could feel his eyes, but she continued to stare out the window.

“What did you just say?” His voice was low, and she knew he was unhappy, but it was the truth, and she had a right to believe whatever she wanted.

“I’m an atheist.”

“Since when?”

“Since I realized I could actually think for myself.”

“Is Matt an atheist?”

“No.” She’d gone too far. She needed to change the subject. “I’m not going to talk to anyone besides Dr. Drayton. You can make me meet with the new doctor, but you can’t make me talk.”

“I need to finish this email. We’ll continue this discussion in the car.”