When Andrew had first come to him, Gabe had focused on the kid’s body because that was where he’d started. After the suspension, Gabe realized that he was doing the boy a disservice by not also helping him to train his mind. So he’d done some research on teaching mindfulness practices to kids and introduced several of the concepts to Drew.

“Tell me what has you needing to beat the tar out of the bag today,” Gabe said, making his tone purposely casual. “And does your mom know you’re here?”

Andrew scowled. “She’s too busy to notice where I am.”

“Not true, and we both know it.” Gabe took a step forward and reached for the boy’s hand. He tugged on the boxing glove until it came off. “Give her a break, buddy. She’s balancing a lot right now.”

“She doesn’t understand.” Andrew sniffed and wiped his sweaty brow on the sleeve of his Iron Man T-shirt. “She doesn’t care that I don’t have a dad.”

“You have a dad, he’s just too stupid to want to be a part of your life.”

Andrew’s mouth pursed into a thin line, and he blinked rapidly like he was trying not to cry.

Holy hell. Gabe couldn’t take it if the kid cried.

“For the record, my dad wasn’t a part of my life either. I never even knew who he was. My mom wouldn’t tell me.”

“Then you don’t know if he would’ve liked you or not.” Andrew went over to the water bottle he’d placed on a table and took a long drink.

Gabe just waited, understanding the kid needed a moment to collect himself.

“My dad told me he didn’t want anything to do with me,” he said, studying the top of the water bottle like the orange plastic held the secrets of the universe. “I might as well not know him.”

“What do you mean he told you?” Alarm bells clanged in Gabe’s brain.

“I got the number of the restaurant where he works from the internet, and I called him.”

“I’m assuming your mother doesn’t know that either.”

Andrew shot him a “duh” look.

“Why?” Gabe asked, rubbing a hand across his jaw, trying to ease some of the tension. He was seriously considering catching the next flight he could get to New York City and pummeling Angi’s ex.

“He said it wasn’t a good time,” Andrew told him. “It’s busy at the restaurant and he’s opening a new location in Vegas so it won’t be a good time for a while.”

The guy was a bigger dolt than Gabe had even imagined.

“Why did you call him?”

Andrew sniffed. “Because I want to go on the scout overnight trip, and stupid Johnny says I can’t because it’s a stupid father-son thing and I don’t have a stupid dad or even a grandpa this year.” The boy’s voice cracked on the word grandpa, making Gabe’s chest clench.

Was this how Scrooge felt when faced with adorable and pathetic Tiny Tim?