How’s Anna doing with him being a motherfucking Thompson?

She took AJ and went to the store. She didn’t pack a bag, so I think she’ll come back.

Maybe get rid of the guitar.

LOL. Never. I spent five bucks on that thing.

That… makes so much more sense.

I am the best. Want me to send your lump of self-loathing home?

If he’ll come.

Wow. I’m insulted. I told him and he practically RAN out the door. Dude, that is so rude. He didn’t even tip JJ. We set the guitar case in front of him and everything!

Thanks, Creed.

You’re welcome, Papa Bear. Go easy on him, okay? He’s mad enough at himself.

Got it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’m going to take my son and his guitar to the boardwalk and see how much people will pay him to stop playing. I’m betting I get at LEAST two dollars.

Father of the year.

And don’t you forget it!

I’M SITTING at the kitchen table going through my lesson plans from last year when I hear Otter’s SUV pull into the driveway. Izzie’s up in her room, googling more statistics to ruin the Kid’s life with. I’m surprised when I hear the front door open almost right away, assuming Otter would have sat in the car a little bit more, trying to psych himself up.

His shoulders are slumped when he slinks into the kitchen, like he’s trying to make himself as small as possible. But his jaw is set, and I know he’s steeling himself against whatever I’m going to throw at him.

God, how I love this stupid, stupid man.

“Hey,” he says quietly.

“Hey, yourself,” I say, glancing up at him before looking back down at the notes on the table. “Heard you had a nice time with JJ.”

“I—” He sighs. “I don’t know that it was nice.”

“That’s your nephew,” I tell him, trying to keep from laughing. I’m still a little angry, but I’m more relieved that he’s here and this didn’t stretch on longer than it needed to. Younger me would probably be astounded how mature I’ve become.

Mostly.

“He is,” Otter agrees. “But sometimes, I think a little reality needs to set in.”

“I think a lot of us could use a reality check, don’t you?”

I can practically feel the full-body wince he does then. “Yeah. I guess.”

“Izzie’s upstairs if you want to go talk to her.”

He nods. “Okay. I’ll go talk to her, but I need you to know that—”

“I’m okay,” I tell him. “She needs to hear from you first. I can wait.”