My father’s eyes dart to my brother, his eyebrows furrowing and I watch the pain flash across his face. Like my brother had betrayed him by not telling him. You knew? I can almost hear the words just in the brief look he gives Mason and I hate that I’ve irrevocably changed their relationship in the blink of an eye as well.

“Talk about what?” my mother exclaims and when my eyes meet hers, I can see the tears flooding her eyes. “No fucking way.” I have rarely heard my mother swear and it feels foreign in my ears, hearing her sweet, soft voice speak something so harsh. Her chest is heaving up and down, her nostrils flare and when she opens her mouth a startled cry escapes it.

“Mom…”

“Okay, so we’re all on the same page,” Parker continues. “Didn’t realize JP and the godfather were the same person. Well, that’s something.” He snorts.

“Parker,” Mason growls. “Shut the FUCK up,” he says as he and Chloe both start making their way toward him.

Chloe points at the door. “Okay, seriously? Get the fuck out, Parker.”

“I seriously do not want to have to hit you after what you’ve been through, but you are fucking tempting me,” Mason snaps as they both stand in front of him.

“Well wait… so that everyone gets the full scope of the story, Whitney told me that the guy she was fucking behind my back is an old flame. As in before me.” No no no no. “And if everyone here is well versed at basic math, that would have put her at the ripe old age of jailbait the first time these two got together. What did you wait for the stroke of midnight on her eighteenth birthday? Love that for you. And you, Kev,” he says, pointing to my father.

“Mason, NO,” Chloe exclaims and holds him back because he is a second from taking a swing at Parker. “So that he can press charges? No. This jerk off isn’t worth it. He was never worth it.” She spits out before she looks at Parker. “RUN. Or whatever the fuck, just GO!” she screams at him, but I can’t even be bothered to care because my father has stormed past me and has Jacob by the throat against the wall.

“Dad! Oh my gosh, Dad, please stop! Oh my God. Mom!” I yell for her because I’ve never seen him like this. My father, the giant teddy bear that I’ve probably heard yell on less than ten occasions and has never put his hands on anyone, currently has his best friend by the throat.

“Kev…” Jacob says through sputtered breaths and I’m wondering if he’s letting him do this until he really can’t breathe because Jacob is stronger than my father even on his worst day. “Please, let me…”