105 — JULIAN ADAMS (POV)

Hah... That sucks. Why did this thing have to start today? It’s like the universe is against me. But what else can I do but get through the night?
That’s why I leave Angelee in her room, even though every step away from her has the force of a punch in my guts... However, approaching the boys, I can see that she was right. Their serious eyes are on me, almost suspicious, and I certainly don’t dare look at Mike as I grab a beer and sit down in the armchair.
“Is she all right?” Ambrose asks, cutting through the silence that hangs between us and the sounds of the TV starting to play the long-awaited league. “I didn’t want to cause any trouble.”
“She said she’s fine, just a bit sick today. I think she drank too much on the date last night.” I lie, throwing the bottle cap on the table without any caution, and my clenched teeth make my voice a little harsher than it should be.
“Looks like someone’s in a bad mood today,” Kevin says loudly, like a hint thrown into the air.
I just ignore it, bringing the bottle to my lips and taking a generous gulp. The bitterness of the beer moistens my dry throat, but the relief doesn’t last long because soon Kevin says again, “You don’t have to be here, you know.”
“Stop it, Kevin.” Mitch interrupts, without taking his eyes off the TV, the opening of the season that seems to be exciting... something that certainly doesn’t suit my mood at the moment. “Don’t make the evening unpleasant.”
“I don’t mean to, really... I’m just saying that Julian doesn’t need to stay here if there’s something better he could be doing.”
“Is that so?” I finally turn to him sternly. “And what would that be?”
“What you do best — go out with women.” Kevin gives a bitter smile, pleased to finally have my attention. Honestly, I don’t know what this guy’s problem is and why he’s pushing so hard for a friendship that doesn’t exist, at least between us. They’re Mike’s friends, not mine. Except for Mitch, who is someone I’ve known for many years and had more contact with, the other two are almost strangers. Sure, we’ve shared beers on several nights, but they’re not people I’d call friends.
However, for some reason, this guy seems determined to get me off my mind today. And if I haven’t lost control yet, it’s because I’m thinking about Angelee, about Mike. Otherwise...
“I mean... aren’t you the big player in this group?” Kevin adds, his eyebrows raised, almost challenging me.
“I don’t know, aren’t you the one who changes girlfriends every week? I may not have slept with the same woman more than once, but I’m serious about the one I call my own.” I say seriously and notice Kevin’s expression tighten while I take another sip of beer.
“Don’t tell me Julian Adams’ heart has been caught!” Ambrose says loudly, drawing my sharp eyes to him.
And suddenly, the beer isn’t getting so well in my stomach.
“Who would say!” Ambrose laughs, waving an empty bottle. “Who’s the lucky girl?”
I sigh deeply, running my hand through my hair impatiently. I look away, pretending to stare at the TV, even though great anguish is taking over my chest. It shouldn’t be like this. It shouldn’t be...
“Oh, I get it now...” Kevin mutters sarcastically, and I look at him harshly, my heart beating in my throat. “It makes sense.”
Shut up.
*Shut the fuck up!*
I grit my teeth, trying not to show weakness... But Kevin adds, with a wicked smile on his lips, “You’re fucking Mike’s daughter, aren’t you?”
The bastard’s words hit me straight in the chest, and I feel breathless... their impact hurts more than a punch. But I can’t deny it — I just move my eyes slightly, finally facing Mike, who is bringing the bottle to his lips.
Mitch, Ambrose, and Kevin are looking at me, each in a different way... Disbelief, surprise, amusement. The fucking season’s opening is happening right now, and I seem to have won the best entertainment category in its place.
Mike leans over, putting the bottle down, keeping his eyes fixed on the TV, but I know that at any moment, he’s going to rush over me and show how much it hurts to be punched by a friend...
But he does nothing but lower his gaze further at the hands that hold the bottle tightly. And finally, he cut this unsettling silence, his voice sounding serious, so serious that I shivered, “The night is over.”
Ambrose slaps Kevin upside the head as if he’s a brat who’s ruined everything. But everyone remains seated, apparently stunned, perhaps thinking it’s a joke or something.
I run my hand over my face, feeling my chest sink. Damn... why now?
Why like this? Things aren’t going the way I planned...
“GET OUT NOW!” Mike shouts, but it’s not an angry one... It’s an order.
I pull my hand away from my face, dropping it on the armchair, and Mitch is the first to get up, grabbing two beers with one hand while saying, “My wife will hate you for making me shout at home. She despises these things, but that’s okay. Call me later, you two.”
While Mitch is already heading for the door, Ambrose and Kevin get up, which also makes me stand up, suddenly uncomfortable. I pull at my collar, trying to relieve my hyperventilation, but it doesn’t help much because Mike finally moves and makes me hold my breath. He puts the beer back in the pile on the table, most of them yet to be opened.
I watch as his friends slowly leave, disappointed that the night has ended like that, and I can’t help but feel guilty about it. But then, Kevin stands in the doorway, yet to leave. He looks at me sarcastically, and there’s an annoying smile that I’m more than happy to wipe off his face.
“Good luck with that,” Kevin says before walking away. And the low thud of the door closing makes me breathe sharply.
I turn around slowly, seeing Mike bending down again, picking up a new bottle. I swallow hard as I watch how easily he opens it and throws the cap off, just as I did before. He downs all the beer in just a few sips, and I know I’ve ruined everything.
Mike stands up at last, and his voice cuts through the lively music from the opening show still playing on TV, “It’s true, isn’t it?”
When his eyes finally land on me, I feel my heart bleed. *His expression, his look...*
“You’re fucking my daughter.” He says slowly, realization falling over him. Then his eyes turn sharp and rigid, and I can almost see flames of anger burning in his brown irises.
I take a short breath, my heart pounding quickly, crashing hard against my chest, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it ripped out and ran away... after all, *I also wouldn’t want to be in my place right now...*
But it can’t run off, neither do I.
I open my lips to answer him but find myself unable to deny or confirm; no sound escapes through them.
And that seems to be the last thread that needed to snap. Mike lunges at me, grabbing me by the collar and throwing a strong punch right at my chin... The problem is that, just like me, he used to box, and his punch has the weight of a rock.
I stagger backward, and my vision is completely dark by the impact. My brain rattles inside my head, and I can swear that I feel it crashing, just as my heart did a moment ago.
Inevitably, I lose my balance and fall to the ground, using what little strength I have left to fall less painfully and pathetically.
My vision is still dark when Mike’s silhouette advances on me again, and even though I’m still on the ground, he shouts, furious, “I’m going to kill you!”
He grabs my collar, lifting me a bit just to throw another punch — this one straight into my nose and mouth, making the metallic taste of blood explode on my palate.
His firm grip on my shirt shows that he intends to punch me more, and I can see now, my vision coming back into focus, that he’s still leaning over me, his raised fist about to hit my face...
“DAD!” Angelee’s voice sounds like a cry, and despair takes hold of me. I break free of Mike’s grip and try to stand up, but my legs aren’t obeying me yet, and I fall pathetically backward. But my back doesn’t hit the ground... her body supports me... “What are you doing?!”
“Stay out of this, Angelee!” Mike shouts, and I notice that she shudders but hugs me with trembling arms, resting my head in the curve of her neck.
“You hurt him!” She shouts back, and even though her voice is shaky, she sounds... angry. “You *hurt* him, Dad!”
Angelee takes my face in her hands, inspecting it. Judging by the feeling on my tongue, all my teeth are in place, and my nose looks as perfect as ever. But when I moisten my lip and feel a twinge of pain, more blood taste comes into my mouth. Well... a cut lip and a bruised nose don’t seem as bad as I imagined...
But the way she holds me carefully, with watery eyes, looking at me so fearful... It makes me feel strangely satisfied.
“Stay out of this,” Mike says, brushing his hand across his face, almost like trying not to see me — or her. “Go to your room.”
“I won’t!” She retorts, casting furious eyes at him. “I won’t let you hurt him.”
“You don’t have to defend me so much, little girl,” I say slowly, and she looks at me again, but so softly that my heart races and my chest heats up, at the same time that I feel a chill in my stomach, down my spine. A contradiction that only Angelee is capable of arousing in me. “I’m fine.”
“How could you be fine?” She says between her teeth, carefully touching the blood on my nose, with such a worried expression that I’d be a fool not to take advantage of it later.
“Why don’t you wait for me in my apartment?” I say slowly, holding her hand to stop it from getting stained with my blood. “I’ll be home soon.”
She alternates her eyes between me and her father, uncertain, then just nods, getting up slowly, “Okay...”
Before leaving, Angelee looks intently at her father, probably a mixture of conflicting feelings, but resentment seems to be winning out. And really, knowing that she can’t help but fight because of me makes me feel like a foolish teenager.
But when the door closes, leaving us alone, I sigh, touching the blood dripping from my nose. I moisten my lip again, sucking on the small cut.
“At least you didn’t hide behind her, you fucking brat.” Mike turns his back on me, walking back to the beer bottles. “I praise you for that.”
“I’m not one to run off my responsibilities, you know that.”
“Do I?” Mike looks at me over his shoulder and purses his lips. “I don’t know if I know you that well anymore.”
His words hit me hard, and now I’m sure they hurt more than the two well-deserved punches on my face.
“You betrayed me, Julian. My daughter, behind my back...” He says hoarsely, and even though he’s furious, I can sense the disappointment in his voice. But when he turns around slowly, looking me straight in the eye, my chest burns... “How could you do this to me?”