Glass Hearts [BL]

My heart wouldn’t stop racing as I pulled into the garage.

It’s just Mom and Dad, I kept telling myself. Just my parents.

But my palms wouldn’t stop trembling on the steering wheel.

Truth was, it wasn’t just them. With Dad around, things always got complicated. The kind of complicated that left scars. The kind of complicated where every word felt like a test.

I’d told Ash once that my dad was "complicated."

That was putting it nicely.

What I didn’t say was that he was a bigoted, money-obsessed control freak who’d rather buy another skyscraper than show up for his kids.

I stepped inside, and instantly felt the shift. Staff rushing around, polishing things that were already clean, walking fast and fidgeting.

That only happened when my father was home. Fear, wrapped up in productivity.

I hit the living room, and there she was...my mom. Same perfect makeup, same bright perfume. Her face lit up like I was still ten years old.

"Oh, my baby!" she squealed, opening her arms wide.

I let her hug me, stiff at first, then softening a little. I had missed her. Even if she came with him.

Then I saw him. Dad, descending the stairs with his slow steps like he was walking onto a stage. His arms went around me like I was a business partner. Not a son.

"My son."

"Dad." I nodded.

Thirteen months. Thirteen fucking months.

I tried to smile. "So... welcome back. What’s it been, thirteen months?"

He laughed like it was a joke. "Oh. You know how business gets."

Business. Always business.

I forced a smile. "At least you came for Liam’s funeral. When do you plan on visiting the Everharts? Tonight? Tomorrow?"

Mom cut in smoothly, her hand brushed Dad’s shoulder. "Soon. Your father needs to rest first, he’s been working nonstop."

Working. Sure. Too busy to console the parents of the boy who’d practically lived in our house.

She patted my jacket, dusting at nothing. "Go shower, honey. You’re so handsome, but you look exhausted."

"Where’s Diane?" Dad asked, glancing around like she was a missing employee, not her only daughter.

"She went out, she’ll be back soon," I said.

"Good. Go freshen up," Mom said again, with that smile.... like she was hiding something. "We have some news for you, and it’ll be better if you’re settled first."

I frowned, and glanced at the both of them. "News? What kind of news?"

Dad laughed lightly, the kind of laugh that never reached his eyes. "We wanted to wait, but your mother can’t hold water when she’s excited."

Mom squeezed my hand. "Baby, your dad and I... we’re staying in Estrella for a long time."

My brows lifted. "Really?"

Mixed feelings twisted in my chest. Relief, because maybe they’d actually be around. Dread, because I knew what that meant: control. Pressure. Expectations.

"Why? Are you planning to run the company from here?"

Dad’s lips curved into that practiced politician smile he wore better than his suits. "Something like that."

Then Mom squeaked, too giddy to wait. "Your father’s running for Mayor!"

The words cracked through me.

"What the fuck?!"

My jaw dropped.

Of course. Of course he came back now. After thirteen months of silence. After Liam’s death. After skipping every chance to be a father.

He was here for power.

For himself.

And I stood there, staring at the man who called himself my father, thinking: What kind of monster leaves his family behind for over a year, only to come back and use his dead bestfriend’s son’s funeral as a campaign backdrop? My dad. Albert Vale.

I shook my head in anger and annoyance, until I couldn’t hold it anymore.

"What?! You’ve gotta be kidding me," I snapped.

"You disappear for over a year. You didn’t call. You didn’t visit. Not even when Liam was in a coma, you didn’t even check up on his parent. Your own friend’s som. And now you stroll back in here talking about running for mayor? What the actual fuck, Dad?!"

His eyes hardened, that same stonewall I grew up with. "Watch your language. You don’t understand how.."

"Don’t do that," I cut him off, my hands shook as I pointed at him. "Don’t act like I don’t get it. I understand perfectly. It’s always the same thing with you...money, power, status. You don’t care about people unless they vote for you, work for you or kiss your foot."

Dad’s jaw tightened. "Don’t twist it. This is about serving the city."

"Serving the city," I repeated, almost laughing. "You couldn’t even serve your own family."

"Dominic..." Mom reached for my hand, her voice softened. "Honey, calm down. Please. Your father, he’s trying. We’re here now. That has to count for something, right?"

I turned to her. She sounded so damn hopeful. She always did. But I couldn’t stand it anymore.

"No, Mom. It doesn’t count. Not this time. You don’t get to walk in and pretend like we’re some perfect family again."

"Calm down son," Dad said smoothly, like it was no big deal. "This anger won’t change anything, son. It never has."

I just stared. "You’re joking, right?"

The silence after that was heavy. Mom reached for me again. "Baby listen..."

But I pulled back. My chest was burning.

Dad’s voice stayed calm, like he was at a board meeting, not in front of his son. "You’ll come around, Dominic. You always do."

Why would he say that?! Like I was some kid he could predict, not a person breaking apart right in front of him.

He added smoothly, "And young man, that’s not the only news we’ve got for you. When you’ve cooled down, we’ll talk more."

I laughed bitterly and shook my head. "Yeah, good luck with that."

Then I turned, ignoring his voice, ignoring Mom calling after me, and stormed upstairs.

Each step felt like it shook the whole house.

When I slammed my bedroom door shut, my chest finally caved in. My back hit the door, and I slid down, pressing my hands into my eyes.

They hadn’t come back for me.

They hadn’t come back for Liam.

They hadn’t even come back for Diane who’s leaving for college soon.

Just for him. Just for his stupid campaign.

"Mayor. He wants to be fucking mayor." I laughed, throwing my jacket across the room. It smacked the wall and slid down. "Unbelievable."

I grabbed my phone from my pocket to call Ash....except it wasn’t there. Just my empty pocket.

"Shit. Stupid shit," I muttered, smacking my forehead with my palm. "Left it in the car. Of course I did. Now I gotta go back down there and see his face again."

I groaned, kicked the bedframe, and stormed out.

My footsteps pounded down the stairs, past staff who avoided my eyes like always.

One of the maids froze halfway down the hallway, clutching a stack of towels like she’d forgotten how to move. She just lowered her head like we were both pretending she hadn’t witnessed the blow-up. My dad’s shadow reached everyone.

Halfway down, I froze. Dad’s voice floated in from the balcony, like he was already giving a speech. Probably telling some donor he’s back in town. I shook my head and hissed. Follow current novels on ɴovelfire.net