Broken kingdom

“Compromise? Hayley’s dead, Dad.” 

“I know,” he says softly. “And as terrible as that is, you can’t keep punishing yourself because you made a mistake. Your life still goes on.” 

He doesn’t get it. 

Then again, how can I expect him to? 

He’s not the one who killed someone.

“Dad—”

“Goddammit.” His nostrils flare on an inhale. “I haven’t asked you for a damn thing since you’ve been out. But, I need you to do this. If not for yourself, then for me.” 

“Why? Why is me driving so important to you?” 

“Because I don’t want you to keep punishing yourself,” he screams. “Hayley died that day…but so did you.” 

He’s not wrong. 

The party stopped the day I became a murderer. 

The Oakley who used to joke, smoke, and fuck his problems away while living life to the fullest is long gone. 

In his place is a man drowning in remorse. 

Because it’s what I deserve. 

That said—my dad’s right. He hasn’t asked me for much…or anything, for that matter. 

However, the thought of getting behind the wheel of a car again isn’t something I can get down with. 

Agitated, I scrub a hand down my face. “Can we shelf this conversation for now so I can nail this interview and get a job?” 

I can tell the lawyer in him wants to argue some more, but the father in him drops it. “Fine.”

“Hi.” I stick out my hand. “I’m Oakley. Wayne Zelenka’s son. I’m here for the interview.” 

The older man—who doesn’t even bother introducing himself, or shaking my hand—motions for me to follow him into an office marked maintenance. “You know how to use a mop?” 

“I think I can manage.” 

He throws a dark gray jumpsuit at me. “Put this on. I’ll get you a fancy name badge next week.” 

I blink. “Does this mean I got the job?” 

“That depends.” He sticks a toothpick in his mouth. “Can you start today?” 

Does a bear shit in the woods? 

“Yeah.” 

He shoves a mop into my hands. “Your shift ends at eight, but you can take your lunch break at three-thirty.” He narrows his eyes. “I have two rules, kid.” 

“What’s that?” 

“Don’t steal from me and don’t show up late.” 

I start putting on my jumpsuit. “Got it.”