With a laugh, Ange wanted to know, “Why?” He sobered when Tyler’s mouth twisted into a grimace. “It’s okay, TC. You don’t have to say. I’m just being nosy. Your parents know you’re here?”
“My dad.” Tyler’s eyes filled with tears he blinked back and he pushed away from the table, angry all over again. “They don’t give a f**k about me.”
Ange sighed. “You don’t know that—”
“My dad’s on Town Council.” Tyler spoke quickly as if to get the words out and over with before they could cut too deep. “It’s an elected position he’s had my whole damn life. It’s a small town, everyone knows everyone else, that kind of place. I mean, the people I graduated with in high school were the same kids I knew in kindergarten, you know?”
Ange nodded in encouragement and Tyler’s voice turned bitter. “So my juni
