#mean dad

I woke up to a very special Father’s Day edition of Mean Dad from James!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/42802554/chapters/107522661

Excerpt:

Eddie turned off the ignition, but he hesitated before getting out of the car. He shut his eyes and exhaled. He was exhausted after the night shift and was ready for the days off that Thanksgiving would provide. He hated working the 2-10, but he’d traded with a coworker so that he could spend the holiday with his new family.

It was the first time they’d spend the holiday together, and everyone was pulling out all the stops. It was going to be him, Wayne, Steve, and Gareth, who had been recently disinvited from his own family gathering. It was small compared to most thanksgiving parties, but it was a big deal for the four of them. Eddie would put down money that Steve was already at the trailer, mashing potatoes. Steve and Wayne got along like they’d known each other their whole lives. They both knew the same terrible country music and liked the same sitcoms. Steve had gotten Wayne talking more than Eddie had ever seen him talk in his life. 

He rubbed his face and got out of the car. He hoped that he would be able to get a few hours of sleep before he had to help. 

Then he saw the man waiting outside the trailer and his face drained of all color. The man was old, and clearly high, but the spark of shared blood flamed into awareness in Eddie’s chest. The man started coming towards him. 

“Nope,” Eddie said. “Nope. Not today. Not ever.”

He made to get back in his car, but the man blocked his way. He stank of sweat and booze and ammonia.

“Is that any way to greet your old man?”

“Go away.”

“Why you look like a girl? You should cut that shit off.”

“Get out of here, man.”

“Or what?”

“I’ll call–”

“The cops?” the man laughed, showing a missing tooth and blood red gums. “I know you, Turkey Trot. You have too much to hide.”