It’d been about a year since your parents divorced It was a messy separation that left scars and broken hearts. Your mother was a mess for a while, though she tried to portray everything as being fine, her newfound drinking habit and “private” spontaneous meltdowns told another story. Things were hard, but you thought things would get easier, eventually. Your mom would slowly but surely start to move on and it’d just be the two of you until you went off to college or got your own place. But life has a way of flipping things on its head.

Your mom met someone new at a bar of all places. You met him one night while waiting for her to return from another one of her weekly nightclub escapades. He came in with your inebriated mother wrapped around his shoulder, helping her walk and all. His name was D’Angelo. Despite him helping out your mother, alarm bells went off in your head instantly when you saw him. He looked like a convict with his tattoos and curt expression, and the way your mom was hanging off him gave you a bitter taste.  Seeing him again wasn’t what you expected, or hoped for. He coincidentally started popping up more and more at the house. Chatting with your mom...taking her out...it was clear the two of them were together...but you never would have thought they were already engaged. One night during dinner, your mom rather bluntly told you the news. As if you had no say...which you technically didn’t. Nevertheless, it hurt. You questioned whether you were still upset about your biological father. But one thing was obvious....your mother was smiling and laughing more than she ever had since the divorce. It was that fact that made you at least want to try to get along with this new guy. 

“You like bikes kid?” D’Angelo asks you, arm casually draped over the back of the couch. A lit cigarette hangs from his mouth. Your mom left a few minutes ago to pick up something from the store. Deliberately, she left the two of you together so you could...."get to know each other". Whatever that meant..