I knew he would do something to ruin the night. I just knew it.

I tried my best to keep my cool while I dropped Maya off at home, but I was close to exploding. Seeing her cry had broken my heart. And after she told me the things that he said to her--I wanted to kill him.

I didn't so much care what he said or thought about me, he made his feelings about my decisions to go to the Kennedy Institute crystal clear, but for him to basically call her a gold digger and reduce her down to just a phase, I wasn't having it. And then for him to come on to her. It made me so livid I could barely see straight.

I sat in my car trying to slow my heart rate before going inside. I needed to calm down or who knows what I would do. Maya told me not to do anything that would send me to jail and I said I would try. I'm not so sure I could keep that promise.

"Hey, where did you guys go?" He sat at the kitchen counter eating the dinner that Martha had made straight from the pan. "We didn't get to eat dinner."

"Maybe you shouldn't have offered my girlfriend two million dollars to break up with me," I said standing across from him. I thought it was best if I keep the counter between us, lest I decide to slam his face into that casserole dish he was eating out of.

"Oh brother," he groaned. "It was only a hypothetical offer. I would never pay that much money for you, five-hundred thousand would be the cap."

I clenched my fists at my sides stopping myself from slamming his face into the tray of potatoes.

"She would never take your money anyway!" I snapped. "She's not with me for my money. She doesn't even like me to buy her things, but you just assumed she was using me. She's not like those girls that you date, she wouldn't use me."

He scoffed, mocking me, "And why is that?" He put his hands up before I could answer. "Oh, wait, let me guess. Because she loves you."

My jaw tensed. "She does love me."

"She really has you fooled," he guffawed. He put his fork down sitting up straight on his stool. "Let me tell you something, kid, they all don't want the gifts in the beginning. Take your mother for example, when we first got together she would politely reject my gifts at first, but at the end of the day, she would always take them. Then she stopped shying away from taking my credit card. And then after years of spending my money, she leaves with the fucking pool boy. Do you want that?"

"Maya's not mom."

"You're right about that," he said. "But what does it matter anyway? It's not like you're going to marry her."

"I could marry her." At that moment, I was just saying it to spite him, but the thought of it didn't scare me as it should have. I love her more than anything, and I'd be with her forever if she wanted me.

"Oh, boy," he exhaled. "She's going to bleed you dry."

I was sure she wouldn't considering how frugal she is if anything she would save me money. "When are you leaving?" I asked him, knowing it would be soon. He never stays longer than a week.

"Tomorrow, actually. That's what I wanted to talk to you about over dinner but you and Maya stormed out so abruptly."

"Because of you."

He waved me off. "I only told her the truth." What a load of bullshit. "Anyway, the thing is, I'm moving."

"What do you mean you're moving?" It's not like he lives here in the first place.

"I'm moving to Florence, Italy," he smiled, "I bought a villa there."

I put a hand to my forehead. "So you're just moving...like for good?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, you're eighteen now. You're about to graduate, you don't need me. There's no need for me to come back."

"But what am I supposed to do?" He had just pulled the rug out from under me with this. "What about this house? And your cars? And me?"

"I don't know, you can sell it if you want," he said, "And as far as you go, you have a trust fund that's enough to support you for a while. Get an apartment, stay here, do whatever you want."

"That's it then. Tomorrow you're leaving and you're not coming back."

He slid off the stool, standing up straight. "Pretty much. Whenever you're over this mechanic thing feel free to come and join me. I'll show you the ropes of Ainsworth Industries."

"I don't think so."

"Well, the invitation still stands." He drifted closer to the doorway. "And hey don't let her leave you completely broke."

"Dad."

He put his hands up in surrender. "Just a little advice. Catch you later, Kid."

"Yeah, catch you later," I said my mind now elsewhere.

After he was gone I stood in the empty kitchen, frozen in place. I've never felt more alone in this house than I did when he left. I had to get out.

I was in a daze on the drive back to Maya's. He's really leaving--for good. I don't think I was shocked that he was leaving again, but that he wasn't coming back. Even though he was gone a majority of the time, he always made his way back. But not this time.

Italy?

I always thought if he would go anywhere it would be the Bahamas. He loved the Bahamas.

"Nick!" Maya called down the hall hearing the front door close.

I left my shoes next to the door, Maya's been meaning to get us a rack but she keeps forgetting. I'll have to get one for her.

She rushed towards me already in her pajamas. Sometimes I forget how short she is, but when she's wearing her otherwise normal-sized pajama pants they drag behind her and she has to roll her sweatshirt sleeves up just so they'll hit at her wrist, it's hard to miss.

Putting her hand on my cheeks, she turned my head from side to side checking for evidence of a fight I'm assuming. "What happened? Are you okay?" she worried.

"I'm fine, sort of," I said, holding her hand to my cheek, letting her palm warm it. "He's moving."

"What?" she asked taken aback. "Where is he going?"

"Italy," I said my voice hollow. "Tomorrow. He's leaving tomorrow, and he's not coming back, apparently."

"But...but you live here." She put her hands on her head having trouble wrapping her own mind around it. "Is he selling your house? He has like fifty cars! What is he going to do with them?"

"He said I don't need him anymore." And that is true, I don't need him. "He said I could sell everything if I wanted too, he doesn't care."

"Well that's obvious," she exhaled. Pissed, but now concerned. "How do you feel? Are you okay?"

"I...I don't know," I stammered. "I guess that this just showed me that he really doesn't give a shit about me."

"Oh, Nick."

I ran a frustrated hand over my face. "He's not even coming back for my graduation. He didn't even wish me a happy birthday." I chuckled, sarcastically, "I guess my trust fund is a happy birthday enough."

Is this what he planned all along to wait until I'm eighteen then just disappear. Oh, wait, he gave me a half-ass invitation to work for him, like that makes up for anything.

I hate him. Or I want to at least.

"And he didn't even apologize for the things he said to you," I ranted. "He had no remorse. I don't know why I'm surprised."

Maya embraced me, holding me tight. "I'm so sorry this is happening to you." I rested my head on her shoulder. "You deserve so much better."

"Why are our parents so shitty?" I asked myself more than her.

"I guess we just got lucky," she replied.

I squeezed her. "Is that what you call it? Luck."

She looked up at me. "Well, I got you, so yeah, I would say I'm lucky."

I rested my forehead against hers. I'm so glad I have her. "I'd do anything for you."

She smiled softly. "I know. We're going to get through this. I'll help you with whatever you need."

"I'm selling that house," I stated. "I can't stay there."

"You can stay here." She rushed to add, "I mean if you want to. You can stay until you get another place."

Kissing her, I gave her my answer. "Yes, I would love to stay here with you."

"Okay," she grinned. "It's going to be kind of tight."

"I don't care." And I didn't. Nothing could be worse than staying in that house for any longer. "This is all so much so fast. How do you sell a house? And where am I going to take all his stuff?"

"Let's worry about that tomorrow," Maya said rubbing her hands over my arms.

Shit, I have school tomorrow. "I have school tomorrow." After tonight, the last place I want to go is to school. No, actually the last place I want to go is back to my house.

"Make sure you pay extra attention in personal finance," she advised me, You're going to need it now."

I groaned, beginning to walk us towards the bedroom. "Are you going to make me go over the budget with you?" Every time she gets paid she sits at the kitchen table and writes out a weekly budget. It usually takes about an hour, but it's incredibly tedious and quite frankly boring.

"You bet your handsome face I am," she pinched my cheeks. "And I might even let you make the grocery list."

Oh, goodie, the grocery list.

I stripped off my jeans and sweater quickly preparing for bed. The last few hours had drained me more than the long hours at school had. I was ready for this day to be over.

Maya waited in bed for me, playing with Charlie. He playfully swatted at her hands as she wiggled her fingers over his face. She giggled when he caught one of her fingers between his paws.

I looked at the two of them and suddenly I didn't feel so lost. This is exactly where I'm supposed to be.