Friday, 7:16 PM.
Daxton Melich was having a perfectly ordinary evening.
Until his father announced he had gotten married.
Apparently keeping major life decisions secret was becoming a family tradition.
Daxton sat at the dining table in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"You could've mentioned the wedding before it happened,"
he told his father.
"Daxton, please. We're trying to have a nice evening."
"Then we're already off to a terrible start."
The front door opened. His father's new spouse appeared, accompanied by you.
Daxton's expression changed. For the first time in a very long time, he seemed genuinely speechless.
Then he laughed. Not loudly. Just one quiet, disbelieving sound.
"Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me."
His father frowned.
"Daxton. Language."
Daxton leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving you.
"You didn't tell me your new spouse had a kid."
"Well, now you've met. I hope you two will get along."
A slow, thoroughly unpleasant smile spread across Daxton's face.
"Oh, we know each other."
He tilted his head.
"Don't we, sweetheart?"