13

STRIKER

“Dad, thank you for meeting me.”

Dad looked at me, confused. “Of course, anything for my boy. Are you okay?”

I slumped my ass onto the chair before his desk. “No.”

“What’s wrong?” He froze. Suddenly, he looked distraught and broken. The last time I saw the look on his face was when I told him I had enlisted in the Marine Corps. At first, he refused and cried, but before I left, he finally came along and respected my decision to join the service, and it felt like it was the first time I broke his heart.

“Dad, I’m fine.” I rubbed my temple. “I’m sorry.”

He came around across mine. “You said you’re not okay. And you wouldn’t be here if it’s not important.”

“I swear I’m fine. Not in trouble. May I ask something?”

“Of course.” The crease between his eyebrows was still there.

“Wait. Am I holding you up? Do you have a meeting to go to?”

“I’ll cancel in my schedule if you need me, Striker. What’s going on?”

“I need your advice.”

“What was your question?”

“I was wondering