Where do the good days go?

 "Just think about it, will you?" Jay was serious, but Slater would have none of it. He didn't want to look at the old picture that Jay took on his phone.

"That smile," he said. "Is so you."

Slater didn't want to talk about it. There was no use in it. After all, he never knew his father. Why did his friend have to dig up dirt like this? Especially, with Lindy and Lenny's dad.

"You're wrong." Slater was straight lipped. No way in hell would their dad be his dad. It couldn't be. Of course, it was exhausting even thinking about the past. "I've always lived with family."

Of course, there was a lump in his throat and he was on the brink of tears. Why did Jay have to do this to him?

"But you don't know, look at that smile. You have his smile." Jay was certain of it.

"Can't you worry about your own damn Dad?' Slater gave him a soured look and pushed back a tear with the back of his thumb. "Is this the only reason you got together with Lindy?"

Now Jay looked sad, but he didn't fight him on it. "I dunno."

"Forget it, will you. Just be a good dad." Slater went to the kitchen to get them some coffee. It was best to stay well caffeinated on these cold windy days of March. He was doing his best to keep the apartment clean like Misty wanted. She didn't eat meat anymore so he was into roasting veg in the airfryer these days, but it could get messy. Yes, he was the domestic guy that Misty wanted.

"You just don't get it," Jay tensed. "She needs me. Lindy really needs somebody who's going to be there for her. I don't think her Dad knows her at all. It's just.."

"She's family." Slater sighed. "But not your family. It's Lenny's family, dude."

Slater couldn't even imagine being Lenny's brother. Hell, he didn't want to be Lenny's brother.