“…and don’t take her anywhere too rowdy. I know you and she knows I’m going to ask! Just do something quiet! You’re not impressing anyone with being showy. She’s not impressed. I’m not impressed. And the judge sure as hell isn’t going to be impressed! Are you listening? You’re sitting there like a goddamn tree again.”
As the droning paused for a response, he unclenched his jaw and opened his eyes, now bringing the phone closer to his ear. In the moment of respite, he could finally get a word in. *Fuck me, how does she talk this long?* He groaned internally, hesitant to let it be heard.
“Yeah, I’m listening,” he grumbled flatly. He peeked through the window, hoping to see the car rolling into the parking lot below so this sermon could finally be over. He almost felt himself dissociating during these long rants about his parenting ability. Hell, any rant at all coming from this woman would be enough to make him uneasy and dead-eyed. “You’re really still going on about that? Look, Ellie was doing fine she just didn’t hold on to the rei-“
“Her *name* is Amelia. And I don’t care how well she was doing! It’s a goddamn animal!”