I take in a deep breath, not trusting myself to speak.
“He’s very concerned about you. Personally, I would prefer it if he had nothing to do with you ever again.”
“Is he okay?”
“He has a broken wrist. His tennis season is over. Maybe his college career.”
Shit. Fuck.
“But you’ll still pay his tuition, right?”
A bitter smirk twists his lips.
“Yes, I’ll pay his tuition. I would add the condition that he never see you again.”
My stomach drops, but it’s nothing I wouldn’t deserve.
“Except I know he’d throw it all away for you and I don’t want that.”
I frown. “Nate wouldn’t throw his future away. He’s not stupid.”
“He’s not stupid. But he is in love.”
My face flushes, everything in me warming up. “How do you know that?”
He shrugs. “Because he told me.”
It doesn’t matter, I tell myself. I can’t let Nate throw everything away for me. I stand, my body aching from the fight.
“Listen, you don’t have to worry. I’m not gonna bother him anymore. I knew I’d ruin his life and now I have. I just wanted to make sure he was okay, now I know he is-”
“Sit down, Evan.”
I take a deep breath and do as he says.
“People told me not to marry Pamela, but I did anyway. You know why?”
“Because you’re a rich guy and you can do whatever the fuck you want?”
He laughs. “No. I can’t do ‘whatever the fuck I want’ because I have people relying on me. I have children of my own who are older but who will always be my responsibility. I have a business, employees, I have a wife, and Nathan.…” he runs his fingers through his hair. I wonder if he always has this much scruff on his chin. Was he really worried about Nate? Was all that shit Nate said about him being an asshole just bullshit? Does Nate really want this guy’s approval?
“I married her because I love her, and while people’s concern was understandable, I know Pamela, and I trusted that she had my best interests at heart, despite what everyone said.” He fixes me with an unwavering stare and I’m wondering about the point of this story. What’s he expecting me to say? “Do you have Nathan’s best interest at heart?”
“Yes.” One hundred percent.
He nods, looking down at his hands. “You should go in and talk to him when he comes out from getting his cast.”
“What about-”
He holds a hand up. “I’ll talk to his mother.”
He gets up. “By the way, I know I owe you a debt.”
“What?”
“It was cutthroat of me to blame Nathan’s little indiscretion on you.”
I blink. Indiscretion? Is he talking about Nate wrapping a fucking car around a tree?
