“I know,” I said. My fingers tightened slightly into a fist.
She studied me for a long moment, and I had the sense I was being weighed, but not in a cruel way.
“And are you prepared for what comes with it?” she asked softly.
I swallowed, but didn’t flinch. “I am.”
Cora gave a faint smile then, the kind that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Good. Nice meeting you, Lucy,” she said, walking away.
“It’s—” I began and then stopped myself. Why did I even bother?
I looked over at Jonah, who stood, talking to a few of his father’s friends, all of them older than him. I loved watching Jonah interact with others and getting to observe him. But that night, the more I saw, the more concerned I felt. I’d seen him with his family, and I’d seen him around me. I could tell the difference in Jonah’s behavior. He wasn’t completely himself here. His smile was stiffer, his body and shoulders tense. His words and voice were clipped while he spoke.
He turned to catch my gaze, and his expression softened. In a minute, he excused himself and came over to me.
“Find some new investors?” I asked, realizing that I was talking about it like one might ask if someone got a good head of vegetables at the market that day.
He nodded. “Kevin Stiles, my dad’s old colleague, is interested. I’ll have to set up a meeting with him sometime. But I’d much rather be here with you,” he said.
I smiled as I held his gaze, and he kept looking at me. My cheeks felt warm, and I wondered what Jonah was reading on me and my behavior tonight. It was blatantly obvious how different I was from his family and his type of people.
“So that was your dad,” I said as Jonah and I grabbed drinks.
“Yes, I hope he doesn’t scare you off.”
“Scared of your dad?” I shook my head. “If I wasn’t scared of you, why would I be scared of him? You have the same lookon you,” I said. “That look of stern determination whenever you want something.”
He laughed. “Did you see it on me when I pursued you?” he asked, drawing me to him.
“You? Pursue me?” I laughed and shook my head.
“That did happen,” he said, breaking my laughter with a kiss that was sweet and soft. “I’ve got you here, haven’t I?”
I grinned. But I was glad I had gotten to meet his family. “You told me a while ago that your dad was important to you, and I see it now.”
“Well,” he muttered out of the side of his mouth, “he’s the only person in my family who likes me. When he has the time for me, that is.” His voice faltered. “His health hasn’t been so great, so they live in Wyoming now instead of his New York apartment like he used to.”
My gaze rested on Cora, who looked our way briefly before turning away. Jonah followed my gaze.
“She’s a piece of work,” I breathed out.
“I apologize for the way she behaved, Lexi,” he said immediately. “I saw how she ignored you.”
I turned around to see Cora talking to her companions easily while Jonah’s breath was on my ear.
“It just seems strange,” I muttered. “The way she speaks to you so dismissively.”
He drew a deep breath before nodding. “My father’s wife and I have a tacit understanding to stay out of each other’s way whenever possible. My dad is pretty oblivious to it. Or if he knows, he doesn’t want to deal with the drama. But I wish she would stop trying to separate my dad and me. It … it hurts since he is the only family I have left.”
I could understand. It was the way I felt about my mom. Misguided and addicted though she was, I had a daily struggle of wishing she had been a better mom to me and a reliablegrandparent to Evie. I still hadn’t sent her the money she’d been badgering for… and perhaps that was a good thing.
His expression was disturbed. “I don’t want you to worry about this, Lexi.”
I couldn’t help it. Especially since it concerned him. The fact that people with power over him would emotionally torment him like this upset me.
“It’s okay,” he added, noticing my troubled expression. “I’m used to it, Lexi. I’ve stopped trying to make sense of it all. I’ve learned to compartmentalize my life. My work, my dad, and my personal life.”
No wonder he was so broken.
