Later that night, after Evie had gone to bed, I walked into our room. I changed out of my clothes, my emotions calmer now.
But I couldn’t shake the conversation from earlier.
“Thank you for tonight,” Jonah murmured as he settled onto the bed beside me. “That cake was incredible.”
I answered him with a deep, sensuous kiss.
We broke apart and I settled against his chest, finding my familiar place there.
“Jonah, I want to talk to you about inviting your dad over for dinner. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Why? Because of Cora?”
“No.” I shook my head, wondering how to talk about this. “Listen, I know he means a lot to you. But I’m starting to think that he doesn’t care about you the way he should. He uses youwhen he needs you for his company and abandons you when you need him,” I sighed.
“Let’s not discuss this.” Jonah’s voice was sharp.
I frowned.
“You said he repeatedly ignored you while you lived under his roof. He undermined your self-worth, refused to let you meet your mother. And you still plan to have him over for dinner and pretend like none of that ever happened?”
“I’m aware, Lexi. I’m aware of all those things.”
“You sure aren’t acting like you are. Is it really that easy to forget all he’s done to hurt you emotionally?”
He pressed his mouth shut. “Who says he’s hurt me?” he demanded. “He’s the only family I’ve got.”
He turned to walk out, but I held on to his hand and pulled him back.
“Youcansay no. You can break contact with him to keep yourself from getting disappointed over and over. You can tell your dad to buzz off—because you’ve put up with enough shit from him, and no human person should take one tiny bit more. Especially not you.”
I paused, seeing him getting angry at my words.
“Are you going to give your dad so much importance when he gives you none?”
His face was quite close to mine. He looked pissed off, both at himself and at me.
He yanked his hands out of my grip and stared at me, fuming. “I know you’re pissed off, Lexi, but you don’t know my dad like I do. Without him, I’d be nothing today. I know we don’t agree, mostly because you think my dad just uses me somehow. We’ll meet him again, and you’ll see that he values me. I love you, and I know you don’t agree with my decision, but we’re not ending our first night here on this note,” he said. “So, let’s go to bed.”
“Jonah, this discussion isn’t done.”
He lifted his chin in a way that told me I had overstepped.
“It is for me,” he said angrily.
“Well then,” I said, getting up, “I think I can sleep in the guest room tonight.”
59
JONAH
Itook a few deep breaths to calm myself down, but they did absolutely nothing to help.
It had been a shit day at work. Dad had always said I’d grow into the role, that the responsibility would feel natural eventually. Months in, and I still felt like an imposter behind that mahogany desk when all I wanted was to be back in conference rooms listening to passionate founders pitch their dreams.
Coming home to the love of my life was the only highlight of my day.
“Lexi,” I said, a warning note in my voice, “you’re spending the night with me.”
