“Stuart? That’s what you’ve named the baby?” I didn’t thinkI knew anyone with that name. I dipped the garlic bread into the red sauce and ate it.
“Yes, we’re naming him after my father.” She ate a salad.
“And your parents live close?” I stuck my fork into my pasta. I knew nothing about her family.
“Yes, maybe five miles from here.” She ate a forkful of pasta. “They’re so excited about the new baby, aren’t they, honey?” She beamed at my father.
“Yes, dear.” Dad sipped his beer and then ate some food. “You know, Karen’s parents had investments in much of the land being developed here in North Scottsdale.”
So, she was from real estate tycoons or something? “Oh, no, I didn’t know that.” Should I mention Mom? “You know, Mom has a real estate brokerage in Medford. She’s done great with it.” I stuffed pasta into my mouth.
Karen flashed a glare at me, and then it faded. “Oh? I’m happy to hear she’s doing well.” She ate more salad. “What are you studying?”
She didn’t know? I’d told Dad, but maybe he didn’t talk to her about me. Tension slipped through my chest. “I’m studying marketing with an emphasis on digital marketing. You know, website design, search engine optimization, that sort of thing.” I ate more of my garlic bread.
“That’ll come in handy.” Dad nodded. “Who did ASU play last weekend?”
“Baylor. They were tough, and we lost.” Eli shook his head.
As the discussion focused on football, I ate in silence. I found myself baffled. This dinner only proved that I barely knew my father.
After we ate,Karen rose to clear the plates.
“Can Eli and I help with the dishes?” I didn’t want to inconvenience her more than we already had. Who knew when or ifthey’d invite us back, judging by the past. I rose from my chair, grabbing my plate.
“Oh no, have a nightcap with your father.” The edge of her lips crept up as she stacked plates. “There’s not much to do, anyway.”
“Come on.” Dad strolled into the family room. “I’ll pour some fresh whiskey. I think it’s cool enough to sit on the patio.”
“Sure.” A pleasant buzz filled my head. I’d had a whiskey and two beers at this point. Eli had stopped after one beer, since he was driving us home. Thank God for that.
After Dad poured us fresh drinks, we followed him through a set of sliding glass doors and onto an expanse of covered patio, running along the back of the house. It was large enough for a long iron table and couches with chairs. Lights twinkled in the distance, within the outline of mountains.
“Do you have mountain views here during the day?” Too bad we’d arrived too late to see it. Or maybe I’d been too stunned and missed it. I sank into a patio chair with thick cushions while Eli, drinking a bottled water, took the chair next to mine. A round table with a firepit inside it rested between us and the couch, where Dad sat.
“We do. It’s a pleasant spot.” Dad laid his arm across the back cushion and loosely crossed his legs.
Wait, Karen’s parents were real estate developers. “Did you pick this place up cheap through Karen’s family?” I sipped my drink.
“We did.” He gave the slightest of flinches and looked away.
“So, did you sell the California house?” My eyes widened. Holy fuck, I asked out loud. The drinks were getting to me.
Dad narrowed his eyes. “It’s none of your business, but no. We did not.”
How the fuck was it none of my business? “But…I’m your son. Why would it be a secret?” My pulse shot up. Wait…wasn’t there a trust from my grandparents? Come to think of it, Mom hadme sign some legal papers when I’d turned eighteen. I’d never read it or asked about any of it.
“It’s not a secret.” He scoffed and set his lifted foot down. “We’re renting it.”
How much fucking money did he have? I’d need to speak with Mom about this. I knew he made okay money, but I thought he was only contracting his services as a software engineer and not even working full time. His entire life was a mystery. I eyed Dad. What was he hiding?
Leaning over, Eli touched my arm. “Hey, Wren. It’s getting late, and we have?—”
“I know, practice and classes in the morning.” I took a big sip of my whiskey and hissed. “So, if you’re renting it, you must be getting top dollar for it to afford this place.” The fucker hadn’t taken out a loan on the Cali house, had he? It had been paid for when he inherited it. But the house hadn’t been in great shape when I’d visited him four years ago. “Did you fix it up first?”
“I think that’s enough questions about my finances.” Dad swirled his drink before taking a swig. “How about we focus on your grades? How are they?”
I lifted my brows. “Great.” Why the hell did he care about them now? “My GPA is three point two. Is that good enough for you?” I drank more whiskey as heat engulfed my chest. This was getting intense, but I couldn’t help myself.
