I couldn’t help myself. “Didn’t you make Karen sign a prenup?” A grin swept my lips.
Chuckling a scoff, he said, “No, of course not. She wouldn’t have married me if I had made her do that.”
She was after his money. I knew it. Was she using the pregnancy to get to it? Damn, poor Stuart. It was a terrible reason to have a kid. I watched Dad eat and down his drink. He had always behaved poorly as my father. Stuart would probably experience the same thing. Karen was in for it if she thought otherwise. I mean, she’d seen how he treated me. Why would he be different with Stuart?
“What’s on your mind, son?” He set his fork on his plate. He’d eaten all of it.
“Nothing. I’m just taking a breather from eating.”Lie.Butwasn’t that what we did best? Lie to each other? “I had a big breakfast, so I’ll take the rest of this home.” Maybe Eli would want it?
The server stopped at our table. “Can I get you anything else?” He flicked his gaze from Dad to me.
“A box, please?” I sipped my tea. I couldn’t wait to leave and see Eli.
“Yes, and please separate the checks.” Clearing his throat, Dad gulped the last of his drink.
Was he fucking kidding me? He wouldn’t offer to pay for my meal? My chest squeezed, and I clenched my jaw. Of course he wouldn’t after our conversation. He suspected I was seeking his money. I suppose I shouldn’t have expected it from him, but Mom always paid when we went out. I was still in college, for fuck’s sake.
“Yes, sir.” The server left.
With a peek at Dad, I squirmed in my seat. There was nothing left to say to him.
The server returned with our checks and a to-go container.
After I boxed my food and we paid, I followed Dad toward the door. This was awkward as fuck.
Stepping into the sunshine, Dad turned to me and said, “It was nice having lunch with you. I’ll see you around.” With a forced smile, he strode into the parking lot.
Under my breath, I said, “Fucking asshole.” Not even a quick hug goodbye? I must have pissed him off something fierce by asking about my damn inheritance. With my to-go box in my hand, I headed toward my car. All I wanted now was Eli. He’d been right, but I knew he wouldn’t rub it in my face.
I ruminatedon my lunch with Dad the entire drive to Eli’s house, and the more I reviewed it in my head, the more Irealized Dad didn’t love me. My own fucking father. Would he love my baby brother?
As I parked at the curb in front of Eli’s bungalow, my throat grew tight and my eyes stung. Fuck, I was spiraling into a meltdown. Taking a calming breath, I left the car, stomped to Eli’s door and knocked. I had to hold it together.
The door swung open, and Eli stood there. “Wren? Are you okay, babe?”
In a choked voice, I said, “No.” Pain radiated through my chest and my vision blurred. “Fuck.” A sob ripped from my throat.
“Oh, my God.” Eli wrapped me in a bear hug and kissed my hair. “Wren, what happened?”
My breath hitched, and I freed another sob. I couldn’t talk, not yet. “Take me inside,” I croaked.
“Yes, of course.” He whisked me from the door, past his roommates, and into his room, then shut the door behind us and held my shoulders. “Talk to me, Wren. What happened?”
“Dad…he, uh.” I blinked and tears tumbled down my cheeks. I swiped them away. “You were right, Eli. He thinks I’m after his money.” I sniffled.
“Oh, babe.” He hugged me against his wide chest, resting his chin on my head. “I’m so sorry.”
“H-he thinks my mom is using me to get to him. He said some shit about child support, and fuck, I don’t know.” I melted into his soothing warmth and his solid embrace. As more tears spilled down my cheeks, I said, “I lost my shit with him. I couldn’t help it. And now he wants nothing to do with me. He didn’t even hug me goodbye.” I’d lost him all over again. How hard would it be not to hear from him knowing he lived thirty minutes away?
Brushing his hands across my back, Eli said, “You feel abandoned right now. You reached out to him, and he rejected you.”
“Y-yeah.” As my heart broke in two, hot tears tumbled down my cheeks. Thank God, Eli was here for me.
“Babe, it’s not your fault. A proper parent would have been open with you from the beginning. But he’s never supported you.” He kissed my head. “I don’t know why he’s like this, but perhaps it mirrors his own childhood.”
“Yeah?” Holding my breath, I peeked at him. “I know so little about his family…” Maybe his father had been the same way. Maybe it was all he knew. But that didn’t make it right. As I sniffled, my chest relaxed, and I calmed. I didn’t understand it fully, but hearing it wasn’t something about me that made him this way helped.
“Wren, I’d really like to give you the name of a therapist to talk to.” His brows wrinkled. “Would you be open to that?”
