My skin goes icy cold. “What are you talking about?”
“Come on, Natalya.”
I know what he means. I knowexactlywhat he means. But if he’s going to go down this road, I’m not about to lead him. I just stare back at him and he finally rolls his eyes.
“I got curious after you invited me to dinner,” he says. “You’ve been so evasive about your family and I just wanted to know what the big deal was.”
Oh… no. “What did you say to my father?”
He pauses, then, “It’s just that he started in at dinner on me about my uncle?—”
“Andrei,” I say softly. I can’t believe this.
“I told him I had friends in the justice department,” he says. “He started talking to me about my aunt’s jail time and how something like that would look on you if we were to ever marry… I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking.”
I’m struck silent for a moment. I stand there, hand over my mouth, trying to figure out how I’m going to convince my father that Andrei isn’t a threat to him. I don’t even know where to begin.
“I didn’tthreatenhim, though,” he says. “I just… I just told him that I knew people. People who would know exactly what to do with someone involved in criminal enterprises.”
“Are you insane?” I ask him. “You knew who my father was and you implied?—”
“I didn’t think he’d lose it on me like that.” He touched the back of his head again and winced. “I think he might’ve given me a concussion.”
I sigh. “Listen, I’m going to need to talk him down tonight. You might want to head straight home and stay there until I call you later.”
He blinks at me, then, “I appreciate that.” He takes a beat, looking me over, his brow deeply furrowed. “After that… maybe… maybe we should call it.”
I cock my head. “What are you talking about?”
He just stares and slowly, it sinks in.
“Are you breaking up with me?”
“Natalya, baby, listen, I think you’re great. In fact, I think you’re fantastic. You’re beautiful and intelligent and I appreciate how hard you tried to make this work, but… your father is not the kind of man I can be associated with.”
“You’re talking like you’re running for president.” I can hear the hurt in my voice as it cracks under the strain of my heartbreaking. “You’re going to be a surgeon. Who cares who you’re associating with if you’re good at surgery?”
“You’d be surprised,” he says. “Something like this getting out could get me prohibited from hospitals I want to work at or blocked from certain clubs. What if he’d really beaten me up tonight? I’ve got a test tomorrow. How in God’s name would I explain bruises to my peers?”
I can feel the tears coming. I don’t want him to see me crying. “Fine,” I say stiffly. “You won’t have to worry about my phone call, then.”
I turn and he asks, “Wait. What about your Dad? Is he going to come after me?”
I don’t answer him. I walk back into the house and close the door behind me. I hear my father in the kitchen.
“Natalya.”
I freeze. I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t even want tolookat him. He did it again. He chased off another boyfriend.
“Natalya,” he calls, a little louder.
I turn and walk toward the kitchen, stopping at the threshold. He’s sitting at the counter, glass of whiskey in front of him. He picks up the glass and downs the liquid. “I’m going to take Liliana home. Take care of the dishes.”
I stare at him. I don’t remember the last time he’severasked me to do the dishes. “No,” I say to him.
He lifts his cold eyes to me. “Excuse me?”
“All I asked you to do was give him a chance,” I say. “That’s it. I didn’t ask you to be nice or kiss his ass. Just give him a fucking chance?—”
