I’d admit, though, there was something very enticing about Andrew stating he didn’t think he would submit again. I almost took it as a challenge. One that I would gladly accept.
4
Andrew
The new location of Three Brothers Coffee was set to open next week and things were being finalized. My dad was in the new store today, confirming some deliveries for late this week and early next week. I was so glad we hadn’t selected Riverside for the new location. Even when things were seemingly okay with Elise, my gut told me not Riverside.
Brandon and Salem were here helping to unwrap chairs, tables, and bar stools and stock behind the counter with supplies and paper products. Garrett and James were happy that I’d offered to let Brandon and Salem help out. I didn’t think Salem minded being home alone waiting for Garrett, but I knew Brandon didn’t like being alone.
I picked my phone up from the table and refreshed my email, checking to see if there were any new messages. My attorney sometimes would send updates via email, and until this shit with Elise was over with, I’d found myself checking my phone often. Dad rambled on about a produce delivery as my stomach dropped when I saw the email.
“Andrew.” I looked up from my phone and saw Dad peering at me over the rim of his black-framed reading glasses.
“What?”
“Are you listening?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, so which delivery time works for you Friday?”
What?
“Sorry, Dad. Repeat the options, please.”
He set his mechanical pencil down on his schedule and his reading glasses next to it. Leaning back in the chair, his eyes studied my face.
“How are you doing, Andrew?”
I frowned and nonchalantly looked in the direction of Brandon and Salem to see how far away they were from us. I was pretty sure Dad didn’t know any of the details to the story regarding Elise, but suddenly I was paranoid.
“What? I mean, why?” I asked as I locked the screen on my phone and set it on the table beside me.
“Why?” Dad laughed and looked around the store. “Andrew, I’m concerned, that’s why. You’ve seemed withdrawn and distracted since you left her.”
I didn’t know what to say, exactly, and I didn’t want to blow him off, but I was eager to read the email from my attorney. The screen on my phone lit up with a text from him. My pulse raced, and I fought off the urge to grab the phone. I dragged my eyes from the tempting device to my dad, and his eyes were on my cell phone. I was sure he couldn’t read anything upside down. I hadn’t even been able to make anything out from where I sat.
“There’s nothing to be concerned about, Dad. I’m fine. Everything is fine,” I reassured him.
“Have you heard anything from Elise?”
Ha!
“No.” I swallowed hard and took a slow breath as deeply as I could before I felt the ache in my side. “I don’t expect to hear from her either.”
Dad looked at me for a few moments, making me uneasy.
“No chance of reconciliation?”
No fucking way in hell.
“No. It’s for the best, though, Dad. Elise had become really moody and violent.”
I quickly tried to elaborate that she threw things, but in my haste, all that came out was a painful cough. That was all that I had told my dad when I’d notified him Elise and I had broken up and I’d moved out. But I wanted to make sure I clarified she only threw things around the house and that the violence hadn’t been aimed at me. Dad didn’t need to know about all the sordid details of the stabbings and my injuries. James had encouraged me to tell my dad the truth, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“Are you okay?” he asked again, frowning and looking at my hand on my side.
“Yeah. I pulled something while working out the other day.” His eyes were still intensely assessing me. “So what time are the delivery options on Friday?” I asked, trying to steer us away from the topic of Elise.
