"Supporting me and the family."
I sigh. "Don't start." I hold up a hand to stop him from talking. "I agreed to come to dinner and future Sunday dinners when we're in the same town on the condition you wouldn't pressure me."
Dad waves his hand. "Pressure? It was just a question. You're wasting your potential."
"No. I'm realizing my potential."
I drain my drink and then stand.
"Sit, Enzo."
"I have to go, Dad."
A frown settles on his face, and if I didn't know better, I would say he is dejected as he slumps back in his seat.
He waves me on instead of trying to stop me.
And, as I go, I try not to let that expression haunt me.
The drive is long enough, so I'm happy when Silas calls.
"What up?"
"I forgot to call you earlier."
The happy feeling evaporates. "Why would you do that?"
"Don't you want to know what it is about?"
I flip the indicator and change lanes. "What's it about?"
"Lola called."
Fuck. "And you forgot? Do you need a cognitive test?"
He ignores me. "She wanted your number."
I go stiff. "She wanted my number?"
"Yeah," he says, too much amusement in his tone. "But notyoursyours. She wanted Alex's number. She lost her phone, and it wasn't programmed in."
It was, as WN.
"And everything got deleted or some shit."
By me.
"Anyway. She wants you to call her. Alex you. Notyouyou."
Asswipe.
"Call her or text her?"
Silas, not missing a beat, says, "Maybe I will reach out to Lola. I can look shit up, and I looked shit up. She's pretty."
"Do that, and you're in big trouble."
"Well, I'm not your fucking message service. They went the way of dinosaurs."
