Dad leans against the counter, facing Apollo and I. He still hasn’t let a word go from hismouth.
“Who are your parents? What do they do? How many siblings? Where are you from? What are your goals?” Mom asks with a death glare.
“Mom!” I beg. “He… We… You knew this was a possibility for me when I entered Greek life. You can’t sayno.”
“We can say no. You can always sayno.” Mom’s face grows red as she nods at my father.
He crosses his arms.
Apollo’s hand slips through the narrow space between us and settles on my thigh. Grip solid and reassuring. He gives me a squeeze of containment, and I’m suddenly soaking wet. I hate it. When I attempt to peel it off, he’s immovable. But as if sensing I need to be grounded, he gathers up my fist to hold it in his warm, soft palm.
“It’s not a problem. I can answer everything. My parents are Eli and Essa Griffin. They?—”
“Griffin Motors?” Dad finally speaks.
Apollo nods. “Yeah, that’s my family.”
“Good place.”
“Is that your plan? To become a mechanic?” Mom bites out, her eyes floating over to mine to monitor my reaction. I just shrug. I know less than they do about him. Other than that he has a giant dick. That’s pierced. And a brother who looks just as hot as him.
And that he smells like safety.
“Uh, well. Yeah.”
“Uh, well? What doesthatmean?”
“Yes. I’ll do that.” Apollo makes his tone more certain, but it’s obvious he has some hangup about his future plans. That’s…sonot good. Not for me.
Not the kind of spouse I would have chosen. I wanted someonedriven. Like me.
Dad’s jaw sets until he looks like he could combust. He’s unsure. But he is about everyone he meets.
“And you understand that my Scout will be going to medical school after university, correct? Johns Hopkins or Northview University, if I can convince her to stay here. But she’ll be going. And whomever she’s appointed to must understand that takes priority, right?”
I stare at the side of Apollo’s handsome face. His eyes glance down and over at me under his long lashes. Sweat forms along his brow line. When his jaw tightens, a deep dimple forms in his cheek. “Yes, I understand.”
“Good.” Mom mimics Dad’s posture and crosses her arms, leaning against the counter. The two like an impenetrable force of disapproval.
If things were different, I’d defend the man. But I don’t even know how I feel about him.
The next few minutes are a grueling match. My mother spits out more questions, and Apollo casually answers every one of them honestly. Without embarrassment. And calmly. Like he meets the parents of the stranger he’s going to marry every day.
Dad says nothing.
And I…I can’t even hear what’s happening.
It all seems unreal.
“Can I feed you anything?” Mom asks after a long, torturous silence.
“No. I, uh, came over to collect you, Scout. For dinner.”
“Me?” I ask incredulously.
My stomach drops through my body as he turns to me and says, “Yeah.”
His hand tightens around mine. “Are you ready to meet my parents?”
