Bythe time dessert is served,I’mso stuffedIfeel like my dress could spontaneously burst.Ionly sampled everything, butMr.Griffinordered so much food that merely tasting all the dishes became equivalent to taking down an entireThanksgivingdinner.Thefood was so rich.Delicious, but heavy.Oncea year is plenty for this restaurant.
Iwant to offer to pay for dinner to be polite, butI’ma little worriedIcan’t afford it.Thanksto my dad’s constant nagging,Ituck most of my money away in high-risk, high-reward mutual bonds.Apparently,Ican be daring right now with my money.
Butnot<i ss="calibre2">this</i>daring.
Theaverage cost of an entrée at this restaurant is ny dors.Mr.Griffinordered about eight different dishes, four rounds of drinks, dessert, and a bottle ofFrenchchampagne—a brandI’venever heard of before but apparently, it makesDomPérignonlook like a case ofPabst.ThisisFinn’sother side.Theside he works very hard to keep quiet.
IsqueezeFinn’sthigh under the table and he looks my way.Thehazy fog in his eyes tells me he’s a touch past tipsy.Itap my clutch. “ShouldIoffer to—”
“What?Pay?”Mr.Harveyinterrupts. “Don’tbe ridiculous, honey.”
Ireally thoughtIwas whispering, but apparently not.Ourwaitress,Penny, approaches the table with perfect timing andMr.Harveypulls out a matte ck card. “Honey, would you have the kitchen box this up?Son, you guys should take it.It’srude to the chef to waste it andIwouldn’t dare offend my friend.”
Pennynods and says, “Speakingof which,ChefRorensays your meal is on the house—”
“Nonsense,”Mr.Harveyinterrupts and holds up his hands. “Nochance.Thismeal was superb andIam more than happy to support my friend.”Hewiggles the card between his fingertips. “Ringthis up, tell theChefthe meal was superb, and can you messenger the leftovers to my son’s hotel?Champ, you said you got a room on theStripsomewhere, right?”
Finnblows out an exasperated breath. “Itwas a surprise,Dad—”Hepivots his attention to me. “Itwas a surprise.Ibooked a penthouse suite at theBegiowith a nice view of the fountains.Yousaid you’d never actually stayed on theStripbefore, right?”
FinntellsPennyour room number and she retreats from the table withMr.Harvey’scredit card in hand.
“Youdidn’t have to do that,”Isay, feeling my cheeks ache from my enormous smile.
“Iwanted to.Ifigured it was a good opportunity.TheBegiois only a block to our right.”
“Thankyou.”Itrill my fingers against his hand sweetly as the rest of the restaurant melts away.It’sjust me,Finn, and the heavy-eyed, sultry look he’s giving me that says we should just probably fall asleep in each other’s arms tonight.
It’dbe the first time.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.
Ofall the thingsFinnandIhave done together, we haven’t crossed that line.I’venever felt his muscr arms around me whenIwoke up in the morning.AndI’mready to.
“Adorable,”Mr.Harveysays.
Iflinch right before my fist tightens.<i ss="calibre2">Thatstupid word.</i>
“Avery, honey,Iam terribly sorry to be rude, but mayIhave a private word with my son?Justsome family affairsIdon’t want to bore you with.”
“Dad,”Finnintones, “I’lljust join you at the bar.”
Exceptit’s crowded with patrons waiting for their seats and most certainly not private. “Don’tbe silly,”Isay, squeezing his hand reassuringly. “Ihave to run to thedies’ room anyway.”
Finnlets me out of the booth andIscour the restaurant for the bathroom.<i ss="calibre2">Farback right</i>.Istrut gracefully in my sensible heels right into the luxurious bathroom.Idon’t understand the bathrooms in these elegant restaurants.Theyare cleaner and better kept than the dining room itself.
I’min a stall with my thong around my ankles whenIhear a voiceIrecognize and oneIdon’t.Ourwaitress and another woman.
I’mconvinced there’s a sixth sense women have when they<i ss="calibre2">know</i>someone’s talking shit behind their backs.It’sa feeling.Yourmuscles go wobbly.Yourskin constricts.Yourface flushes, the blood filling it at least a few degrees hotter.Everyinstinct in my body tells me not to pull up my underwear, flush, and present myself.
SoIstay quiet.
AndIlisten.
“…ifIget the shitMondaybrunch shift again,IswearI’mquitting,” says the unfamiliar woman’s voice.
“You’vebeen saying that for months.Whowould pay better?”Pennyasks.
“Emeril’snew restaurant has openings.”
“Thenapply,”Pennysnaps, her tone full of irritation.
“What’swrong with<i ss="calibre2">you</i>?”
“Sorry,I’veworked six nights in a row.I’mexhausted.I’mabout to cash out, clock out, and head home.Ijust rang out theVIPbooth.”
“Speakingof which…” the other woman’s voice drops to a seductive purr. “Canyou deliver a note for me?”
“What?”
“YourVIPtable.Youknow who that is, right?”
“ordingto the credit card, his name isGriffinHarvey.”
Shelets out a shrill chuckle. “Youhave no idea who theHarveysare, do you?”
Pennysighs, clearly trying to express her disinterest. “Outsideof being the road block between me and my pillow—no.No,Ido not.”
“Oldmoney.TheHarveysown like half theStrip.Worthbillions.”
Pennygrunts.Forthe first time in this conversation, she seemed amused. “Well, that exins the fifty percent tip—”
“<i ss="calibre2">Fiftypercent</i>?”
“Andthe old guy slipped me his room number.Canyou believe that?Mywedding is in six weeks, forChrist’ssake.”
“Ha.He’sworth the trade.Youtake the old man.Iwant his son.”
“Emma, you’re somethin’ else.Andanyway, sorry to bust your bubble, but the woman he’s with is his girlfriend.”
Thewoman whose name is apparentlyEmma, snorts heavily.Anobnoxious, condescending cackle that makes my skin crawl. “Who?Ms.Piggy?Yeah,I’mnot so worried.”
Myintestines twist.Idraw in a deep, silent breath through my nose to hold back my tears.Mybank ount could swallow up this waitress whole.Iam vying for a multimillion-dor contract with one of the biggest luxury resortpanies in the world.Iam one of the most sought-after brand strategists on theWestCoast.I<i ss="calibre2">know</i>I’mbetter than this.ButIallow myself a single tear, because nothing stings worse when a snarky bitch calls you fat.
“Wow,<i ss="calibre2">mean girl</i>,”Pennysays.Ican’t see her face, but her tone is incredulous.
<i ss="calibre2">Thankyou,Penny.</i>
“Notcool.Ibet his girlfriend andIcould share a closet.Ifshe’s fat, what amI?”
“You,”Emmacoos, “are curvy and voluptuous and a total showstopper.<i ss="calibre2">She</i>…is in my way.”
“You’reruthless.AndIcan promise you, he’s not interested.Hiseyes were locked on his date all night.”
Emma’ugh is viinous, causing my hurt to morph into red-hot, putrid anger. “Look, just slip him my number and tell him it’s from the waitress with the great ass, andI’mwilling to let him y in it.”
“Youmean<i ss="calibre2">with</i>it,”Pennyreplies.
“Nope,” she says, popping theP.
Andwith that,I’veheard enough.Iyank up my thong and smooth my dress beforeIflush.Iall but kick open my door, enjoying the look of the shocked faces in the bathroom mirror as they see me emerge.Pennyflushes scarlet red andIfinally get a good look atEmma.
Maybeshe’s pretty.I’mnot sure.Ithink her light blond hair and dark eyes would be considered striking to some.Yes, she’s probably at least three dress sizes smaller thanIam.Butit’s hard to process beauty when it’s sheathed in such an ugly personality.
Theyarepletely still, frozen in ce asIwash my hands with my head held high.Ince at myself in the mirror, ensuring there’s no evidence of the single tearIset free and my makeup is still perfectly set.
AfterI’vedried my hands with the cloth towel and dropped it into theundry bin,Iturn to face the two women.Inod atPennyreassuringly.<i ss="calibre2">Myfight is not with you.</i>
Ilook atEmma, but she avoids my gaze.IfPalmerwere here, she’d take a swing.She’sdefended me my entire life from mean girl energy.ButPalmer’snot here, and it’s time to stand my own ground.
“Emma,”Isay with my voice unwavering and smooth as silk, “I’llmake sure to letFinnknow you’re interested, but if he contacts you,Isincerely hope you have more to offer him than your asshole.”Ish her a smart smile. “Goodevening,dies.”
<i ss="calibre2">Twice.</i>Twicenow,I’vehad to make a green-eyed bitch look silly in a restaurant.Itseems every timeI’mout in public withFinn, there’s a fight brewing.Afight for my pride.Afight to proveI’mworthy.IfIdon’t have the looks,Isure as hell have the wits.Buthow long canIdo this?Inever asked for this battle.
Iride the high of adrenaline asIfloat back to my table.Iwas hoping by now,FinnandMr.Harveyhave had plenty of time to discuss their family affairs.ButasInear the booth,IseeMr.Harveyhuddled into the table, the look in his eyes aggravated.He’sso invested in their conversation he doesn’t see me approach and his words ring loudly over the sea of murmurs and nking silverware hitting porcin tes.
“Champ, what are you doing?Youcan pull a much hotter woman thanAvery.”
Myknees go weak andIimmediately slump into the empty booth behindFinnand his dad.Ibury my head in my hand.ThispartIwasn’t ready for.
Emmawas a small battle won.
Ihave a feelingI’mabout to lose the war.<h3 ss="inline-image-container">Avery
“Whatdid you just say?”Isnarl at my dad across the table, feeling my blood pressure rise.
“Avery,”Dadrepeats. “Imean, she’s sweet and very smart.That’skind of sexy.Andshe’s got a great set of tits.Bue onpared to yourst girlfriend?Norawas a fucking ten.Avery’sa steep fall from grace,Champ.”
“Well, have at it.Nora’savable now.”<i ss="calibre2">Sortof.Maybeshe’s cheating onMorgan, maybe she’s not.</i>“Goahead and give her a call.Youhave my blessing,”Ipractically spit at him.
“Andtake your sloppy seconds?Idon’t think so.”Hebellows inughter, misreading my tone.There’snothing funny about this conversation or about disrespectingAvery.Wedon’t see the world the same way.AllIsee withNorais pain.AllIsee inAveryis hope.Hopeis beautiful and sexy and seductive.Dadhasn’t had hope for a day in his life.
Myeyes narrow beforeIthrow back thest sip of my whiskey.Dadfinally notices my scowl.
“Oh,e on, kid,I’mjust saying.Ifyou’re with this woman to appeaseSenior,Ican tell you right now, there’s a way to sidestep that mess.”
“Whatmess?”
“Senior’sbullshit about the inheritance.”
Gramps’srules make sense to me.Twentypercent of my inheritance is in the ballpark of eight million dors.IfIdon’t have a family to support,I’llonly get half.Grampsalso has the stiption of vetting our significant others first.It’shis way of protecting us from gold diggers.We’dhave to pry his money from his cold, lifeless hands before he handed over half of his empire to a shallow, money-hungry woman with no morals.<i ss="calibre2">Hiswords, not mine.</i>It’swhyInever toldNorawhatIstood to gain.Iwanted to know she loved me, not my worth.Atleast that part was true.Idon’t thinkNoraloved me for my wallet.Infact,Idon’t know if she really knew how to love me at all.
“Idon’t see the point inining about<i ss="calibre2">gifted</i>money.”
“It’syour birthright,Son.”
Iroll my eyes at his melodramatic statement. “Youknow what?I’mnot worried about it.AndI’mnot withAveryto prove a point toSenior.I’m<i ss="calibre2">with</i>Avery.<i ss="calibre2">Period.</i>”Okay, a little preemptive, butIknow where this night is headed.Thepenthouse suiteIbooked is covered with rose petals.Theroom has a jetted tub where we can y naked footsie under the bubbles all night.Thechampagne is already in an ice bath on the balcony table that overlooks theBegiofountains.There’sno better way to sayI’mwhipped forAverythan the most cheesy, over-the-top deration of my feelings.
“I’llmake up the difference,”Dadbreathes out.
“What?”
“Don’tletSeniordictate your life.Gettingmarried was the worst decisionIever made.Theonly good thing that came out of that rtionship was you.Butyou don’t have to settle for a woman likeAveryjust for the extra money.WhatSeniorwon’t give you,Iwill.Havefun.Enjoyyour life.Travel.VisitIbiza,Brazil, andCroatia.Takepictures abroad and fuck all the beautiful women there.”Hepinches his fingers together and kisses them. “Naggingand bitching from a frumpy, killjoy of a woman is<i ss="calibre2">not</i>whatIwant for you and your life.Especiallywhen she leaves you and tries to take you for all you’re worth.”
Ihad one too many drinks.Thatmust be whyIcan feel my temples pounding. “Frumpykilljoy, huh?Ladiesand gentlemen, there you have it, my father’s words to describe the woman who gave me life.”<i ss="calibre2">Fuckyou,Junior.</i>Fuckwhatever got twisted up inside your brain as a baby and turned your heart wretched and your dick insatiable.
Dadsmiles at me like this conversation is chummy. “<i ss="calibre2">Oh,Champ.</i>Stillsuch a mama’s boy.”
Iraise my brows warningly. “ShouldIbe ashamed of that?”Ilove my mother.I’mprotective of her.Where’sthe crime in that? “Ithought you two were finally at peace.Ijust sawMost week.Shesaid you guys are done in court.You’regiving her alimony and back pay, right?”
Dad’seyes turn down and his lip curls, like a perturbed viin. “Senior,” he mumbles. “Ididn’t give that bitch a dime.Seniorpaid her out.”
Somethingsnaps in me.Maybeit’s my patience finally breaking in half. “Whatdid you just say?”
“Shewent toSeniorwith some sob story about how she barely broke even after selling theVegashouse.Sheneeded a cosigner for her ce inScottsdale, so she aired out all our dirtyundry like the rat she is and he just caved for the little bitch.<i ss="calibre2">Fuck</i>didIget an earful from him.Theman is in his seventies and still yells like—”
“Takeit back,”Iseethe. “Do<i ss="calibre2">not</i>call her that, especially not to my face.”
Momtold me none of this.Allshe said was that she was finally at peace.Itdawns on me thatMomwas doing what she did my entire life—she protected me from seeingDad’strue colors soIcould enjoy the good parts, and be blind to the worst of him.Shedidn’t want me to know…
<i ss="calibre2">Whata fucking monsterIcame from.</i>
“Champ, rx.It’sjust the fallout of a lover’s—”
“<i ss="calibre2">Stop</i>,”<i ss="calibre2"></i>Ibark. “Youdid a lot of things to my mother.Lovingher is not one of them.I’mso sick of this.Youknow something,Dad?Iwake up every day andIdon’t try to be a good person.That’snot the standardIlive by.EverydayIwake up andIjust try to be less like you.That’showIknow my life is moving in the right direction.Ican’t…do this anymore.Ican’t excuse all the disgusting parts of you anymore.I’mdone.”Irelease the breathI’vebeen holding for ten years.<i ss="calibre2"></i>“I’mfucking done.”
Dad’sstartled by my outburst.Neveronce in the past decade haveIbeen honest with him about howIfeel.MaybeIshould’ve said all this sooner, because he finally looks ashamed of himself.
“Champ,Idon’t—”
“Idon’t want to see you anymore.Iwant you off my mortgage.I’mselling the truck.Idon’t want a damn thing tying you to me anymore.Notuntil you grow the fuck up,Dad.”Im back into the back of the booth in frustration.Theentire seat shifts an inch andIrise to peek over the back of the booth and apologize to the diner behind me.
Myheart drops whenIsee the top ofAvery’shead.<i ss="calibre2">Goddamnit.</i><i ss="calibre2">Howlong has she been sitting there?Shemust’ve heard everything.</i>Iscramble out of the booth and around to her side.Shedoes her best to turn her head, but it’s toote.Isee her wet eyes.
Andit’s the straw that falls on the already broken camel’s back.Itshould’ve been enough thatDadtook the best parts of my mother and made her into a depressed, anxiety-ridden shell of herself.Butnow he just madeAverycry, and that’s a line no one gets to cross.
Neveragain.Notwhile she’s with me.
Ihook my finger under her chin and turn her gaze toward me.Sherolls her eyes and shrugs her shoulders in defeat asIsurvey her glistening cheeks.
“I’mcaught,” she mutters under her breath.Iwipe away her tears with my thumbs.
“Readyto go?”Iask softly.
Shenods. “Yes.”
“I’msorry,Queen.Ihate seeing you cry.”Ikiss the top of her forehead.Itake her hand in mine. “Letme make it up to you.”