Noticing his audience approval rating drop among the adults, he turns to his daughter, whom he’s mostly ignored since he showed up tonight, not counting the five bouquets of flowers and giant purple stuffed cat he practically thrust at her in the restaurant parking lot, after claiming he was unable to take them all with him inside the theater to give her directly after her performance. Though I’m not entirely convinced he didn’tmake an extra stop somewhere on the way here after he noticed everyone else give her flowers after the show, myself included.
“Did you try the roasted bruschetta bites?” He places one onto her plate before she has a chance to answer. “They’re really good.”
She uses her fork to push it aside. “No, thanks.” She’s been stretched out, rubbing her belly for the last few minutes, clearly way past full after gobbling up several mozzarella sticks before eating nearly all of her ravioli.
“Just try it. Come on. For me.” He tries to look endearing, but the nudge has an underlying mix of force and guilt driving it home that’s making even me uncomfortable, sitting across the table from her.
“She won’t like it,” I cut in when I notice Sloan start poking at it again with her fork, clearly weighing out the pros and cons of appeasing him.
“Sure, she will.” He laughs. “Besides, it’s good for her to try new stuff. Right, Sloan? One bite, that’s Ma’s deal, right?”
“She doesn’t need to try what she already knows she doesn’t like.” I reach across the table and take the bite-sized piece of bread with roasted tomato topping from her plate, dropping it on my own. “She hates chunks of cooked tomato with the skin still on it. Besides, she’s not even hungry anymore.”
Kenley, who’s been busy chatting with her mom, picks up on our conversation and tunes in. “What’s going on?”
“I just wanted Sloan to take a bite of something,” her ex explains. “Maybe you can fill Knox in on our practice of trying new foods.”
She snorts. “We did that with her when she was little and transitioning away from toddler foods. I quit making her do that years ago.” She shakes her head at the absurdity. “Plus, she’s clearly full. She left two raviolis on her plate. She never leaves raviolis on her plate.”
Just then the server comes by. “Can I clear these for you?”
“Yes, please.” The first plate I hand her, is the one with roasted bruschetta leftovers.
KENLEY
It surprises no one, (except maybe Knox who isn’t familiar with Ebeneezer’s tactics) when our bill is mysteriously paid before we even finish eating.
While I made it a point a while back to stop saying ‘thank you’ to him for things he pretends are above and beyond generous, but really are just barely putting a dent in the debt he owes me, I graciously verbalize my appreciation for dinner along with everyone else as we head outside and prepare to say our goodbyes.
Sloan wastes no time in joining her grandparents for the drive home. In part, because it gives her a fast escape, Javier never being much for dawdling when he’s ready to go, but mostly because Javier has a sweet tooth, and part of the reason he doesn’t dawdle when it’s time to go, is because he’s already thinking about going somewhere else for ice cream.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” Ebeneezer says, catching my elbow as I start for my truck. Knox slows down instantly as well, drawing a glare from my ex. “Alone. Parent to parent.”
I nod to Knox, letting him know it’s alright. “I’ll just be a minute.”
Knox holds my gaze a moment longer, but finally retreats, disappearing in the row of vehicles behind us.
“What’s up?” I cross my arms, settling in front of him. I’m willing to let him speak, but I’m not about to take on any of his bullshit tonight.
“I don’t like how close Sloan is getting to your boyfriend. He’s disrespecting my role as her father, and I’m not comfortablewith it.” He points his finger at me, attempting to loom over me with his tall, broad frame, the way he always does when he’s trying to use his size to intimidate people. “Do something about it.”
“You do something about it,” I scoff. “You don’t like her having another father figure in her life, maybe try being one yourself. I’m not about to interfere with a relationship that’s finally healing some of the scars you left her with.”
I spin on the ball of my foot, preparing to stalk off when I feel my ex move in closer. I expect him to say something. To grab me by the arm and stop me. But he does neither.
Instead, I hear him call out in a sneer, “Thanks for respecting our privacy!”
I look up to see Knox, stepping out of the shadows that kept him concealed just feet from where we stood.
He chuckles, hardly bothered by my ex’s outburst. “We don’t have that kind of trust, man.” He hooks his arm around me as soon as I’m close enough. “Ready to go home?”
“Fuck, yeah.”
He waves at Ebeneezer, who doesn’t respond except to get in his car and slam the door shut.
“So, that was fun,” Knox muses.
“I’m glad you think so.” I laugh, but it’s more relief than anything. “Part of me was worried, you’d start to think I was exaggerating about what a jackass he is.”
