Harlow let go of my hand, sitting up straighter. Her voice was hard the next time she opened her mouth. “I’m notashamedof anything. Rico is one of the best things that ever happened to me.”
“I’d think somebody was the best thing that happened to me too if they let me spend their money and had my name stamped on their face.” His laugh was derisive, borderline cruel, and Harlow’s energy shift was palpable.
“Feel how you wanna feel but watch how you talk to her. We’re adults and you gon’ talk to us like adults. She been giving you more respect than I would, and you got one more time to say something slick before you sitting at this table alone.”
As bad as I wanted to curse his ass out, I didn’t. And that was better than nothing. The way he raised me prevailed, even when he deserved less from me right now.
Hand gripping her thigh under the table, I soaked in the calm she supplied without even realizing it.
My dad didn’t say anything until his drink was refilled, but Harlow slowly relaxed back against my side.
“I thought you and Soul were together.”
“We are,” I clipped.
“Then why was he holding hands with Christian while your tongue was down Harlow’s throat?”
I closed my eyes.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
The countdown in my head didn’t do shit but help me realize I made a mistake deciding not to drink during this conversation.
Harlow’s patience was something I’d never possess. She kept her voice steady as she explained, “We’re all together. I’m with Rico, Soul and Christian. And they’re together too.”
“Father God,” my dad sighed, raising his empty glass to his head to rub condensation on his temples.
Dramatic as fuck. At least he stopped talking shit. He was probably too drunk to think of a retort. I shook my head.
“Can you tell me why I didn’t know you were home?”
“I got a last-minute showing with a realtor in that building. They said the unit would go fast so I drove down this morning.”
The waiter showed up with another drink, while matching frowns marred mine and Harlow’s faces.
“You’re looking for a condo? What happened to Raleigh?” I questioned, confusion momentarily pushing my irritation to the backseat.
“I’ve been toying with the idea of a partial retirement. It’s time.” He downed his drink in one gulp, and I knew then I was gonna be driving his drunk ass back to his hotel.
“Partial retirement, what does that even mean?” Harlow quizzed, puncturing the silence.
He looked like he needed another drink when he met her gaze. “It means your mother gave me an ultimatum and I’m listening.”
“W-what?”
My dad tugged on his tie and leaned back in his chair, looking proud. His eyes danced over to mine as a jovial—drunk—smile took over his face. “Yvie and I are working things out. We’re getting back together.”
Interlude
On a scale of one to ten, fucking your ex-stepbrother was probably the worst thing you could do after finding out your parents were getting back together.
