CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
Kyle rubbed his temples as he stared at his mother’s passive-aggressive text.
Oh, honey, you’re so funny, sending a thumbs-up emoji. Then I realized I hadn’t told you when we’re coming. Your father laughed with me, saying we didn’t need to be specific. You manage the restaurant, after all. You’ll make sure we’re taken care of, won’t you? I’ll let you know when we arrive, because you know your father. He’ll be with James on the golf course one minute, and suddenly we’ll be packing and flying off to Paris. I do so love that man. See you soon.
Your Mother
P.S. Ivey can’t wait to see you again.
He had the sudden urge to print out the text so he could ball it up in his hands like a baseball and toss it in the trash.
But that wasn’t going to do any good. Apparently, they were coming after all, and they were counting on him wining and dining them like he’d done at all of his other restaurants—where they’d shown up after the praise got rolling, he now remembered. They had apattern, one he’d enabled. They expected him to tap his magic top hat with his magic wand and, poof, find them a five-top reservation at the hottest restaurant on the planet.
He sent back a text after careful thought.
Hey Mom, I’m glad you and Father had a good laugh. The truth is, we’re booked solid for the next year. How about Paris next spring? I can arrange for a private tour of the best museums then, and get you tickets to a Paris Fashion Week.
Her reply text was immediate.
You’ll figure something out. You always do. We’re your parents. We want to see what you’ve done with this restaurant that everyone’s raving about. I mean, that William Silver review. Our friend Biff Jensen said it’s like winning a culinary Oscar. We’ll see you in a couple weeks.
Clenching his fists, he prowled around in his office. There was no escaping what was happening. They were coming. Despite what he’d said. Just like always.
He hid it well behind an easy smile, but there were aspects of life that bugged him, just like everyone else. His parents’ complete disregard of his boundaries was at the top of the list. Being back on the proverbial playground of his childhood—as an adult—was infuriating.
Hell, he was going to have to tell them no to their faces.Backtalk, as his parents called it. But he didn’t see another way. Sawyer had just gone through this with his parents, and he’d been there afterward to pick up the pieces.
He’d told Sawyer he didn’t have to placate his parents.
Now he needed to follow his own advice. He sat down and picked up his phone. Why was he finding this so difficult?He didn’t want to have a relationship with his parents. He never wanted Madison to meet them.
So why couldn’t he say no?
An image of his dad undoing his belt came to mind, and he realized the reason.
It was because he’d been whipped for “disobedience,” sometimes until he’d had welts on his behind.
His heart started throbbing. Punishment was the reason, the fear of it still looming large in his mind.
Well, fuck that.
He started texting.
Like I said, two weeks won’t work. I won’t be able to accommodate you. You should also know I’ve met the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, so I’m not interested in being set up. Another item you might have forgotten is that you and Father have never wanted to come to Paris. I don’t think you’ll enjoy it.
Should he mention Madison’s name? He twisted in his chair. No, it didn’t matter whom he’d met. Besides, he still wanted to protect her.
At the same time, he didn’t want to be a complete dick and end the message like that. Wasn’t he basically ending their relationship?
After a moment, he added the kindest sentiment he could muster:
Have fun with your friends.Best, Kyle
That was it—that was all he could say. After being born to them and living with them for eighteen years. God, it was almost depressing.
Except it felt freeing too. He didn’t have to deal with the weight of their expectations anymore.
