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I have to blink back the tears flooding my bottom lids, swatting them away with my hand as I stare down at the handwritten note. The paper even smells like her. I didn’t realize you could miss a scent this much until now. Not once has anyone ever chosen me over money. I was so sure I meant more to Briana, but I also know this much money could change her life. After everything she’s gone through, I wouldn’t have blamed her for keeping it. But I’m glad she didn’t.
“You okay, Rivers?” Harker pats my shoulder.
I nod, unable to meet his gaze. I feel like such a pussy for crying in front of Harker and Sadie.
“I have to see her.”
Harker stops me as I reach for the front door. “You might want to put on some shoes.”
“And a shirt,” Sadie adds.
I glance down at my sweats that I’ve worn for the past two days. “Maybe I should get a shower first.”
“Good idea,” Harker says with laughter in his voice. “You smell kind of ripe.”
Laughing, I rush upstairs, taking several steps at a time until I reach the top landing. After I shower and fix my hair, I look like my old self, dressed in dark jeans and a fitted navy shirt that Briana says makes me look even sexier. Every time I wear it, I can’t seem to keep it on for long. So, I guess that makes it my lucky Briana shirt.
Before I leave my bedroom, I stop myself. I have to call my dad. All of this mess started with him and will end with him. Hands shaking, I dial his number. I’ve always told my dad off, but I’ve never had the nerve to completely walk away. I was too scared of the repercussions. But Briana’s words mean everything to me. My dad would have cashed the check and so would my mother. Most people would have taken the money.
My dad answers on the second ring. “What now, Julian?”
“She didn’t cash the check.”
“I know. Are you calling to gloat?”
“No, I’m calling to tell you to keep my trust fund. I don’t want it. And I don’t want anything to do with you.”
He laughs into the receiver. “And what do you think you’re going to do for money?”
“Get a job,” I point out. “Like a normal person.”
“You won’t last a day working with the kind of people who’ve waited on you all of your life.”
“No, I’ll last, Dad, and I’ll do it without complaining.”
“You’re going to pick that white trash girl over your father?”
“Yep. Already did. And she’s not white trash. Don’t you fucking talk about Briana like that.” I shift the phone to my other ear and lean against the wall, thinking over my next words, because they’re going to be the last ones I ever say to him. “You’ve never cared about me. So, let’s not pretend that you do. You never did anything for my benefit. It was all to make you look good.”
“You’re my son.” His tone is defensive.
“Yes, but I’m done being your property. You were never proud of me for anything I ever accomplished. You never showed me you cared about anything important to me. You shipped me off to boarding school before I was old enough to take care of myself. You never visited me at York Military Academy, not even on Parents Day. You were never around when I came home for the holidays. We never went on family vacations. You never even watched a hockey game with me. It was like you couldn’t stand to be around me. Money has, and always will be, more important to you.”
“That’s not true. I love you. I gave you everything.”
“And that’s the problem,” I snap. “You use your money to control me. You give me things. I don’t need things. I didn’t want those things. For the longest time, I thought you had to buy people to show your love. I had no idea what real love is until I met Briana, and you tried to take her away from me.”
“You’re lucky, son.” He breathes loudly into the phone. “Most women choose money. Your mother did. That’s all she ever wanted from me.”
His words don’t surprise me. I already knew my mom was a gold-digging whore. But he thinks I’m lucky. I almost feel sorry for him. For a second, I wonder if he would be a different man if my mother were more like Briana. I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s special, even if she can’t see how special she is.
“I have to go, Dad. Take away my trust fund. I don’t care. Money’s not important to me anymore.”
“Julian, wait.”
“What?”
“I love you.” His tone softens. “And I’m sorry. I hope that one day you will forgive me.”
