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This time it was him that squeezed. I didn’t look over, so I wasn’t sure if it was in thanks or a plea to stop.
“You can’t be serious.” My mother glared at me. “Everly, this is who you are spending your time with. No wonder you got a C in insurance law.”
I recoiled. “How do you know that?”
She waved me off. “I called your professor.”
As if it was no big deal. As if butting her nose into my school business was par for the course. Absolutely not.
“It is none of your business who I spend my time with.” My voice had risen a few octaves and it had taken on a shrill tone I’d never heard from me before. “And you have no right to call my professors to check up on me. Don’t you trust me?”
She looked Max up and down. “I thought I did.”
“Have we had time to look over the menu?” Our server, Brian, sidled up to the table with much too big a smile. “I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about the specials.”
His hair was perfectly sculpted with enough product to prevent even a stiff breeze from rearranging it. He was probably on scholarship and worked at the club because it was the closest he’d ever get to being a member, at least until his education proved worthy and he became a banker or real estate broker. I bet his chest was waxed, too, but that was just my first impression.
He glanced at each of us, the smile fading a little more as he looked from one to the next.
“Brian, dear, we still need a few minutes, please.”
“Of course, Mrs. Parker.” He bowed, actually bowed at my mother, and then walked away. No wonder she liked it here so much.
When he was far enough away, I leaned across the table and kept my voice low. “I’m still finding time to study. I’m still working hard.”
“Studying male anatomy does not benefit your knowledge of corporate tax law.” She pointed her wineglass at me when she spoke.
How did she know? How dare she assume that all we did was get naked.
Max was nearly naked when they met.
For the last few weeks, male anatomy was about the only thing I’d wanted to study, but that didn’t mean I had to put up with her ignorance and rudeness toward my friend.
“I can assure you that Everly is working hard. I make sure we don’t do anything fun until she finishes her work. I’ve even helped her study.”
“You helped her study?” My father eyed him with disbelief. “And why would you do that?”
The walls were closing in on me. I was suffocating. That’s what they did to me. Can we say anxiety attack?
Max took offense to my father’s comments and jerked back in his chair. “I know how much finishing law school means to Everly so I would do anything to help her achieve that.”
Cue the pitter-patter of my heart.
Even though my parents were being complete assholes. Even though they had not welcomed my friend with any kind of grace, Max had met their ignorance with kindness.
I looked over at him, a weak smile curving at the side of my mouth. I did my best to blink away the tears that wanted to stream down my cheeks.
Max had just proved he could hold his own with my parents. And I’d just learned that no matter what I did, who I was friends with, it was never going to be good enough for them.
I waved my hand at Brian and beckoned him to our table.
“Let’s eat. I worked up quite the appetite today.”
Max choked on the sip of beer he’d just taken.
I was done accommodating. I was done bending over backward to live on someone else’s time line.
I was wasting my life. So maybe it was time to pursue other interests.
