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“I haven’t even bought a ring yet,” Lucas said.
My eyes danced between my brother’s and I watched a silent plea cross his face. Ah, so he hadn’t talked with our father. He hadn’t told Mom and Dad that he had, in fact, purchased a ring for Jessica. He hadn’t told them that he probably wouldn't offer her a prenup because he was head-over-heels in love with the woman. He hadn’t told them any of that, and now he wanted me to cover his ass so he didn’t get it chewed off by Dad while we were standing in the parking lot.
But I decided to be the bigger man that day. No matter how much I would have loved to turn the tables on my brother, it wouldn't solve anything. It wouldn’t fix the insanity that had just ensued and it wouldn't patch up what was broken. If anything, it would bring out an uglier side of my father. I knew he had his flaws, but this was the first time I was beginning to see my father as less than the superhero I had painted him to be. Less than the perfect man I had emulated growing up. Less than the god I had always looked up to as a kid.
The perfect image of my father had been forever shattered, and by the look in Lucas’ eyes I could tell he was experiencing the same thing.
That was enough trauma for one day.
“I will be consulting none of you with regard to this issue,” I said.
“Son, you need to have someone—”
“Dad. Shut your mouth,” I said hotly.
I turned on the balls of my feet and pinned him with a glare.
“You’ve done enough. You’ve done more than you think you’ve done in this particular situation. You don’t have a say, you don’t have a right, and if I have anything to do with it, you won’t ever have an opinion about it ever again,” I said.
“We really should go and sit down with the family,” Lucas said.
“I’m not going anywhere with you two after what you just did. But here’s what is going to happen. I’m going to watch the two of you get into your cars and drive away, then I’m going to go do some soul-searching, place some phone calls, and get to work,” I said.
“We’re having a family dinner tonight, Everett. You need to—”
“You needed to be a better role model!” I exclaimed.
I whipped back around to my father and approached him, standing toe-to-toe with the burly man in the parking lot.
“You need to be a better man! You needed to make better decisions! You needed to not charge into a woman’s apartment like some hostile abuser and demean her in her fucking face, but you did, Dad!” I exclaimed.
His eyes flashed hot as Lucas put his hand on my shoulder.
“Get off me, you asshole. You’re the reason this has all spiraled out of control in the first place,” I said.
“I had to call someone when Jessica told me,” Lucas said.
“No, you didn’t. You wanted to because you use drama to fuel your own purpose in life. Because having a woman and having a business and dealing with your insomnia issues aren’t enough. But I don’t care. I won’t be dragged down by either of you. I got myself into this situation, so I’ll swim through it and resolve it the way I see fit. Like a man. Which is not how the two of you conducted yourselves in that apartment. Now get into your cars and drive off,” I said.
“Not without you,” my father said.
I reached into my pants and pulled out my cell phone, then hovered my finger over the red emergency call button.
“You wouldn’t,” Lucas said.
“Fucking try me,” I said.
The three of us stood there at a stand-off. My father, with his wary look and his rolled back shoulders; Lucas, with his worried glance and his constant pleading with me to keep my mouth shut even though he wouldn’t; and me, wondering how the hell I was going to diffuse this situation, get shit under control, and reassure Andrea’s mind that none of this had anything to do with her.
“Come on, Lucas. Let’s get to the house. I’m sure your Mom’s going to want help with dinner,” my father said.
“Good choice,” I said.
“Please come with us, Everett,” Lucas said.
I inched my thumb down over and pressed the button, holding it as the button darkened on my screen.
“Get in your car and fuck off,” I said.
