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Swallowing hard, I clear my throat and say, “So, Dad, about my trust fund?”
Avery’s head whips up as she looks from me to my dad and then back. She’s essentially burning a hole in the side of my face as my dad wipes his mouth and sits back in his seat. “About that… You know I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
My heart sinks as I lay my fork down, my hands shaking. “Dad, like I explained, we have to move off campus and I really need that money.”
“Jace,” I hear her whisper beside me, but I ignore her.
“Yeah, I know. I hear ya. So I spent the afternoon working up a contact for a nice little condo, right outside of campus, six-minute ride in. It will all be paid for, utilities included for the next year. I know you won’t need it that long, but just in case. Figure this way, you don’t have to worry about working—which I thought you said you were quitting—and you each can focus on hockey and songwriting.”
Ellen is beaming beside him. Yeah, it sounds great, but I don’t want anything from him. “Wow, that’s awesome, Dad. But I really didn’t want a handout.”
He laughs. “Jace, don’t be so proud. I want to help you, your wife, and my grandbaby. Call it a wedding gift if you need to so you feel better about it.”
I hold his gaze because I know there is a catch. There has to be; there is no way he is this okay with everything. He’s being too overly nice. It doesn’t make sense. I look to Avery to find her watching me, and I can see it in her eyes.
She doesn’t want his help.
Swallowing again, I look back at him as he asks, “How’s that sound?”
“I mean, how can I turn it down?” I say and Avery looks away, shaking her head. But I take her hand, squeezing it hard. “But what’s the catch?”
My dad’s grin grows. “Catch?”
“Yeah, I know you aren’t going to do all that without something in return. Do I pay you back when I sign my contract?”
“Maybe he’s just trying to be nice?” Ellen suggests, but I shake my head.
“No, my dad doesn’t work like that. You’re new. Don’t worry, you’ll figure it out,” I say, returning my gaze to my dad, and he’s still smiling. “So?”
“No, son, you don’t have to pay me back. I’ll even sign your trust fund over to you if you really want me to.”
“Okay?”
“If…”
There it is.
“If?”
“Two things,” he says, leaning on the table. “Avery has to sign a prenup that she can’t touch any of your trust fund or future salary if you two divorce.”
Avery gasps, her hand coming down hard on the table. “How dare you? I would never.”
Squeezing her other hand, I shake my head as she looks at me. “And?”
“Jace?”
But I shake my head again, giving her a sideways glance. She snaps her mouth shut as my dad’s lips curve into an even more sinister grin. “And I want you to cut off all contact with your mom and siblings.”
I can’t help it. I burst out laughing.
“What? Are you insane?” Avery gasps,
her eyes wide, and I just laugh. This dude is ridiculous.
“No, they are trying to pull him away from me, and I don’t want that. I love you, Jace. I want to have a relationship with you. I want to see my grandchild.”
I just shake my head. “If you loved me, you wouldn’t want to keep me from my family,” I yell at him and his eyes darken.
