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“Speaking of disruptions…” I finish clearing Sophie’s plate and slide it under mine, then I look at him across the table. “Shame about that investment banker, isn’t it?”
His gaze is empty when he meets mine as if he hasn’t the slightest idea what I’m talking about.
“I saw in that paper you had me throw away that one of Mom’s friends died.”
“Mm. Turned out, he wasn’t such a good friend. He took advantage of her gentle nature, tried to take things that didn’t belong to him.” He pulls off a bit of meat, then meets my gaze, smiling noncommittally. “Sometimes, people get what they deserve.”
Dad and I never openly acknowledge Mom’s temporary distractions, but since I’m fairly certain he murdered her most recent lover, my curiosity is piqued. Why this one? “Is that the only friend you’ve felt the need to… unfriend for her?”
“No. There have been a few over the years.”
“Does she know about any of them?”
He shakes his head, slicing off another piece of meat. “That would make her sad,” he says before popping it into his mouth.
A frown flickers across my face. “Not to be an asshole, but don’t you think maybe she deserves to be a little sad about it? Maybe she’d take it as a warning and stop doing it.”
“I do what must be done to punishthe men, Silvan, not your mother.”
“Why?”
“Melanie is exactly who I want her to be. The last thing I would ever want is to change or damage her. It’s not her fault other men have noticed her easy nature and snuck in from time to time. If that’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine for getting too busy and not keeping a good enough eye on her.”
I’m not entirely sure that makes sense to me, but before another word can be said about it, we hear chattering, then Mom and Sophie come in with second salad plates.
Mom is cheerful, and Sophie seems to be in good spirits, too. I watch Dad look up at his wife as she runs a hand over the back of his neck fondly before sitting down. “Have a nice girls’ trip to the kitchen?” he asks lightly.
“Yes, we did,” Mom says happily, setting her plate down.
“I see you found some nice cruelty-free lettuce.”
Mom waves off his teasing, but Sophie rolls her eyes. I smirk when she shoots me a look and squeeze her thigh under the table.
I know she and my father won’t be besties anytime soon. I’ll happily settle for them not being enemies because my father is not a good enemy to have.
At least Sophie seems more comfortable when she settles in, and I watch her happily eat her salad.
We get through the rest of dinner and dessert without incident.
While I was initially cautious about the possibility of them butting heads, I’m glad they did. He might personally consider caring about people and creatures that can do nothing for him idealistic and foolish, but I think now that my father has slid Sophie into a “caring” category of people, he’ll be less concerned about releasing her back into the world. It’s clear that she doesn’t hate me, so when I assure him she won’t cause trouble, I think he’ll be inclined to believe me.
After all, Sophie doesn’t make waves just to be difficult. She only does it over something she’s truly passionate about.
Defending herself has never made that list.
I don’t love what assholes like Dylan Prescott have gotten away with because of it, but now that she’s mine, no one will ever get one over on her again.
I’ll make damn sure of it.
While I still don’t entirely understand my parents’ relationship, what Dad said while the girls were in the kitchen stirred memories of a couple of nights ago.
Was I pissed that Sophie showed up at his house? Fuck yes.
Would I have lost her over it?
Not a fucking chance.
Dad and I may not agree on forgoing her punishment completely—if anythinghadhappened between them, I would have gone scorched fucking earth—but maybe we’re more alike than I thought.
