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This makes sense to me, considering the Atwater’s own oil wells. Interrupting while Abraham takes a pull off his glass of whiskey, I ask, “How does this involve us?”
Gareth has his chin resting on his hands, his gaze never leaving his father. A hush has fallen over the table, uneasiness taking hold of each of us.
“Boys, I’m going to get straight to the point. Mr. Ainsworth is offering his daughter’s hand in marriage to sweeten the deal.”
“You are fucking kidding me.”
“This is a joke, right?”
“No way!”
“What?”
We all speak simultaneously, making it difficult to hear anything or determine who said what. Mr. Worthington pinches the bridge of his nose, trying to contain his irritation. Having seen him in court, we know he hates being interrupted. Not sure what he was expecting to happen with news like this.
Bentley speaks up for the first time. “Boys, calm down. Yes, this news is crazy. Nothing needs to be decided yet. Any business deal requires negotiation. That’s why Morgan, Laughlin, and I are going to Pennsylvania. We have a meeting with Mr. Ainsworth and his daughter tomorrow.”
Looking sideways at my father, he has the gall to look sheepish.
“How long have you known?”
“All summer; it’s why I suggested you intern at the company.”
Looking at him through narrowed eyes, Gareth’s voice cuts me off, preventing me from speaking.
“Don’t you think this is a bit illegal? It isn’t as if we are in the 1800s.”
Laughlin bursts out laughing. He’s always been the most easy-going of our fathers.
“It’s not illegal, a bit outdated, maybe. Families do it all the time, merging assets for more power and wealth.”
“You’re awfully quiet, Dad,” I say, trying to coax him into telling me how he feels about this.
“You’re right, son. Once we meet with the Ainsworths tomorrow, we will know more. The situation is strange, but if you four keep an open mind, you might be surprised in the end.”
The waitress arrives with our food and talk about this absurd offer stops. The guys and I share a look, and I shrug in response.
What are we going to do?
One girl and four guys do not equal a couple.
Eating my steak, I think back to all of the girls I have been around. Oddly enough, there has never been a steady girl in my life. Most of the time, it’s a hookup after parading me around to her friends. Now that marriage has been mentioned, my mind won’t let it go. Anger is coursing through me, and my hands start shaking.
“We are still in college. How can y’all ask us to think about marriage?”
Gareth agrees, demanding that we go on the trip as well. Abraham is angry now as he slaps his hand on the table.
“Enough!”
We all gawk at him. He has never acted like this toward us before.
“Son, I have to be in court tomorrow. You will be at home. This meeting was a courtesy for the four of you. Now, calm down; this isn’t the end of the world.”
Gareth’s lips draw into a thin line, and his jaw ticks in an effort to stay silent. My mind wanders in a whole other direction, seeing a woman in white with my best friends standing at my side. A chill slides up my spine. Grabbing my almost full glass of whiskey, I gulp it down in one go.
I am not ready for this.
Had I known what tomorrow would bring, no doubt we would have been a bit nicer to our fathers.
