Chapter 6 #2
“Don’t make tonight about your disapproval of this engagement. Keep a smile on your face and do your job.”
“My job?” I have to forcefully stop myself from laughing.
It’s a family celebration, and it’s like I’m on the clock, ready to win an Oscar for this performance.
He smiles and waves at a few guests, dressed to the nines, as they walk by.
With a fake smile on his face, he scolds, “What has gotten into you lately?”
I’m shocked at the utter hypocrisy.
“I could ask you the same.” I pause, fixing my tie and shrugging his hand and arm off my neck. “But it seems your opinion is the only one that matters nowadays.”
“Dean …” He inhales, sounding genuinely hurt. “Please. We need this night to go perfectly.”
“Don’t worry; you’ve taught me how to hide my emotion deep inside while keeping a smile on my face. I learned from the best.” I show off exactly what I mean as I take a sip of my water, a perfect grin forming on my lips as I swallow.
“We’ll finish this conversation later,” he mutters as Harrison Wilford—a business colleague of ours—strolls over to speak with him.
Can’t wait.
Maria, my assistant—more like my dad’s spy—finds my side. “Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger are walking this way. Remember to congratulate them on their recent vow renewal.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger.” I clap my hands together as they approach. “I heard you two lovebirds recently renewed your vows. Congratulations. I’m sure it was beautiful.”
Mrs. Ballinger’s face lights up. “Oh, it was.” She beams. “Thank you.”
“Of course. We’re happy you guys are joining us tonight.”
Mr. Ballinger pipes up, “Had to be here to support.”
Maria nonchalantly pokes my side, telling me to move on from this conversation to the next.
I smile and shake his outstretched hand. “You guys enjoy yourselves. And please, let us know if we can do anything to improve it.”
They smile and nod, dismissing themselves as they sashay away toward the dance floor.
Maria leads me to the next name on the list of important guests, and then the next … and next … and next, until my face hurts from smiling and my soul cries from fake excitement and joy, the kind only people in any service industry can truly understand.
After being paraded through the grand foyer, the overlook, the gardens, and the bar, we end in a small side room, where the guests are entering from.
Only a couple of people are inside, getting their coats or belongings checked in by the staff. And collecting a mask if they forgot one of their own.
“You’re dismissed for now,” Maria says. “Dinner at nine o’clock.
Group photos at ten o’clock.” Her eyes flick up to mine.
“You and Asher are both needed for that. And at eleven fifty-five, everyone will be gathering for fireworks. The party will fade from the gardens after midnight. You guys will be thanking guests until everyone’s left, and then the night will officially be over. Then we’ll meet tomorrow to debrief.”
“Got it,” I respond, emotionless—because that’s exactly how I feel after all of that parading, like an empty shell no longer in control. They might as well tie strings to my arms and legs.
She types rapidly in her phone. “I texted it to you too. Don’t be late.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I salute her, standing tall.
She holds my stare for a moment, trying to decipher if I was being sarcastic. Honestly, I’m not sure either.
But she gives up, spins on her heel, and strides away, onto her next mission.
The mood instantly worsens when I see my father breach the entryway of the room, heading straight toward me with a stone face.
“I guess I have to find a new hiding spot.” I sigh, leaning backward against the wall right behind me.
A ghost of a smile skirts across his lips. “If you weren’t hiding, you wouldn’t need to be found.” He pauses. “Well done. Everyone loves you.”
“It’s hard not to,” I retort. “What do you need?”
“I can’t just come see my son?” he asks, and I stay silent, waiting for him to own up to what he really needs or give a better excuse. “All right, fine. Can you keep an eye on Asher tonight? He already seems like he’s up to no good with your friends. And take the champagne away from him.”
“He’ll behave. He doesn’t need a babysitter,” I argue, knowing Ash will do what’s needed, like we always do. “Cut him some slack.”
He glares at me. “You and I both know he has a hard time handling his emotions, especially at important events.”
I know exactly which time he’s referring to—my mom’s funeral, when Asher stormed out—and it makes my blood boil that he would dare mention my mother in any capacity at this event.
“He’s volatile. Keep him in line,” he orders unwaveringly, and I scoff. “You have an attitude tonight. Fix it. Now.”
I’m the one who keeps everything locked in and everyone else under control. I’m the calculated one who doesn’t say a word that isn’t thought out through to the very end.
But hearing him speak of Ash and mention my mom during a night like tonight breaks something deep inside of me.
How can he not see how far he’s fallen from the man we’ve always known?
“I’m sorry, Father, that we can’t all be so gracious when it comes to losing her. Some of us actually miss her … so much that it has to physically come out or we’ll explode.” My voice is rising, teeth bared, pulling the attention of a few guests, but for once, I don’t care.
“Dean,” he warns me, his eyes darting to the guests in the room.
But I continue, my anger growing and bubbling out of me., “I mean, it’s only been a few months since we buried her. God forbid a son struggle after losing his mom. Or a husband even care enough to grieve his dead wife.”
His hand collides with my face, and my cheek stings, burning a thousand degrees.
A few gasps sound around us, and when I turn my head back to face my father, I find his eyes wide with shock, his mouth agape.
He’s never laid a hand on me or Ash, not once.
A chuckle that turns to a cold, sick laugh jostles out of me, deep from within. It’s suddenly apparent that Asher wasn’t who he had to worry about tonight at all.
It was me.
Bodies find my side, and it takes me only a moment to recognize my brother and friends—Asher, Griffin, Malik, Elias, and Finn. All ready to have my back, no matter what.
“Dad,” Asher scolds, his voice more threatening than I think I’ve ever heard, low with warning.
The shock in our father’s face dissipates, the unnatural, stone-cold one returning as he straightens his jacket and tie. “Get some air. You need to cool off,” he tells me.
I laugh again at the ridiculous comment, the kind of laugh that raises the hair on the back of your neck with fear.
My body is nearly vibrating with rage, and I feel Asher’s hand flatten against my chest as I try to step forward.
“You think I need to cool off? Look in the mirror, you fucking hypocrite.”
“Dean.” His voice is commanding, but I don’t obey. I’m not his dog.
“Enjoy your night, Mr. Kensington. I hope it’s as magical as you planned. Try not to look at your wife’s glass image in your office tonight. She shouldn’t have to see you like this.” I spit my words, feeling as if I could fly from the pissed-off energy coursing through me.
Ash lets me go, and I stride toward our father, pushing his shoulder and knocking him back as I continue toward the doors.
He doesn’t reiterate my name or try to stop me.
The guys start to follow me, but I wave them off.
“I’m good. I need a second alone.”
Everyone falls away, everyone but Asher. That’s how we’ve always been—at each other’s side through thick and thin.
I lead us in silence, through the doors and around to the back of the house, toward the water fountain and hedge maze.
I always love listening to the water and feeling it between my fingers, which is exactly what I need right now if I’m not going to go absolutely nuclear tonight.
Running my hands through my hair, over and over, I sigh loudly, a slight growl leaving my lips as we enter the garden and close the distance to the fountain.
“Fuck,” I curse, leaning against the tall, fifteen-foot-wide marble. “I lost it, Ash.”
He rests his arms beside mine, playing with the flowing water. “No one blames you. Although it’s nice being the well-behaved one for once.” I can hear the smile in his last statement.
“Screw off.” I laugh, feeling the tension in my body relax slightly at his joke. “I think I’ll just stay out here the rest of the night. It’s peaceful.”
“Then I’ll keep you company. Fuck the itinerary.” Ash lifts his hands, flipping off the fountain.
“Yeah,” I huff. “Fuck the itinerary!”