Chapter 14 Norm #2
“Trying to sucker me in with puppy dog eyes. I’m resistant and it won’t work. It only works if you’re under the age of ten.” She kicked off her shoes. “Sorry, but my feet are screaming. I feel bad doing this. But Jesus Christ this carpet pile. This car is amazing.”
“It was my dad’s,” I said. “To the CEO, go the spoils. Or, at least the things that try to make up for being that guy.”
“Why do you whine about it and still do it?” Eva asked.
“I was his third choice,” I admitted. “That doesn’t leave this car.”
Earl raised the partition.
“I knew he wanted Cal before me. Cal was Dad’s favorite person. And he raised Cal up in the business—grooming him for this. When Cal decided to run for mayor, that flew by the wayside. I later found out Dad wanted to offer Daphne the top spot, but she never would have accepted.”
“She was still married to fuckface?”
I snickered at her diction. “Yes.”
“So, that’s the chip on your shoulder?”
I shrugged. “While I was dyslexic and hated school, Daphne was always top of her class. Cal was good at everything. And boy, didn’t my father always prefer him!”
“But he’s like ten years older than you!” Eva laughed.
“Yes, but it didn’t matter. As I got older, the more pushed out I felt. I loved my dad. I wanted his approval, but he didn’t see me. He doted on the girls. Derrick was the clown. I’m not that funny.”
“I was the brain of the family,” Eva said. “But I always felt like they loved us both pretty equally.”
“And your dad?”
“He worked all the time, but when home, he would give us everything he could. When I said I wanted to go to Oxford freshman year, he bought me a sweatshirt and promised if I would put in the work to get in, he would find a way. I ended up getting a scholarship and they paid for my plane ticket and flat share. I love my parents. They did everything they could to make sure I had opportunities they never did.”
I smiled. “That sounds incredible.”
“They are good. But because of my sister’s wrath, I try to dress in baggy clothes, so no one guesses. I feel terrible hiding it. At work, we have reasons. At home, I just want to be honest. I never relax.”
“I’d never know if I didn’t know you like that,” I said. “But I could see your mom picking up on it. And I get that. I suspect Daphne will give me shit and my mother will want to die inside, but they will get over it. If your parents love you, they will figure it out.”
“My sister won’t.” Eva looked out the window as we continued south. “We used to be close, but we haven’t since she married Ian. He’s totally corrupted her. He’s abused her and she cannot see it. In some ways, I can’t blame her.”
“How so?”
“He gives her an allowance—a very strict one—but they live in a house that cost a million dollars to build. His parents had money and paid for his school and startup costs, but he will tell you he’s a self-made millionaire who owns the finest luxury home company.”
She said it with stank which made me chuckle.
“So, he’s as self-made as me?”
“Pretty much. Anyway, he does nothing with my nephew. He burdens Brooke with making everything perfect. He polices her like she’s a child and has turned her into this fundie who judges everything.”
“He sounds like an asshole.”
“He is. But he’s not unlike so many other men I know, so… par for the course.”
I read her pained expression, seeing vulnerability. “Hey, I get why maybe you are reticent to trust me now, but… I only want to be involved. I’m not going to keep you on a leash.”
She returned to tough Eva. “Well, you never could.”
As soon as her walls came down, they went back up. I changed the subject.
“So, is she mean about you being… you know… gay?”
“I’m not gay!” Eva laughed. “I’m pan. I fall in love with people.
I lust after people. While I may tend to be more homoromantic, I swing both ways.
Originally, my sister was supportive. She liked Mona—Ian didn’t—but she didn’t want to be rude to her.
So, she put up with it. But this? This is different.
This is me refusing to marry the dude who knocked me up unapologetically and choosing to raise a kid on my own. That won’t fly without commentary.”
“But, Eva, you won’t raise this baby on your own. And, if you wanted—”
“Please, God, do not say to get married! Stop!”
“I wasn’t saying that,” I laughed. “I wanted to say if you wanted me there to tell them, I will suffer through it. I can take the heat and the rage. Promise.”
“I don’t,” Eva said. “It’s too confusing for them. And I’d like to keep who the father is secret for a bit, because I don’t want your personal wealth changing how they respond.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really,” Eva answered. “I dunno. I don’t want the takeaway to be that I’m with a dude whose family is basically American royalty and now my kid is somehow born into it. Davey, it’s fucking weird for me.”
“Why? Why isn’t that good?”
“Because I don’t know! I don’t want to feel weird. I worry about everyone comparing our kid to Daphne’s kid—which is impossible. We aren’t the same. I feel like my parents will do the same with ours and because she’s illegitimate, they will love Brooke’s kids more.”
The idea our kid wouldn’t be good enough wounded me.
I squeezed her hand. “I can promise you that—to us—that kid will be everything. And anyone who belittles our kid will hear about it from me.”
“You say that with conviction,” Eva said.
“Because it is true. Eva, this baby will be loved.”
“I want to believe you. I just worry it’s a shiny object and we’re going to end up in court screaming at one another like every other straight couple.”
I set my jaw and resisted anger because I hated these doubts. “Eva, I don’t know how I can prove it other than by taking the time to show you.”
“It’s not affecting you.”
“It is, though. I look at the picture of our child every morning as I get ready for work. Somedays, I hate work with a burning passion just like anyone does, but I show up because it matters to our family.” I squeezed her hand tighter. “And you are part of it now.”
Eva shook her head and pulled her hand back, shrinking away from me.
“Eva, say something,” I pleaded.
“I have my concerns. I will try to set them aside and give you—and your family—the benefit of the doubt.”
“Thanks.”
She turned back, face and voice softer. “I am trying. But the parents? It frightens me.”
“I know, but we can only put it off so long,” I said. “After all, you’re going to see too much of my family at the retreat in two weeks.”
“What a disaster,” Eva said.
It was. I also realized it gave me an opportunity to show her my family wasn’t a load of classist assholes who would hate her.
She trusted Daphne. She’d trust me eventually.
The challenge would be resisting touching her.
Because, right now, all I wanted to do was pull her tired body into my arms and hold her close.
I wanted to see her happy and safe. If she was secure, so would be our baby.
Eva
“Is that a horse pasture?” Davey pointed down my parents’ drive.
“Yes. We’ve still got a few. Bubba is a rescue. Maggie is my dad’s mare. Poco is my old man,” I said. “I used to show quarter horse circuit, but Poco is now in his thirties and only goes out on the trails.”
“He’s in his thirties and rideable?”
“Totally,” I said.
“Dora—my youngest sister—still rides competitively. Daphne and Delanie rode, too, but neither like Dora does. Cal’s sister, Chloe, is a real world-beater. She is known as a horse influencer. You should have warned me, Eva.”
“Why?” I laughed.
“Because I avoid horse girls,” Davey joked. “It’s a disease.”
I smiled slyly. “And you wanted to come all the way out here?”
“I wanted to bring you home safely.”
The car slowed. The driver lowered the partition
“Just give us a second,” Davey said.
“I’m here,” I murmured, feeling half asleep.
“Well, if you… if you want to talk about anything at all. Just text me. Or if you need anything—”
“You’re going to flee to Indiana? C’mon!”
“Sure.”
I patted his knee. “I don’t think I need saving, Davey. But thank you.”
He squeezed my hand. “I’m just saying… as you said… I owe you, baby.”
Baby?
My face showed it all.
“I… I’m sorry.” Davey pulled his hand away and looked down. “Shit, I… we were bonding, and I fucking ruined it.”
I suddenly believed him. His reaction was genuine—I flustered him. I made David Delphine nervous. He trusted me.
I grabbed his hand. “It’s okay. It’s been a long day.”
His eyes met mine in the low light, sending an impulse which confused me. I wanted to kiss him. I hated it. Why, oh why, did I want to kiss this man? His eyes were soft, and his hand was gentle in mine. He was vulnerable and already missing me.
Say something idiotic so I can hate you again, Davey!
But he didn’t.
“I’ll… text you,” I dropped his hand.
The driver rushed to open my door. Davey watched me step inside the house.
I watched their headlights fade, creeping upstairs.
It was the weirdest night—my billionaire boss with a Bentley dropped me off at my childhood home after we wined and dined another very rich man.
My boss was my baby daddy. Shit was weird right now.
I crawled into bed with as many pillows as I could take from the linen closet without my mother finding out. I couldn’t rest yet. My mind filtered back to Davey’s genuine concern about my reaction to calling him baby.
I picked up my phone.
ME
Do you want to try to get together and start talking about arrangements for this kid?
It was bold and I worried he’d react poorly.
BOSS MAN
Yes. When and where? Are we still incognito?
ME
Yes.
Chesterton has an artisan market tomorrow. Do you want to meet at the Bluebird Cafe for brunch? It’s about all I can keep down.
BOSS MAN
Honest talk. Did you go puke in the bathroom after dinner and before dessert?
I snickered.
ME
Also, yes.
I’m sorry. I know it’s gross, but nothing suits.
BOSS MAN
Then you shall have your breakfast. Whatever works.
I smiled.
ME
Does 11 work?
BOSS MAN
Sure.