Chapter 30
I’m last to arrive. Kit, Rhody, and Leo are already seated at our usual table with a prime view of the baseball game on the television.
“Finally,” Rhody grumbles as I approach. “Even Leo was here on time, and he had literally saved lives all day.”
“I only saved one life today,” Leo says, scooping up a handful of peanuts. “Everyone else died.”
“Fuck. Really?”
“No.” Leo flicks a shell at Rhody. It ricochets off his arm and hits me instead. “I’m an awesome doctor.”
“About time you were awesome at something,” Kit comments.
More shells get tossed around.
“Ah shit. Carmichael just struck out.” Rhody slumps in his seat. “I can’t believe Boston got O’Shea. He’s the best pitcher the league has seen since Caleb Winters.”
“Pretty sure Garner Sports Agency represents him,” Kit comments.
“O’Shea?” Rhody asks.
“Yeah. Dean Garner represented Winters until he retired.”
“Who is Dean Garner?” Leo questions.
“Hell of a sports agent,” Kit replies. “And Rory and Wren’s other grandfather. Hannah worked at the agency before becoming an architect.”
“You’ve got that kind of in, and you’re only just now mentioning it?” Rhody says incredulously.
“He’s not my relative. Or Collins’s. Flynn has a better in than I do.”
I scowl at Kit’s grin, then at Rhody’s pleading expression. “What in? I’ve never even met the man.”
“Dean will be at Lili’s wedding,” Kit states.
“That makes me feel much better about missing it, thanks,” Rhody says sarcastically.
“Don’t look at me,” Kit tells him. “It’s not my wedding, and I had no input on the guest list. I figured they’d go big, but Lili picked small. Charlie has a ton of cousins once removed and great-uncles and shit. Half of England would be invading New York if they hadn’t limited the list.”
“Yet Parks got an invite?”
“He’s dating the maid of honor.”
“Like I don’t know invites were sent out way before that headline.” Rhody sips his beer. “Claudia’s sister is getting married that same weekend anyway. I was mainly trying to guilt you into a boys’ trip to Vegas or something.”
“We can do a boys’ trip,” Kit says casually. “As long as it’s before March 12 since I won’t be able to travel with a newborn.”
There’s a beat of total silence around the table.
“Collins is pregnant,” Kit elaborates.
I cheer along with the other guys, even though it’s news I’ve known for a while.
“Excellent work, my man,” Leo comments, clapping Kit on the back.
“Since we’re making big announcements …” Rhody pulls a small black box out of his pocket, setting it on the center of the table amid the drinks and peanut shell remnants. “I’m going to ask Claudia to marry me.”
“Holy shit,” Leo says.
“Congrats, man,” Kit contributes.
I stare at the innocuous box.
I’m supposed to be purchasing one of those soon.
The reminder panics me, not with the constricted sensation that’s signaled the imminent end of all my relationships.
It’s the same surreality as when I sat in Oliver’s office, imagining asking for his blessing to propose to Rory.
The ring and that conversation feel too real, the furthest thing from the effortless arrangement I anticipated this being.
What’s simpler than outlining an entire relationship in advance, knowing exactly what the other person is expecting because you’ve both agreed to eventual steps?
Why do I feel like I don’t know what’s coming?
“You guys are making me feel behind,” Leo complains. “Kit has a kid and a half. Rhody is getting married. Flynn is dating a billionaire.”
“She has a name,” I snap.
“Dude, I know. I was just—sorry.” Leo looks away, reaching for his beer.
I force my facial muscles to relax from the glower I didn’t realize had appeared. Rhody appears surprised. Kit? Kit is fucking smiling.
I don’t give a shit if people think I’m dating Rory for a gold rush, not to receive my own inheritance. But it does bother me that anyone assumes Rory doesn’t have other assets.
It makes me think of what she said at dinner the other night—“I thought he wanted my money more than that.”
I hate that Rory thinks that, let alone said it. I hate even more that I’m not certain she was wrong—that Carson might have seen dollar signs when he looked at her. Money does buy happiness for some people, but Rory is priceless.
“Do you know where you’re going to propose?” Kit asks Rhody.
My phone begins buzzing as Rhody starts listing off ideas.
“I gotta take this,” I say, sliding off the stool.
I go out the back exit since it’s closer to our table. A guy is smoking by a dumpster in the alley. He nods at me, stamps out the cigarette, and then heads back inside.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Flynn. How are you?”
“I was better before you called.”
He sighs. “One of these days, it’d be nice if I could have a mature conversation with my adult son.”
“What do you want, Dad? Because we both know you wouldn’t be calling otherwise.”
“Greer Wayland is visiting New York on Saturday to tour some apartments. Your mother and I are planning to take her to lunch. We expect you to join us.”
“I’m busy on Saturday.”
“Yes. With this lunch.”
“With my life, which doesn’t include entertaining a twenty-two-year-old. I don’t know if it was you or Mom who gave Greer my number, but it was totally inappropriate.”
“Inappropriate?” Julian scoffs. “You’ve known Greer your entire life. You grew up together.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “So?”
“So, we’ll see you at lunch. The Waylands have done a lot for us.”
“You mean, Dan has done a lot for you.”
“Yes, he has. He’s the reason you have the trust fund you’re so eager to receive and spend. The least you can do is indulge his daughter for a few hours.”
“Or what?”
“Or you’ll have proven, yet again, that your immaturity and irresponsibility know no limits. I’m tired of having to tell you that, Flynn.”
Not as sick as I am of hearing it.
“Why weren’t you at dinner?”
My father sighs. “Is that where this animosity is coming from? Your mother let you know we couldn’t make it.”
“Yeah. An hour before with no actual reason why.”
“Unlike you, I ordinarily honor my commitments. That means, in the rare instance I can’t do so, I’m allowed some latitude.”
I shake my head. “Just say the rules don’t apply to you, Dad.”
“I sincerely apologize for missing the dinner with you and Rory. We’ll reschedule. Hopefully, you two will still be together then.”
I don’t realize the fingers of my free hand have curled into a fist until my knuckles start to ache. “It’s never going to be enough, is it?”
“What?”
“Anything. I went to law school, like you wanted. I took a job at a firm ranked higher than Perry’s. I’m dating a member of the family you idolize. And you don’t really give a shit about any of it. You’re waiting for me to mess up.”
“Don’t act so innocent, Flynn. I expect you to mess up because you have, repeatedly. How many times did you come home drunk in high school? You practically flunked out of college your freshman year. Do you have any idea how many favors I had to ask for to keep you enrolled at—”
“My roommate died, Dad.”
“That was a terrible tragedy, not an excuse. Character is what we display in the face of adversity, and you have fallen short time and again. Don’t you think I wish I could expect more from you?
Don’t you think I want to count on my son to be reliable and responsible?
You could have gotten into law school on your own.
You probably could have gotten into Harvard Law on your own.
But you had to complain and avoid for a year first, proving my point about your lack of discipline. ”
I’m silent, which is rare. I’m usually in a rush to get through a lecture. Bored by his updates on golf or people he considers important. However I can hurry these conversations along, I normally will.
He’s right; I’m an adult. I have autonomy over my own life. I don’t have to listen to his criticisms.
“Flynn? Are you listening to—”
“I’m done, Dad.”
He sighs. “Done with what, Flynn?”
“You. This. Keep the money. Don’t call me. Don’t expect me at lunch. I’m done listening and disappointing and attending any dinners you may or may not show up for.”
“Flynn, you’re—”
“Bye, Dad.” I hang up.
He tries to call back a few seconds later, so I block his number.
It’s not nearly as satisfying as I always imagined it’d be.