Page 94 of The Downside of Love
“I was happy for him,” I grit out, hating that my dad is getting to me, that he’s hitting a soft spot not only in front of Rory, but in the middle of the dance floor of the ball.
“Don’t fucking lie to me. Everyone saw the hatred you had for him.”
I didn’t. I didn’t fucking hate him.
“And instead of taking your failure like a man, you stepped in on the only thing you could take from him: his girl.”
Fuck, I hate this man.
My fist itches at my side, my pulse hammers, tempting my pent-up anger to billow over and take out this vile man in front of me.
“With all due respect, sir,” Rory says, coming from behind me. “It wasn’t like that at all.”
“Rory, don’t,” I say from the side of my mouth.
“Watch out, Miss Oaks. Seems like that apple doesn’t fall far from the tree where temper is concerned. He’s positively brimming with fury right now. I’ll admit my temper has gotten the best of me, and it seems like yourboyStryder here might have the same issue.”
“I am nothing like you,” I grit out.
Adjusting my bow tie, plastering on a fake smile for all onlookers, my dad pulls me into a hug and whispers into my ear. “You’re right, you’re nothing like me. You’re not even a quarter of the man I am. You are a waste of the family name, a massive disappointment to the men who’ve come before you, and I’m embarrassed to even pretend to tolerate you in front of all these people.” He grips my shoulder tightly. “No matter what you think, the girl will always think of Brooks. His value is far beyond yours. It’s in her eyes, the doubt of choosing you while he’s in flight school. There will come a time soon, when she realizes she chose the lesser man. And then, she WILL leave you. You’ll never amount to anything. Never provide for her like Brooks would. You’re a disappointment to her. Be a man for once and know when it’s time to give up something beyond you.”
Pulling away, he pats my shoulder as if he didn’t just vocalize every fear I’ve held since reconnecting with Rory. “Have a good night.” And with that, he grips my mom by the elbow and escorts her toward a table.
I stare at them, my eyes fixated on my dad’s back, the slightly balding patch on the back of his head, and the pompous way he holds his shoulders back, as if everyone in the room is blessed to have him in their presence.
“Hey.” Rory tugs on my arm. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.”Far from it. Fucking far from fine.I swallow hard. “I’m going to get a drink. Do you want anything?”
“I’ll go with you,” she answers softly, linking her hand with mine.
Trying to put on a good face, I escort Rory toward the bar despite the inner turmoil racing through my head.
You are a waste of the family name.
The girl will always think of Brooks.
She knows his value is far beyond yours.
She choose the lesser man.
She WILL leave you.
Never provide for her like Brooks would.
You’re a disappointment to her.
Know when it’s time to give up something that’s beyond you.
Like a record, his words play on repeat over and over again, shucking the rose-colored glasses off my face and tossing me right back into reality.Why?Because I have a heavy fucking feeling he’s right.
Chapter Twenty-Four
RORY
Ipick at my salad, the wilted lettuce from the dressing doing nothing for my appetite as Ryan yammers on about her latest conquest.
Brad is gone.
