Page 29 of Falling for my Best Friend

I shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“Fuck me. I can’t believe he got so soft with age. He was such a hard ass when I was young.”

“So you’ve said.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter what he said. He would’ve wanted you to follow in his and my footsteps and dedicate your life to making other people lots of money.”

“And helping people be fit enough to go out and make their own money- or spend it how they want- isn’t good enough?”

“It’s not my first choice.”

I sighed. “Will you at least think about coming to look at the locations I’ve scouted out? I think I already know which one I prefer, but I would appreciate your opinion.”

“Will you at least promise me that you’ll consider my offer of training here and joining the team?”

“Do you want me to lie to you?”

“No.”

“Then no, I’m not going to consider your offer. I know what I want to do, and while I don’t need your permission by any stretch, it would mean a lot to me if you would give me your blessing.”

“What does your Mother think of all this?”

“She just wants me to be happy.”

“Well, that’s why I married her, isn’t it? Because she’s a better person than I am.”

I smiled. “You’re not so bad.”

“And what about this Chelsea? Is she a better person than you are?”

“I don’t know. You’ve met her. Why do you ask?”

“Cause if I’m going to get ambushed with any more wedding expenses, I want to know right now.”

I laughed. “No, you’re good. Unless you’ve got other kids to consult that I don’t know about, Claire’s is the only wedding you’re on the hook for.”

“She’s doing my head in with this shit, Aiden. I swear to God. This guy better be a goddamn prince for how far I’m reaching in my pocket. Your mother called me earlier to let me know they’ve decided on centerpieces from Italy. Italy!”

“At least you only get married once, right?”

He rolled his eyes. “No shit. I’m not kidding though. If they don’t start cutting corners somewhere, her wedding is going to be my funeral! Honestly, next thing I know they’ll be telling me they want real doves to deliver the invitations to people.”

“Maybe you could compromise and get a discount on carrier pigeons if you order in bulk.”

“I must remember that,” he said. “In case they try and pull anything.”

“Why don’t you change your focus?”

“Pardon?”

“Why don’t you stop focusing on how much everything is costing you and start focusing on how good you’re going to feel when you’re walking Claire down the aisle knowing that, because of you, she got to have the wedding of her dreams?”

My Dad smiled gently, his eyes forming little crescents. “You’re a good kid, Aiden, and you know what else?”

“What?”

“You’d make a damn fine trader.”

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