Page 22 of Falling for My Son's Best Friend

My expression remained neutral, but inside I was disgusted. Really? This dude was all about money. In addition to casually “dropping” that he owned the team, he was also flagrantly discussing money now, openly mentioning his cash, how much he paid, who was gonna get it, and who was shit up the creek. It was baldly transactional, but I manned up. After all, sports is a business, money makes it go round just like any other business. I just didn’t like the way this dude was so mercenary and out in the open about it.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you,” I said casually, taking Marie’s elbow. “Come on, we got you that beer, Robbie’s waiting,” I rumbled.

“Oh thanks,” she said, shooting me a grateful glance, glad to have an excuse to leave. “Thanks, Trent, yeah, let’s get back to our seats.”

But it was then that this Vincent dude pulled out all the stops. Or more accurately, he went way overboard.

“Hold on a minute!” he wheezed, one gnarled hand reaching out to grab Marie’s other elbow. “I’ve got box seats up above, why don’t you come and sit with me, little lady?”

The brunette shot a horrified look my way before turning back politely, trying to pull her arm away discreetly.

“Oh no, Mr. Vincent, I couldn’t. I’m here with my son and his friend, it would be rude, I can’t leave them.”

“No it wouldn’t be rude!” Vincent’s voice rang out loudly, authoritatively, almost crackling. “Leave those boys be. When you got a rich dude like me, you gotta hang on for dear life, girlie,” he cackled, leaning towards Marie like he was telling her a secret. “Trust me, you’re no spring chicken, you’re over the hill and a man like me is good news for a woman like you.”

I was pissed then, absolutely fucking pissed. Had this dude just said that Marie was over the hill? That she was some kind of old hag that no one wanted? I stepped in then, forcefully yanking his hand off her arm, even pushing the senior away a bit, making totter unsteadily and let out a small scream. No one had probably touched him for years, too afraid of his money, but I didn’t give a shit. No one insulted my woman liked that, she was mine and worth much more than any money could buy.

“Back off,” I snarled. “Back the fuck off.”

But Vincent cackled like a hyena.

“You gonna let some young buck stand in your way?” he wheezed. “Serious, you gonna let some young, broke guy stand in your way when you could have me, a gazillionaire? Come on, pretty lady, a woman needs to count her blessings and frankly, the older the better, right?” he leered. “No need to smell the flowers, time’s a ticking, there ain’t too many opportunities for you anymore.”

And I fucking lost it then. This fucker was so unbelievable, insulting Marie, insulting me by intimating that I was some young stud with nothing to offer, just some promises and an empty bank account. He was so fucking rude too, telling Marie that he was her best option since she was over the hill, even though this shithead had liver spots on his hands, his neck, his wattle like a rooster, teeth decayed and yellow, breath stinking to high heaven.

“Get the fuck away,” I grunted. But I didn’t physically attack him, I can’t do that to a seventy year-old doddering fool, even if he was a slobbering idiot, it’s just not in my DNA. Instead, I nodded to the ground.

“By the way, your money clip fell. It’s right there,” I grunted, pointing with my shoe. And sure enough, there was a fat roll of cash clipped with the ugliest gold metal thing, a huge, gaudy red stone flashing from the center.

“Oh!” squeaked the old man. “Someone get it for me! It’s rolling away!”

Because he was leaning forwards unsteadily, trying to grab his money, but it was a shaky situation. Oh yeah, this guy wasn’t good on his feet, probably had inner ear problems from being so old and was reaching out with a trembling hand, looking like he was going to tip over any second.

The gentleman in me, the nice guy, would have helped him, would have retrieved the money and given it back to the old man in two seconds. But fuck, he deserved it. This Vincent dude was a dipshit and then some, let him fall over trying to get to his money, it was obviously the most important thing in life to him.

So seizing Marie’s elbow once more, I pulled her away, the old man not even looking up as we left, his eyes fixated on the wad of cash, so near and yet so far.

“Bye Vincey,” I rumbled, pulling at my best girl’s elbow, creating more distance by the second. “Have fun with your cold hard cash, hope it keeps you warm at night.” The words made no difference. Vincent didn’t even hear, he was too busy trying to retrieve his pot of gold, eyes still fixated on the ground, one scrawny, wobbly arm reaching out.

“Help, help!” he squeaked to anyone who could hear. “My money!”

But there was no one around, we were in a lightly trafficked area, the nearest concession stand was some fifty feet away. Well, no worries, someone would wander by soon enough and either pick up the money, or even better, ignore him and let him suffer. Serves Vincent right, what an asshole. But as I walked Marie back to our seats, she was oddly quiet.

“You okay?” I asked her. “That was shit, I’m so sorry that happened.”

She nodded silently, those brown curls bouncing. But I could tell she wasn’t alright, that the old jerk’s word had stung.

“Hey, don’t listen to anything that guy said, it doesn’t matter okay?” I said seriously, pulling her to a stop and looking into those deep brown eyes. “Ignore it, okay? He’s just riffraff, it was totally random.”

The brunette nodded her head, biting her lip, but it wasn’t enough.

“It’s nothing,” she said, a little too loudly, clearing her throat. “It’s nothing,” she said, trying again, a small smile edging her lips. “I guess, you know, I’ve never really thought I was … old,” she hesitated a little on the word. “But this guy made me feel really ancient.”

And I stopped walking completely, pulling her around to face me.

“Marie, you’re not old,” I said forcefully. “You’re perfect, you’re a woman, it’s life.”

She shot me a wobbly smile.

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