Page 52 of Company Ink

I sink lower into my chair, my heart racing. I want to tell Dad to shut up, but I stay quiet, not wanting to escalate anything.

Adrian raises an eyebrow. "And what kind of womanshouldI date?" he asks in a gruff tone.

Dad doesn't miss a beat. "Someone who is your equal, be that in life or in career." Dad looks at me, shaking his head. "I'm sorry Cassandra but planning little book signings for young adult authors is not exactly on the same caliber as being a lawyer."

"Richard, will you stop?!" my mom exclaims, watching my eyes well up with tears. I can't believe he's saying all this shit in front of Adrian. "You're going to make her cry."

"Meredith," my dad sighs. "She always cries."

I wipe my nose and blink back the impending tears, suddenly feeling ill. Adrian abruptly stands up, his chair scraping against the hardwood floor, my parents both stare up at him with shock plastered on their faces.

"What're you doing?!" I whisper in a panic, craning my head towards him.

"Get your jacket," he mutters firmly, shooting daggers at my father. "We're leaving."

"What? We can't just leave."

"Now!" he says through his teeth, then faces my parents. I sit there frozen, unable to move. This doesn't feel real.

Adrian's deadly gaze locks in on my father as he continues, "I refuse to sit here and listen to any more of this nonsense." My dad opens his mouth to say something, but Adrian holds up his finger.Dear God. "I understand we come from different generations, and perhaps when you were my age, it was unacceptable for people of different social standings to be involved, but it's 2020 sir, and I think character is far more important than status." Adrian looks over to me. "Let's go."

"But—" I glance over at my parents, who are both white-faced and flabbergasted. Panic overtakes my body. He just yelled at my dad! Oh my God. I shake my head, completely and utterly baffled. This is not happening!

"Why did you do that?" I ask as he drags me to the front door,my feet practically stumbling over themselves.

Adrian stops us outside the front hall closet, his extraordinarily dark eyes piercing mine. "You just sat there and didn't say anything. That's not like you, Cassie," he observes, retrieving our coats from the closet. "What was I supposed to do? Stay quiet while he talked down to you?"

I have no response.

I stay silent as I put my jacket on and we exit my parents' house. I'm sure to other people my father seems like a complete asshole, and maybe he is, but I don't think his line of questioning was meant to belittle me, rather he wanted to know Adrian's intentions. Or maybe I'm just trying to justify his words. At this point, I don't know anymore. All I know is that the next conversation I have with my parents will be unbearably uncomfortable.

Just as I'm about to slide into the passenger seat, my mother runs out of the house wrapped in a wool shawl. "Cassie, wait!" she calls out.

I close the car door and meet my mom halfway on the front lawn, the sound of the car's engine humming behind me. "I'm sorry," I murmur, looking down at my feet. "I don't know why he did that...Is dad mad?"

Mom sighs. "Your father is the one who should apologize, not you." I look up, my forehead creasing. "He means well, dear, but your father has never been very tactful. I think he was just concerned that Adrian's intentions weren't honest." A small smile clips her lips. "But after the way he just stood up for you, I think your dad's concerns were put to rest."

I tighten my jacket around my body, unsure of how to react. "I'm glad Dad feels better," I begin. "But I don't. He made me feel small. Why does he do that?" Tears begin pouring out of my eyes. "Why, mom?"

My mother wraps her arms around me as I quietly sob into her shoulder. "I don't know, dear. I don't think he means to do it. He doesn't intentionally try to hurt you. He loves you; I know he loves you. But the way he loves is...different, and I don't think he's ever learned how to love properly. He shows you love the same wayhisparents showedhimlove, by being blunt and honest, and sometimes even a little cruel."

I sniffle, pulling away from my mom's comforting embrace. "But grandma and grandpa were always so nice to me, I don't get it."

My mom tilts her head. "The way your grandparents treated you was probably how your father wishes they treated him. I wish I could explain to you the psychology of parenthood, but I can't. All I can do is say sorry and try to be a better parent myself."

I drag my index finger under each eye, hoping that I don't look like a trash panda right now. "Do you think dad will ever change?" I ask somberly.

Mom shrugs. "I'm not sure. If I'm being honest, probably not, but we can hope. I'll talk to him for you, try to get him to see your side." She pauses. "You know what they say, you can lead a horse to water—"

"But you can't make him drink," I finish her sentence. "Yeah, I know, Mom." I look over my shoulder to Adrian. "I guess, I should get going. Your casserole was good."

"Thanks, dear," Mom smiles lightly, nodding towards the car. "He must really like you. Not a lot of men have the balls to stand up to your father."

My eyes widen. "Did you just sayballs?"

My mother squints her green eyes and giggles. "Naughty, I know."

I give my mom a final hug goodbye and head for the car. We drive in silence for several minutes, the rhythmic sound of the windshield wipers pulling me into a trance. My emotions are all over the place right now. I'm used to my dad acting the way he did tonight, not that I enjoy it, but I'm used to it. Adrian's outburst, on the other hand, is something completely new and I'm not sure how to process the meaning of his actions. On multiple occasions, he's told me that he's not looking for a relationship, yet tonight, he acted like a boyfriend. But then again, he wassupposedto be acting like my boyfriend... Fuck, this is absurd. My brain feels like it's melting.

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