Page 34 of Stuffing His Stocking

“Dylan is a wonderful man. You’d know that if you ever bothered to spend time with him.”

“I’ve spent plenty of time with him, dealing with his various problems over the years,” my father fumes bitterly.

“Hewas never the problem,” Carol snaps back. “He just wanted your attention, like any child would. Maybe his methods of getting it weren’t the best, but I can hardly blame him for his behavior.”

“Forget it,” I tell her. “He’ll never agree with you on that. It doesn’t matter anyway. That’s not why we’re here.”

My father’s gaze swings to me, cold and calculating. “I’ve made my position clear. You either end this, or you can kiss your trust fund goodbye.”

Beside me, Liv stiffens and I place my hand on her thigh. “I guess it’s goodbye then, because I love her. And she loves me.” For good measure, I lean over and kiss her cheek.

She glances at her smiling mom and blushes.

My father just scoffs, his face growing red with anger. “You can’t be serious, Dylan. Don’t be so stupid,” he hisses.

“Love is never stupid, Dad. But what do you know about love? You had your chance at it and failed.” I nod to his ex-wife with a lift of my chin. “Look what you lost. Now,thatwas stupid,” I sneer.

“So you want to be poor? Foolish and in love and poor. Is that it?”

“Why do you care so much?” Liv interjects, her voice trembling slightly. “We’re not hurting anyone.”

He narrows his gaze on her and I’m two seconds away from ramming my fist into his smug face. “You’re hurting me and my reputation. I won’t stand for it.”

Carol looks at him with disappointment in her brown eyes. “You’re nothing like the man I fell in love with. I’m not even sure that man ever existed.”

She shakes her head at him, and a flicker of pain flashes in his eyes. But just as quick as it came, he pushes it away and he hides behind his carefully crafted mask of superiority.

I feel a sharp pang of longing as I briefly reflect on what might’ve been for me and my father. Then my heart goes cold, realizing he’ll never be the man I hoped he would be.

“Just once, can’t you let me be happy?” I sigh. “I finally have someone who loves me. How could you ask me to give that up?” I stare at him with pleading eyes. I hate being this vulnerable.

He gazes back at me, and for a moment, I think he might change his mind. But then, as if closing shutters over a window, his expression of disdain reappears. “You’ll regret this, Dylan. Mark my words.”

Silence surrounds us as my father’s threat hangs heavy in the air. I close my eyes, as resignation washes over me, and try to tamp down my anger. Then, he tosses his napkin on the table, his food untouched, and rises from his chair.

“Don’t come running back to me when you regret this,” he growls before storming out of the restaurant.

My hands ball into tight fists, my short nails digging into my palms. I inhale a cleansing breath as Liv wraps her arm around me and rests her head on my shoulder.

Sympathy reflects in Carol’s eyes as she looks at me from across the table. “And you’re sure this is what you want?”

My face tenses as I stare back at her.

“You know what I mean. You’re walking away from a lot of money, Dylan, as well as your father.”

I glance down to find Liv peering up at me through her long, dark lashes, her pretty face a mix of apprehension and hope. But there’s no question what my answer will be. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.

I lift her chin for a simple kiss, before responding to her mother. “She’s worth it. She’s worth everything to me.”

Carol gazes between the two of us with a warm smile. “Good answer.”

Knowing my father has an open tab here, I decide we should treat ourselves on his dime. I signal for our waiter and request a bottle of the most expensive champagne, because tonight we’re celebrating. I may not have the biggest bank account, compared to the rest of the patrons enjoying their meals, but right now, I feel like the richest man in the room.

EPILOGUE

DYLAN

Nine Months Later

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