Page 7 of Stuffing His Stocking

“And?” I encourage her to continue.

She rolls her eyes. “Senior year was… rough. Everything with our parents happened so fast. Then it went away just as quickly.” Melancholy sweeps over her expression, and I hate that I wasn’t around more.

I rest my hand over hers on the table. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I should’ve been.”

“Not your fault. Being there wouldn’t have changed anything.” She releases a heavy exhale. “After they divorced, I was expecting to go to community college for a couple of years and work to pay my tuition. So imagine my surprise when Bruce told me he’d gladly pay all my expenses at any university of my choosing.”

“Bruce? My father?” I can’t hide the skepticism in my tone.

“I know, right? I was shocked.” She pauses for a sip of her drink, and my eyes follow the movement when she licks a bit ofwhipped cream from her plump lip. “Not only that, but he let us keep our cars, gave us the house, and made sure Mom had more than enough money to live off for the rest of her life.”

“But she signed a prenup,” I contest, before realizing how awful that must sound. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant.” I shoot Liv a remorseful look and rest my hand over hers again.

She accepts my apology with a smile and accidentally bumps her knee into mine beneath the table. Electricity jolts up my leg and straight to my dick, and I shift in my seat, hoping she doesn’t notice.

“Mom and I were stunned, and even though she tried to tell him that it wasn’t necessary to do all that, he admitted that the divorce had been completely his fault. He said it was the least he could do for the trouble he caused.”

“You mean the cheating?”

Liv frowns, and I’m angry that she and her mother were hurt by his inevitable infidelity. If I’m honest, I think it broke something inside him when Diane left. He loved her, and it seems he’s never loved like that since. He wanted to have that kind of relationship with Carol, and I know it’s why he chose her. But he’s just too fucked up, and he ruined his best chance at happiness. I don’t care how much money the man has; I hope to God I never end up like him.

We sit in comfortable silence while enjoying the rest of our drinks. “So, how’s your mom? She doing okay?”

“She’s great, busy as ever.” Liv smiles fondly. “She quit her job when they married and I thought she might go back to it after the divorce. But she’s been volunteering like crazy, and I swear she’s always up to something new every time I call.”

Curiosity gets the best of me and I ask, “Does she ever hear from him?”

I know I fucking don’t.

“He calls her on the holidays and sends flowers for her birthday. I think it makes her sad sometimes, but she never says anything.”

I make a noncommittal noise while staring at my empty cup.

He can find time to reach out to a woman he was married to for only a year, but can’t be bothered with his own son.

Liv inhales a cleansing breath and sits straighter in her seat. “Enough about me. Clearly, things have changed with you. What are you up to now?”

I lift my shoulders. “Not much. Still living in the city.”

“Not much? That’s bullshit.” She laughs while my eyes widen. “What? You’ve never heard a girl cuss before? I know you don’t have virgin ears.”

I don’t have virgin anything, but I wonder if that’s the same for her.

Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. The girl is a smoke show and surely has her pick of any guy she wants.

The thought of her with another man sends a streak of unwarranted jealousy through my veins. But I have no claim on her, and I definitely get zero say in her love life.

Her melodic voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Tell me about this job of yours. I always figured you’d end up working for Bruce at his tech company.”

Imagining working alongside my father has bile rising in my throat. That’d be a disaster for both of us and something we certainly should avoid. “I was such a prick back then. A real pain in the ass, just trying to get my father to notice me. But he never did, and it sent me on a downward spiral.”

Liv shifts her weight onto her forearms, as they rest on the table, and leans toward me. “I’m sorry, Dylan. I wish… I wish you had better parents, instead of those two jerks.”

I respond with another casual shrug. “It’s fine. I promise. I’m not that same kid anymore.”

A watery smile appears on her face while she gazes at me.

“Anyway, I’m glad my parents suck ass. Because if they didn’t, I wouldn’t have met Mike.”

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