Page 90 of Fairy Tale Lies
Chapter Thirty-Six
“You didn’t have to aggravate them.” Greta slammed the door of Jacob’s truck, irritation ringing in her voice.
“And they didn’t have to act like assholes,” he retorted with equal bitterness.
So much for their united front.
Lunch had been a total disaster, chock full of tension and stilted conversation. At first, he thought the two of them were united. A team. He’d been wrong. The whole experience was as pleasant as a root canal.
“Come on, Jacob,” Greta nearly shouted. “They’re still my parents.”
“I’m your boyfriend, though I’m starting to wonder if it means anything to you.” He twisted the key forcefully in the ignition, and the truck roared to life. Putting it into drive, he whipped it around the circular driveway and onto the street.
“What are you talking about?”
“They talked down to me the entire time, yet you ignored the digs and even fucking censored me.” He took a deep breath, trying to wrestle in his anger. “Doesn’t it bother you? They view me as your colossal, and hopefully short-term, mistake.”
“They don’t know you. Give them time. Though, if you keep acting like today, goading them, things will never change. You were determined to make things worse,” Greta replied tersely.
Fury raced through his veins and out of his mouth. “Imade it worse? At one point your parents were giving me etiquette pointers like I was some stray dog that was going to run inside their precious country club and piss on the rug!”
He braked hard at a stop sign and twisted to face Greta, wanting to exorcize all his resentments. She held up a shaky hand. He took in her slumped shoulders and the tears gathering along the rims of her eyes, and some of his temper faded.
She took a tremulous breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she grasped his hand. “I’m sorry they were discourteous. I think they’re embarrassed. The whole watch debacle bothers them, and they’re overcompensating, acting stiffer than usual.”
Jacob scoffed, turning back to the road and sliding his hand from hers, placing it on the steering wheel. “I was the one removed from my house in handcuffs.”
She wrapped slim fingers around his wrist. “I know, and I’m sorry. They hate being wrong and looking like fools. They’re acting out.”
He shot her a side-eyed incredulous scowl. “Again, I was the one in handcuffs.”
“They’re being ridiculous, I know,” she hastily added, patting his leg.
After a pause, Jacob sighed. “That isn’t their problem. For one, too much time has passed.” He stopped at a red light, tapping on the steering wheel for a couple of seconds. “I’m not from a powerful family. I’m not Blake.”
“Thank God,” Greta muttered, making him smile.
“They want you with a man whose last name is on the Mayflower registry, with a trail of money and power connecting generation to generation.”
“No. Maybe. But who cares. It’s not like Nigel’s background is stellar.”
“What do you mean?” Curiosity overtook some of his anger.
“Nigel’s family isn’t old money. In fact, his mother met her wealthy husband working at a nightclub. Rumor has it,a gentlemen’s club. The man isn’t even Nigel’s biological father. He’s never met him.”
“Huh, interesting.” The light turned green, and Jacob hit the accelerator. “You could have told me this before today’s lunch.”
“Yeah, right. It would have made everything better. The thinly veiled insults weren’t enough? You wanted more fuel?” she replied sarcastically but, from his peripheral vision, he caught the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“Hell yes. Talk about a gem, to know the man’s a pompous, posturing fraud.”
Switching lanes on her side, he glanced at Greta. She looked miserable. He was acting like her parents, vindictive and petty. Remorse tugged at him.
He entwined their fingers. “I’m sorry. I could’ve been a little less dickish. For your sake, I’ll try harder to get along with them.”
“Thank you.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek, appreciation evident in her voice. She pointed. “See the brick sign up ahead? That’s the entrance to the country club.”
He followed the sign. “This is close, practically walking distance.” He skipped the valet and found a parking spot near the front entrance.
