Page 103 of Terms + Conditions
“I didn’t want to disappoint you anymore than I already have. I don’t want you to hate me.”
Dad pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a deep breath. “Josh, there’s nothing that could make me hate you.”
“I don’t know—”
“Josh.” He grips my shoulders. “You’re my son, and I love you. There is nothing in this world that could make me hate you. Disappointed? Sure. That’s to be expected. But never hate.”
Tears well in my dad’s eyes, and they make mine burn with unshed tears. Dad isn’t a very emotional person. He’s always been the more reserved type. He keeps to himself and lets Mom handle most things, but when he does let that guard down and show his feelings…it hits you harder.
“Josh?” Elizabeth calls from the side porch off the mudroom. “Oh,” I hear her say, sensing the tension. “Never mind.”
“What is it, Sugar?” I call over my shoulder.
“Nothing that can’t wait.” She smiles softly and waves at Dad. “Jenny should be out in just a second, Pat.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth,” Dad says, offering her a small nod before she goes inside. When she closes the door, he turns back to me. “Despite everything that has happened, I’m glad the two of you managed to make this work. She’s good for you. And I think you’ve been good for her too.”
“I love her.”
“I know you do. I just hope this thing with Brie doesn’t mess things up again. I don’t know if the family can handle another round of Josh versus Elizabeth.”
I laugh softly.
“You really didn’t know about her?” Dad asks.
“No idea.”
“Well.” He sighs. “She seems to have a good head on her shoulders. You just need to get ahold of her mother and figurethis whole thing out.” Dad’s hand clamps down on my shoulder and squeezes. “I’m proud of you, Josh. Whatever happened all those years ago…you came out better for it. And when you’re ready to talk about it, I’ll be here.”
The tears well in my eyes again and my stomach is in knots. I want to tell him, but…I don’t want to see the disappointment on his face when he finds out what I did.
“Dad…I don’t want to keep secrets anymore,” I say, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Do you remember the Theta Pi hazing?”
“Sure, that kid who almost died your senior year. But you weren’t there. You were home the night of the—” His words fall off as the realization hits him. “Oh, Josh.”
“It wasn’t me. I didn’t hurt anyone, but I was…there. I was the one who took him to the hospital.”
“You took him to the hospital?” Dad asks. “Why didn’t you just tell the police that?”
“I was scared.” I shrug. “The school was talking about expulsion and I was already supposed to graduate late because—”
“I don’t understand how you decided an arranged marriage was the answer.”
“I went to Mom for help and she went to—”
“Brina.” Dad shakes his head, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He sighs, looking back at me. “All of this drama for what? You did the right thing, Josh! You helped that kid and made sure he lived. Had you just come to me, we could’ve hired a lawyer to take care of it. You didn’t need to go into an arranged marriage.”
“I didn’t want to cause you any extra stress,” I say, folding my arms.
He puts his hands on my shoulders, looking me square in the eye. “That wasn’t your burden to bear and I’m sorry you felt like you had to. That’s not your job, son.”
“I know that now, but I don’t regret it.” A small smile tugs on the corner of my mouth. “Because I got Elizabeth out of it.”
Dad sighs and pulls me into a bone-crushing hug—the kind of hug that heals your spirit a little and helps put you back together after years of quick fixes. Before we part, he says, “I’m proud of you, Josh. You’re a good kid, this doesn’t change that. I love you, son.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
NOW
