Twenty-Five
The houses kept growing larger and spaced further apart. I had a lump in my throat as I tried to settle my anxiety. Liam didn’t care that I was from a trailer park in a small town and I couldn’t tell you where the fork went. Right?
He pulled up to a house on the left side of the road. He entered a code, the gate opened, and he drove through. I let out a breath I had been holding the entire drive. The old gray-brick home resembled a castle, and everything that screamed old money.
I had stepped into the Twilight Zone. I knew Liam wasn’t hurting for money, but I didn’t know this was his life. He didn’t fit this description.
“So, umm, your house is bigger than the one I grew up in,” I said, sliding my cheap shades off my face. I shoved them into my parka, waiting for Liam to take my hand and lead me into this house of horrors I was about to enter.
“I’ve heard that. I guess the only thing good about this house is that it’s so big everyone left me the fuck alone growing up,” he said.
“Privacy. I would’ve killed for some of that.”
The front door swung open and a young face greeted us. She was breathtaking. Her dark hair was wavy and hanging almost to her waist. She was smiling, showcasing perfect teeth in a symmetrical face. Her red dress clung to her in ways I could only sell my soul to the devil in order to look like that.
“Mi Hijo! Come here and let me get a good look at you.” She held her arms out, not waiting for Liam to go to her first. She engulfed him in a hug.
“This is my girlfriend, Autumn,” he said, stepping back. To my surprise, she took me in her arms and then held me, giving me a once-over.
“You are gorgeous! Is this your natural hair?” she asked, running a manicured hand through it.
“It is,” I said, managing a forced smile. She waited for me to elaborate but gave up. It was always moments like this I realized I was so awkward.
“Alec! They’re here!” She ushered us into the house, and I tried to hide the look of surprise on my face. The grand staircase split halfway, leading to two separate corridors. A crystal chandelier hung low from the two-story ceiling. I was going to get sick. Before I had time to bolt, a tall man with wavy brown hair walked in. He had Liam’s eyes, and with his tailored dark suit I could tell Liam’s perfect genes came from him. Crimson floated across my cheeks as I realized I just checked out my boyfriend’s dad.
He clapped Liam on the back. “I’m happy you’re here, son.”
He set his sights on me. Grinning, he walked over and kissed me on the cheek. “I don’t know what it is, son, but the Shafer men were always good at landing gorgeous women.”
He and his wife laughed, while Liam stared blankly at him. I had to admit, I wasn’t digging the misogynistic vibe he was putting off.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Shafer. I’m Autumn.”
“None of that,” he laughed, looking at his wife. “You’re going to make me feel old. Please call me Alec, and my wife Isabella.”
“Dinner is on the table, kids,” Isabella said, and I wanted to choke. She couldn’t be more than five years older than me.
Liam grabbed my hand, walking me toward the expansive room to the left of the foyer. There was enough food on the table to solve world hunger. It was like something I had seen on TV but never actually experienced it in real life. Was this Liam’s life? Why was he so down to earth? Every insecurity began to gnaw at me as Liam started adding food to my plate.
“Thank you,” I said, adding a small smile. He looked at me with concern.
“Are you okay?” he whispered. His mouth was against my ear, shielding others’ ears from hearing. I nodded, trying to look as happy as possible.
“So Autumn, what are you going to school for?” Mr. Shafer asked me as he took a sip from the dark red wine in his glass.
“Social work.”
He let out a laugh. “You must have passion. I know it’s not for the money.”
“Not everyone is a greedy asshole,” Liam said. I squeezed his hand under the table, thanking him.
“That wasn’t fair, Liam, but you’re right. Sometimes my jokes aren’t tasteful. We just want to get to know the first girl who has ever taken our son’s heart.” He looked at Isabella, grinning, and she practically melted. At this point, Liam and I were going to break each other’s hands from squeezing.
“What is it that you do, Mr. Shafer? It looks like you’re successful,” I asked, looking around the room.
He glanced at Liam before returning his smiling face to me. “I guess he doesn’t talk about me too much. I have a few businesses. Nothing exciting enough to talk about over dinner.”
“I’m sure it’s better than my boring life as a student.”
He watched me, uneasy and trying to figure me out. I knew in the pit of my stomach there was something about him, and he knew he had to be nice to me in order to rekindle a relationship with his son. So, we sat, smiling at each other. He wasn’t used to working this hard, and his fragile male ego was taking the biggest hit of his life.
“Where are you from, Autumn? I’m sorry, but I don’t remember your last name…”
“Texas. And I didn’t give it to you, sir.”
He chuckled. “You’re right. Liam, I’m sure she keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
“Only when she needs to,” Liam said.
I took a bite of the chicken, and for the first time I was thankful I’d decided to come. My mouth was watering, and before I knew it, I had eaten everything on my plate. The
