“Forget about that. I wanted to talk to you because you’re the most like me. I was telling Washington you might be cockier than I am, but then I realized I beat you out. That’s how similar we are.”
“I don’t know about that. I win.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“No, you really don’t.”
“I’m the best heart surgeon in the city. You think I got that way by being insecure?”
I stare at him. “Maybe it’s a tie.”
We both say at the same time, “With Elijah,” which makes us grin.
“Is this what you wanted to talk about?” he asks.
“No, loser, I wanted to talk about my girlfriend. Did you get as much shit as they’re giving me?”
“No.”
We stare at each other for a beat before I remind him, “You don’t know what they’re saying.”
“I have an idea.”
Irritated, I walk further away from the crowd, and he follows me. “Caden, what is up?”
“What?”
“With everyone? But you first. Explain what’s this idea you have about me.”
He takes a deep breath, arms crossing on the exhale. “Do you remember what you told me when we were kids? You said all you wanted was freedom. I see you comparing me and Meyers now, wondering how I settled down, but I wasn’t as much of a slut as you.”
I wasn’t wondering how he settled down. I asked about the family’s reactions. But at the bizarre statement of his supposed purity I balk, “Come on!”
“I was too focused on my career to really dig my teeth into that world. Do you know how many hours it takes to become a surgeon? Who has time for parties?”
“I’ve seen you at Billy’s parties!”
“I dashed in and dashed out a couple times. Maybe picked up a girl on the random. You though? Remember when you helped us get Lexi and Hunter out of jail? That police officer you’d banged was there, rubbing up on you, and it wasn’t even your precinct.”
My eyes narrow. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
“What about all the girls at Billy’s parties?”
“You’re thinking of Nicholas.”
He eyes me, “He wasn’t far ahead of you.”
“Yeah he was!”
“Maybe, but you wanting your freedom does show. But I’ll tell you a secret. Being with the right woman is being free. You don’t have to search for the next piece of ass. You don’t have to wonder how you’re going to get out of calling the wrong girl back, just to be a gentleman. And those basically superficial things aside, when you’re with the right woman you have a partner who gives you support, like a best friend only better because you get to fuck her.” He glances to Gram’s room. “Sorry, Grams. Shouldn’t have swore. Even though I don’t think that’s the first time we have in this conversation.” Locking eyes with me again, Caden finishes, “My wife and I are solid. Life is fluid. It’s strength in an otherwise weak world. Like our family is for us. Only it’s my own family now.”
“Thanks man,” I nod, grabbing his arm before heading to her room. Thanks for the speech. Still think you don’t know who you’re talking to. Does anyone here?
Dad is standing up ahead, watching me. Mom’s back is turned to him as she talks with Aunt Sarah about where we should all eat. Even though she’s retired, Mom still wants to serve a satisfying meal.
I walk up. “How’re you taking this, Dad?”
“It sucks. How ‘bout you?”
“Same.” I shove my hands into slacks I wore to meet her parents. “Anyone ever underestimate you?”
A smile lights his deep-brown eyes, chiseled jaw relaxing. “I’m the youngest of six. What do you think?”
I frown, “Right,” raking my hair.
“Wyatt?”
“Yeah?”
“I never underestimated you.”
We stare at each other, the memory coming back to me, the one he wants me to remember, when I was fourteen.
“Dad…I wanna be a cop.”
He looked up from the computer screen where Burn’s profits for March were looking pretty good. His mood reflected the upturn in popularity as he nodded, “Noble job. You don’t think the Marines would be a good fit?”
“The Marines only lasts four years.”
Dad stared at me, taking in what this meant, that my commitment was for a longer period and I was proclaiming it aloud. To him. My hero.
“If you chose to rise in ranks you can serve for a lifetime in the Marines and be happy. I see you being in charge one day. I didn’t choose that path with them, but it’s an option.” There wasn’t a hint of arm-twisting, never was with Dad. Just stating facts.
“I know. But I want to stay here. Be a cop here. In our city. Protect our businesses. Our people.”
“You seem very determined, Wyatt.” Leaning back in his chair, he motioned for me to sit.
I declined, and didn’t move. My heart was beating fast. “I am, Sir.”
“Sir?” His eyebrows rose, and his body followed. He shut the door and crossed his arms, standing with me. “You never called me Sir before. Something going on?”
“No.”
“You can talk to me.”
I stared ahead at a small coffee stain on his blue t-shirt, unable to meet his eyes. “No, Sir.”
He bent down to force eye contact. “Wyatt, talk to me. I’m listening.”
A lump of fear made it hard to speak. “I’m worried you’ll be mad.”
I knew I was about to let him down. And that killed me. Letting myself down was one thing, but letting my Dad down beat me to the ground.
“I can’t promise I won’t be mad, because I don’t know what it is. But I can promise to be fair.”
From experience I knew he meant that, but it didn’t matter. “I can’t.”
“Okay.” He walked to his chair, disappointed.
“I just want to be a cop.”
“Right.”
Struggling, stuck, without anything else to say, I turned for the door. As I reached for the brass antique handle I heard him clear his throat to ask, “Would you want me to be able to tell you anything, Wyatt?”
My hand shook,
