Riley looked lost as her eyes scanned the people standing around. Several had rocks glasses with different liquors in them and the rest was mostly wine. Men and women in business attire were perched on high top chairs and the leather covered barstools.
“I don’t think this was a good idea,” Riley whispered as she leaned into my side.
“We can go whenever you want.” I squeezed her against my side as I wrapped my arm around her waist. I wanted to give her an out, but I knew how determined she could be, and I knew that she wasn’t going to go back home without the answers she came here for.
“I can do this.” She nodded as we both spotted Alex at the end of the bar. I followed her lead as she weaved through the crowd to make her way to him.
“Hi.” She waved and he turned surprised eyes on us. It was as if he didn’t think we’d come.
“Hello.” He gave an awkward wave as he finished some amber liquid from his glass. He pointed to some empty barstools as he slid his glass across the bar and motioned to the bartender.
“We can’t sit here,” Riley blurted out. Alex’s mouth pinched as his forehead wrinkled in confusion. “You have to be of legal drinking age to sit at a bar. I’m only eighteen.” She pointed to her chest.
“Right. Eighteen,” Alex muttered as the bartender set a filled glass in front of him. He tossed some bills on the bar, and then stood. “Got any objection to the sun?” He pointed to the outdoor space.
“No.” Riley’s head slowly shook. Alex began walking outside and we followed in his wake. He chose a spot off to the side where two small couches faced each other. He sat on one, and motioned for us to take the other.
“I don’t really know how I can help you.” He sighed as he tipped his head back, downing the contents of his glass. “Like I said earlier, I didn’t really know your mom that well.” He had a smug look on his face, very different from what we saw in his office. It was like he was calling us out, and wanting to know exactly why we were really there.
“You didn’t, huh?” Riley was calling his bluff. I knew the look on her face quite well. She was going to blow up his world, or she thought she was. “Do you sleep with everyone you don’t know ‘that well’?” She made air quotes as she leaned forward on the couch and glared at him.
“Ry,” I warned. I’d thought we were going to tread lightly here.
“No.” Her eyes snapped in my direction. “I’m tired of the lies.” She turned back to him. “Well? Do you?”
Alex coughed a little, but didn’t seem that surprised by her question. He mimicked her pose and placed his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know what you think you know, little girl, but that is none of your business. Your mother has been filling your head with lies.” He laughed humorlessly.
“My mom doesn’t even know I’m here,” she growled. “I thought you might like to meet me, Mr. Bishop. I mean, seeing as you’re my father.” And there it was. I’d thought when she told him he’d seem bewildered, shocked, something, but he wasn’t. He leaned back, crossed his foot onto his knee, and smirked.
“I don’t have any kids.” He snickered. “I know how to prevent that.”
“Well, you didn’t when you slept with my mom,” Riley fired back. My head swung between the two of them like a tennis ball in a championship match.
“Did your mom tell you that?” Alex rolled his eyes.
“No.” Riley’s eyes started to water. I knew she was questioning things now. Her mom had hidden this from her. She hid it from Alex. What if she was lying about Alex and didn’t know who Riley’s dad was?
“Are you here for money? Did your mom set you up for this? You want college funds? Is that it?” Alex smirked. “I’m not that gullible. Tell Angela she’s got to do better. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m finished here.” He stood, and walked away as if what just happened didn’t faze him at all.
I watched as Riley stared at his back leaving the bar. The tears that had been pooling finally spilled over. “You’re gonna be ok.” I put my arm around her shoulder and pulled her into me. She was stiff, and didn’t really react. “It’s ok, Ry. He doesn’t mean anything. DNA doesn’t make a dad, love does.” I know this from experience. I rubbed her back as she tipped her chin up and looked into my eyes. “Are you hearing me right now?”
“How can someone be so mean?” She sniffed before burying her face into my chest.
“I don’t know.” I squeezed tighter. It was then that it all made sense. Angela knew Alex wouldn’t be a good dad. She knew that she had to protect her baby. She knew keeping this secret was the only way for that to happen. “Let’s go back to the hotel. We can order room service and you pick some cheesy movie for us to watch.”
“Ok.” She half laughed, half
