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“Crew, what’s?—”
“Not now, Scarlett,” is the last thing I hear before stepping outside.
The front door opens again a few seconds later.
“Stop, Christopher.” There’s an undertone of steel in my dad’s voice that’s startling enough that I stall on the sidewalk.
I can see Camden peering through the windshield, no doubt wondering why my dad is literally chasing me out of the house.
“You’re upset with me,” he continues. “I get that. But I’m your father. Would you let your child storm out of the house?”
“You mean, myliability?”
Dad exhales. “I’m sorry, Christopher. I. Am. Sorry. Sorry for how I reacted. Sorry for some of the things I said. I always judged my father for treating me and Oliver a certain way when it came to the company. And I was so certain, so arrogant, that it would be different for you and me. Your mother didn’t sign an NDA. But our prenup had too many confidentiality clauses to count, even though she never worked at Kensington Consolidated. And if she’d gotten pregnant with Lili before we got married, I’m sure a paternity test would have come up. Your grandfather hired a private investigator to follow her around, and I was furious. I felt so betrayed that he’d inserted himself into our relationship.”
I lift an eyebrow, and he nods.
“I know. I see it. I reacted likemyfather would have, and I always swore to myself I’d be a different kind of parent than he was. Idowish that you’d taken more responsibility, handled things a little bit differently,told me sooner, but I understand it was a complicated situation. And it didn’t occur to me … you care about her. There’s more than just trust there.”
“I’m in love with her,” I state.
Dad glances at the ground, then back up to me. “You’re going to find this out for yourself—soon—but there’s no guide to being a parent. It’s half instinct, half trial and error. I thought you needed my help. I was trying to protectyou, Kit, not just this family or the company. I went about it the wrong way. Please apologize to Collinsfor me. And I’d like to say it directly to her, when you’re ready for that conversation to take place. And get to know her better. I’m sure your mother will feel the same way.”
I nod stiffly, still on edge from our fight.
I’ve always looked up to my dad. From my vantage point, he appeared pretty damn close to perfect. Infallible. For the first time, it feels like we’re standing on the same plane. I’m realizing no one is incapable of making mistakes.
Dad lifts his left arm. “Come here.”
I hesitate for a second, but I step forward, allowing him to clap my back a couple of times.
“Congratulations, son,” he says thickly.
I clear my throat to dislodge the lump stuck there. My, “Thanks,” still comes out husky.
Then I step back and head for the waiting car.
38
There’s a fashionably dressed, fast-asleep woman slumped next to the front door of Kit’s penthouse when I arrive home after work. Next to the door ofourpenthouse, I guess, since we officially moved the last of my stuff over here last night. The stack of my belongings takes up approximately one-tenth of the space in the guest room that’s going to become the nursery. I donated or left all my furniture since Kit’s place is fully furnished. The biggest item I brought was my keyboard.
I crouch down on the carpet next to Lili, resting a handon the rug so I don’t accidentally topple over. “Hey.”
Lili groans, blinks, then rolls her head this way. Her eyes flutter open a few seconds later. “Hi.” She yawns, raising a hand to cover her mouth. “Welcome home.”
“You too. You didn’t tell me you were coming back.”
“Well, you didn’t tell me you were having a baby with my brother, so I think we’re even.”
I exhale. “Right.”
Lili opens her Birkin and pulls out a bottle. “I brought sparkling cider to celebrate.”
I smile.
“Although I might need to drink something stronger if we’re going to delve into certain details. All I know is what I overheard of my dad’s screaming match with Kit.”
I frown. “Kit and your dad werescreamingat each other?”