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“Is that true?” Debbie looks at my dad, realization all over her face.

Clearing his throat, he raises a hand to attract a server. “I think we’re ready for our mains now.”

When Kendra pushes her seat back and stands, I’m not ashamed to admit that despite everything going on right now, I’m hard as fuck at the sight in front of me.

Kendra snatches up her bag and jacket and pins my dad with a glare. “And I think we’re ready to leave. Jack was absolutely right when he said I wouldn’t like you. I wouldn’t want you to do my family’s grocery shopping, let alone look after their finances. The only thing I want from you is to stay the hell away from me and my boyfriend.”

She turns on her heel and then back around to Debbie, not giving Dad a second glance. “It was nice to meet you, Debbie.” Kendra smiles sweetly at her. “I’m not sure we’ll ever meet again,so let me say this while I’ve still got the chance: know your worth because you can do so much better.”

As she marches toward the exit, I stand and consider heading straight after my girl, but instead, I pull out the keys to my truck and unlock it through the window.

“Quite the firecracker you have there, son.”

“Fucking amazing, isn’t she?” I repocket my key and down the remaining water in my glass, setting it back on the pristine white tablecloth.

I know this is likely the last I’ll see or speak to him in a very long time, but that thought alone still isn’t enough to make me want to look at him.

“I’m sure, at some point, you met my mum.” I focus my attention directly on Debbie. “Though I’m not sure if you were seeing my dad while he was still married.”

My dad motions to speak, but I hold up a hand, silencing him.

“To be honest, that doesn’t really matter, and I don’t particularly care. But my girl is right. Get out. Out of my dad’s firm and his grasp. Do your qualifications somewhere else and don’t look back. Take it from the son who’s spent years watching him manipulate everyone around him.”

I was convinced I wouldn’t, but I do. I look at him. I want him to see how serious these next few words are. “Tonight, you crossed a line I hadn’t known existed. No one messes with my girl or the people she loves. I never want to see you again. I’m ashamed to call you my dad.”

He scoffs in the condescending way he’s honed to perfection over the years. “You talk like things are serious between you both. I always thought you didn’t do serious.”

I smirk at his pathetic attempt to get a rise out of me. “You’re right. I’m not just serious about Kendra; I’m way past that, and I’ll crush anyone who tries to hurt her. Shit excuse for a father included.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

KENDRA

When I get really angry, I go quiet.

I don’t know why I do, but tonight, I’ve never been more thankful for that part of my personality. Or that Jack is clearly the same.

Honestly? Nothing good or helpful can come from what I have to say about the guy I just met.

Swinging his truck into the reserved space in the underground parking lot, Jack continues to grip his steering wheel with white knuckles long after he puts the truck in park.

When he spoke about his dad being an asshole, I naively thought he was a prick who thought a lot of himself. No, Elliott Thompson is way more than that, and my heart breaks for not just my boyfriend and Darcy, but for his mom, Felicity. Christ, what must it have been like to live with him daily? I could barely stand him for a half hour.

“I shouldn’t have agreed to meet with him.” Jack’s voice breaks me from my thoughts. “I swear I knew nothing about his intentions with your family.”

Slowly, I peel his hand away from the steering wheel andentwine our fingers. I haven’t said anything since I stormed out of the restaurant, and even now, I’m struggling to find the right words. So, I squeeze his hand tighter, hoping he’ll find some comfort in my actions.

After a few more beats, I pull open my passenger door and climb down from the truck as Jack does the same, and I hold out my hand for him to retake as we head for the elevators to his apartment.

Up until this point, so much of our relationship has centered around Jack looking out for me. For what I want and need.

Yet tonight feels different. Tonight, I feel like he needs me.

When the elevator ascends past the first floor, I reach over and hit the Emergency Stop button.

“Kendra. What are you do?—”

I silence my boyfriend with a kiss as my hands drop to the zipper on his pants.