Page 14 of Beautiful Trauma
“Well, this time it was my idea. Look, Son, I’m not expecting miracles to happen tonight, but it wouldn’t hurt for you to join us for dinner and possibly make another friend.”
I laughed. It was true my parents’ matchmaking attempts had failed to find my “one true love,” but it had led to several new friends. Ryder was one of them. “You’re in luck because I don’t have classes tonight, and I haven’t made any plans.”
“Perfect,” Dad said, and I could picture him rubbing his hands together. “We’re eating at Rinella’s at seven thirty.”
“I’ll be there, but can we please not make a habit out of this?” I asked. “If I’d made plans, I wouldn’t have canceled them.”
“I wouldn’t have asked you to change your plans,” Dad countered.
“Are you too busy to sneak away for a round of golf?”
“Never,” Dad replied. “I’ll meet you at the country club in an hour. It will give me plenty of time to humiliate you over eighteen holes and still allow you time to get cleaned up before you meet us for dinner.”
“I’m the only one who’ll need to clean up first?”
“Please, Son. I won’t even break a sweat on the course today.”
I admired his confidence, but he wasn’t the only one feeling particularly strong. “We’ll see who’s at the top of their game, old man.”
“You’ll eat your words.”
“Care to make a wager?” I challenged.
Dad chuckled. “What’s life without risk? Name your prize.”
“Your Aston Martin.”
Dad laughed hard and long. “You think I’m going to give you my prized possession if you beat me at golf? I mean, it would take a miracle for it to happen, but still…”
“I didn’t mean we’d play for keeps. If I win, I get to borrow the car during a weekend of my choosing.”
“Son, I’ve never let another living soul drive my car.”
“Then you’ll play especially hard to ensure it never happens,” I countered.
“You’re on.”
“There’s my sweet boy,” Mom said when I walked into Rinella’s. Simone Meyer glowed with an inner radiance you couldn’t buy in a bottle. Her aura was angelic, but her smile was delightfully wicked. Mom had dressed in a casual floral dress and high-heeled sandals. She’d recently had her hair cut into an asymmetrical bob that showed off her gorgeous bone structure and made her look even more youthful. “I heard through the grapevine you had an amazing day on the golf course.”
“The best I’ve played,” I replied, returning her hug then kissing her cheek. “Isn’t that right, Dad?”
My dad’s thunderous expression didn’t fool me. Paul Meyer looked every bit like you’d expect a CEO of an investment company to look. The slight graying at his temples made him look distinguished, the bespoke suits he wore to work showed off his wealth, and his drive for success was evident in his sharp, blue eyes. Beneath the polished exterior beat the heart of a man who’d come from the wrong side of town, clawed and fought his way through school, and built his company from the ground up. He never forgot where he came from nor did he take anything for granted. My father donated huge sums of his salary to charitable causes near and dear to his heart. He was street savvy and Harvard educated, both fierce and brilliant. He worked hard but loved harder, and there was never a time in my life when I didn’t know he loved Mom and me above all else. I wished every day I could find a love like theirs, but so far, my dream had eluded me.
“I’m proud of you,” Dad said gruffly, earning a jab from Mom’s elbow. He had also dressed casually for the evening in dark jeans and a pale blue polo shirt.
“Are you really going to let me take the Aston Martin for a weekend?” I asked.
“Wasn’t that the bet we agreed upon?”
“It was,” I replied.
“Have you ever known me to go back on my word?” Dad asked smoothly.
“Never.”
He nodded. “You have your answer then.”
“Oh boy,” I said, rubbing my hands together. “I can’t wait. I’ll have to plan an epic road trip.”