Page 78 of Power Move

“He’s just going to drop 90k on a credit card,” Dad whispered.

“It’s bizarre. Don’t try rationalizing it. After five days with them, I still don’t understand how it works, Dad. It’s something you or I will never understand.”

“Well, at least he’s doing the right thing.”

“Dad, it’s not his responsibility alone. I am the mom. I can contribute, too.”

As we stood before the new car, keys in hand, I said, “This was nice of you. Thanks. And it’s late, so I should let you go.”

“In my family,” Davey said. “A new car necessitates dinner out. So, I think we should find a place, go grab dinner, and celebrate the new car. What do you think, sir?”

“I think that’s great,” Dad said. “What do we think sounds good?”

“I don’t even know,” I said.

“Cheesecake Palace,” Dad said. “Her favorite place since childhood. There’s something for everyone. That’s where we’ll go.”

And that is how I ended up taking my billionaire boss to Cheesecake Palace for the evening.

23.MEET THE PARENTS

Davey

The Cheesecake Palacehad something for everyone. You could get lost in a massive booth, eat whatever you wanted in peace, and enjoy cheesecake on your way out. While I quickly warmed to the idea, Mum would have lost her mind at the mere suggestion of a restaurant without a white tablecloth and none of my past girlfriends would have embraced its casual ambiance.

I gathered this, too, was a test. Bert seemed genuine but determined to put me through the wringer to determine if I was a condescending, pampered asshole. If you asked Eva, I am sure she’d say I could be. Tonight, though, I was on my best behavior. I’d not met the parents in a dozen years—no one ever stuck around long enough to introduce me, or I actively avoided it. I turned over a new leaf among the many pages of The Cheesecake Palace’s menu.

Conversation focused on the car, work, and other minor things over dinner. I eased into the tougher subjects. And, while we waited to order cheesecake to-go as Eva swore she couldn’t bear the uncomfortable booth anymore, the topics deepened.

“So, Eva says you met at a bar,” Bert said.

“Dad,” Eva groaned, annoyed.

“It is a fair thing to talk about. You’re in a relationship?—”

“We are seeing one another. It’s not being in a relationship.”

I ignored her retort and reminded myself about recent baby steps. She let me buy the damn car. She agreed to take me to a wedding as a date and to visit my Mum’s house for a family thing. Whatever she wanted to call it, we were together.

“We met at a bar. She won’t admit I saved her from an asshole hitting on her, but I did. It was her spirit I found incredible. Unfortunately—or luckily for us—my sister hired her. I didn’t know who she was.”

Bert raised his eyebrow in doubt. “Incredible? But you say you aren’t dating her?”

“Ask your daughter about that one,” I said.

Eva folded her arms. “I’m not discussing this with you, Dad. Oh, my God, my back is just… miserable.”

“You should tell the doctor,” I said. “It’s not good.”

“Well, I would but I know he’ll just blame it on me being fat and move along.”

“I’d never let that fly,” I promised. “You know I would come for him. It’s not okay. You’re miserable. I can tell.”

“He’s right. You should tell him. Why would he blame it on you being fat? That’s ridiculous!” Bert said.

“That is what I said. I reacted poorly, but I refuse to accept that is ‘normal’ or ‘acceptable’.”

“Welp, you’re not a woman dealing with shitty physicians,” Eva said.