Page 79 of Ruining Him

I can’t push him for more when I won’t give him my entire backstory. It wouldn’t be fair.

“So, what about your father?”

He sighs. “My family is from old money. He’s considered American royalty in some circles, and while he and Noah’s dad own the company, that’s nothing compared to everything he inherited when my grandparents died.”

“I didn’t ask about his money, Cole.”

He groans. “He’s not like my mom. My mom is warm and gentle while he’s… not. Don’t get me wrong, he does love me, he just doesn’t know how to show it. He thinks that pushing me to be the best that I can be is the same as affection, but he doesn’t see the line he crosses when he takes it too far,” he admits, and I realize I misjudged him all of those weeks ago.

He came across as the guy who had it all when really, he struggles just as much as the rest of us.

“You’re not as hollow as I thought you were, pretty boy.”

“And you’re not as psychotic as I thoughtyouwere, little menace.”

I glare at him, but all he does is smile.

That smile alone is enough to break down my walls and destroy me, and if he’s not careful, that’s exactly what he’ll do.

Dinner with Cole’s family is… fine. His father has barely spoken one word to me since we were introduced, which is fine by me, but what I’m not okay with are the skeptical looks he keeps firing my way and the way he talks down to Cole.

He’s different with Gracie, though. It’s as though he treats her like a princess and Cole nothing more than trash, and it’s really starting to piss me off. To Gracie’s credit, she tries to have her father engage with Cole the way he does her, but every time she brings him up in the conversation, he only belittles Cole or changes the subject.

If only it weren’t frowned upon to stab him in the hand with my fork at the dinner table.

Gloria is the complete opposite of her husband, and she clearly loves the hell out of her kids, doting on them every chance that she gets. She’s been the same way with me, too, which is freaking weird and makes me… I don’t know, uncomfortable? I mean, it’s kind of nice, since I can’t even remember my own mom. I’ve never had that motherly connection with anyone.

“So,Lana,what’s your surname?” Derek asks before taking a sip of wine and giving me another one of those unsure looks.

“James,” I answer immediately.

He cocks his head to the side and examines me. “Huh.”

Huh?

What the hell does ‘huh’ mean?

I clench my jaw and focus on my plate in front of me. Gloria cooked dinner, some Italian dish that I can’t remember the name of, but it’s amazing. I just wish the company weren’t so damn awkward.

I’m seriously regretting not just telling Cole to get lost and staying on campus instead of coming here to be his buffer, though I do see why he needs one.

“I’ve never heard of the James family before,” Derek says, and my hand pauses as I’m about to take a mouthful.

Fuck.

What the hell do I say to that?

Clearly, he’s well connected, so he’s going to know whatever lie I feed him isn’t the truth.

Cole, who’s sitting opposite me, leans forward in his chair, his teeth gritting together and looking like he’s about to lose his shit.

At me, or his father?

I shrug, appearing casual as I bring the food to my mouth and start to chew.

Gone is the unbelievable taste, instead replaced with my mouth feeling dry. I struggle to swallow it down as my gut churns.

“Dad,” Cole warns, and his father’s eyes fly to him.