Page 27 of Try Me
All my life he’d been a hard man, and there was a part of me that had hoped once I’d graduated high school, once I’d gotten into college and proven my independence and good grades, he’d treat me more like an equal than a child or one of his employees. Three years in and it hadn’t quite happened.
I dropped into the chair. Dad dragged his finger across the desk, then looked down at it like he was checking for dust. “So how’s the internship really going? Figured out you’re wasting time yet?”
“It’s going fine. Great, in fact. I really like the people I’m working with. They’re very smart and—” Jesus, I sounded exactly like the bullshitter Chet had accused me of being. “I’m glad I’m doing it.”
Dad drummed his fingers over the desktop, then sat and leaned back in his chair. “I understand the desire to break out on your own, forge your own path, rebel a little, but I feel it’s only fair to warn you that I’m no longer sure I can guarantee you a position in the company after you graduate.”
I weighed my words carefully. “I’d never expect you to, Dad. And this isn’t some haphazard rebellion. I’m interested in law, and I’m interested in this firm, and I think I’m doing pretty okay so far.”
He grunted noncommittally. “John seems like a good guy to get to know better, hmm?”
Maybe he should’ve been the lawyer. He was a fucking pro at leading questions. “John’s great, too, but Dad, I’m good. I don’t need you to…to…” Fuck, this was a delicate balance. “Help meforgethis path.”
Dad lifted a brow. “No? You seemed perfectly okay with it earlier in the semester when you were applying and asked me if I knew anyone who worked there.”
All right, I’d definitely anticipated that one coming back to bite me in the ass. “Yeah, and I’m grateful, but if you remember, that’sallI asked. I didn’t ask you to grease the wheels with Mr. Waring by throwing that party.”
Dad’s smile took on a sharp edge. “Right, but you showed up, I introduced the two of you, and a week later you got accepted.”
When I’d gotten the call about the internship, I’d felt a mixture of pride and…defeat, of all things. I’d been desperate to get it, because PB&W was one of the most prestigious firms in town, but there was no way after that party I could plausibly claim I’d gotten there on my own merit. I’d spent five minutes talking to Mr. Waring and it’d gone fine, but I’d spotted him with my dad conversing over scotch in the corner of the library for at least a half hour. My grades hadn’t been the best, but I’d tried to make up for it with my essay about why I wanted the internship. I’d spent three Saturday afternoons with my sophomore-year English professor trying to get it just right.
When I didn’t say anything, Dad continued. “I think John will be good to have on your side. He’s up-and-coming, virtually guaranteed a position there next year, and a shoo-in for city council.”
“Yeah. He’s great. But Dad, please. Let me navigate this on my own. I’m doing a good job. My bosses like me. I’m…I’m dedicated, and I want to do a good job. I think I can. I’m not out partying every night.”
“That so? I ran into Officer Nomes the other day. Getting into fights on campus now?”
Fuck me. I should’ve known that dude wouldn’t keep his mouth shut. “It was a misunderstanding.”
“Was it?” The scrutiny in my father’s stare was meant to be unsettling. It was a gaze that could freeze the sun, and I struggled not to squirm in my seat like I had when I was a kid. “I hope very much that you set this other guy straight, in that case.”
A chill ran through me. He was being vague, but there were implications beneath it, and I was too cautious to say anything that might somehow confirm his suspicions or possibly get me into more hot water. Or Chet. Goddammit.
“I handled it,” I said lightly, figuring the more casual I acted about it, the less of a deal it’d seem.
“Good.” He nodded slowly. “It’s important for us to keep things on the up and up right now with the election coming in the fall.”
My dad had won the mayoral election right after everything had gone down with Chet’s dad, and it had been the pinnacle of his life. Proof that he’d finally made it and risen above the backwoods dirt he’d come from. He’d shared that rare insight once when he’d had too much scotch.
“Yeah, I got it, Dad.” I slid to the edge of the chair. “I’m gonna head back to campus now. I’ve got a lot of homework.”
He frowned. “I thought the summer courses were supposed to be easier?”
“Sometimes, but they’re also compacted. So there’s more reading and stuff.”
“Ahh.” He stood when I did, never one to be left in a position of vulnerability. “Well, keep your nose clean.”
I couldn’t even imagine what he’d say if he knew who I’d been partnered with at the law firm. The thought should’ve inspired another trace of fear through me. Instead, I got a weird thrill out of it that lasted me the ride back to the house and all through a long shower and jerk sesh.
Until I got a text from Chet.
11
Chet
“Thought we were going to take a divide-and-conquer approach. Minimize our interactions as much as possible,” Mark said, as he strolled lazily toward his desk.
I snorted, even though he was right. He’d been a shadow lurking in the back of my mind all fucking week. And he was wearing another goddamn paisley tie. He glanced down at it and then at me, a sly, expectant smile peaking on his perfect lips, clearly anticipating a snide comment. So I didn’t give him one. “I would’ve thought you’d be thanking me for my contribution.” I tapped the files on my desk. “I spent three hours reading through case reports denser than your skull while you, what, pounded some beers with your bros?”