Matching Mr. Right(19)
Unfortunately for her, she was a captive audience and she’d damned well listen.
He hit the mute button. “I didn’t mean to abandon you up there. I was afraid I’d deck my father if I didn’t leave. He did that in front of everyone to make it look like he’s the father-of-the-year instead of the ass he truly is.”
Shelby murmured, “He couldn’t be worse than my aunt Victoria.”
Nick merged into the southbound traffic on the freeway, settling in for the ride.
He’d never discussed what his father had done with anyone outside of his family, but after seeing how Shelby’s family treated her, maybe she’d understand.
“When I was ten, I was playing baseball in the street at my friend’s house when I saw my dad’s car pull up down the block. When the game was over I thought I’d see if I could catch a ride home with him. The short version is I caught him with his pants around his ankles doing the lady of the house. I found out later he’d visited a few other grateful, lonely women after he’d helped bleed their ex-husbands dry.”
“You saw something like that when you were ten?” Shelby slipped her hand over his on the console and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Her show of support encouraged him to continue. “My dad yelled at me and then told me to wait in the car. On the drive home he said I’d only hurt my mother by telling her what I’d seen. He asked me to lie, and tell her he’d found me walking home and picked me up. He swore it’d never happen again. The next day he bought me a new mountain bike I’d had my eye on.”
Shelby grunted. “Okay, you win. He’s worse than my aunt.”
Nodding he said, “So, I decided I’d keep my mouth shut, but every time I rode that damned bike I felt like a heel. I love my mom and I hated him for making me keep his secret. About three weeks later, I went into his study to find a pen. He sat in his big leather chair with his back to the door, talking on the phone, so he didn’t notice I was there. When I realized he was making a date to meet a woman at a hotel, I lost it. I screamed at him at the top of my lungs. When my mom came to see what was wrong, I told her everything.” Swallowing back the bile rising in his throat he said, “They divorced soon after. I helped destroy my family.”
“And that’s why you never lie? Because of your dad?” Shelby frowned. “Not a bad trait, but your mom would have found out eventually, Nick, even if you hadn’t told her. It wasn’t your fault, and it wasn’t your problem to fix. It was between your mom and dad.”
“If I hadn’t said anything, there wouldn’t have been anything to fix.” He shook his head as he exited the freeway, regretting he had to let go of her hand to switch gears. “She probably felt like she had to kick him out after I exposed him, to show my sisters it wasn’t right to let a man treat them that way. Worse, what if she knew, but not having any way to support us, pretended not to know until she could stash enough money away to leave him? If I’d kept my mouth shut, my mom would have been so much better off financially now. He’s a divorce attorney, for God’s sake. My mom only gets whatever crumbs he throws her way while he lives in a mansion and belongs to clubs like the Bay View. That’s on my head.”
“You told me the other day the fire wasn’t my fault and as much as you believe that, I believe you’re not responsible for the destruction of your family. Your father is. But that won’t change the way you feel any more than it did when you said the same to me. We’re both still wallowing in guilt and too damn stubborn to forgive ourselves.”
“Maybe. But I am sorry about tonight.”
His cell vibrated as they approached Shelby’s house. Snagging it from his jacket, he glanced at the screen. When he saw it was Beth, he ignored the text and tossed the phone on the console.
Shelby smirked. “It’s late. Booty call perhaps?”
“Don’t know.” Maybe Beth had changed her mind about their arrangement. Strangely, he had no desire to be with her anymore.
As he turned into Shelby’s driveway, his phone slid off the console and onto Shelby’s lap.
She picked it up. “Sorry, but I couldn’t help notice the screen. Whoever Naughtylawyer is says to hurry home. She wants you.” Shelby arched a brow. “I’m assuming this is from the sex partner you claim you’re broken up with who’s waiting at home for you? So, your real plan was to keep that woman on the side while I set you up on dates? If that’s the case, then we need to terminate our contract.” She handed his phone back. “And you say you never lie.”