I Hated You First by Rachel John
Lauren
I breathed deeply before going inside my parents’ house. Despite what I’d just told Clay, I wasn’t planning on yelling at anyone. That was the fastest way to make sure my dad didn’t listen to me. But it was time to confront him about how he’d blackmailed me into bringing Denver, and why.
Everyone was in the front room to witness the mighty event of Parker getting a haircut. Perfect. I wouldn’t even have to round them all up.
I cleared my throat. “So, we need to talk about what just happened. Dad told Clay to come check out my boyfriend and cause trouble today.”
Everyone turned to look at me, except for Raelyn, who was mesmerized by a computer tablet, and Parker, who was having the back of his neck shaved.
Dad’s face turned red. “That’s an exaggeration, and you know it.”
“Is it?”
Parker scoffed. “Cause trouble? If I recall, Clay didn’t take you to the ground and sit on you.” I could hear the smile in his voice. He loved when I acted impulsively. Especially since I often accused him of doing the same thing.
“I forgot Denver might not see it as a brother-sister sort of interaction. Half the time, I don’t remember Clay’s not blood.”
I was getting nods. Yes! I could do this.
The door behind me creaked open, and I took a deep breath. Clay. My annoying almost-brother. He couldn’t be anything else to me. My happiness depended on it. I allowed myself a quick glance before moving out of the way so he could go sit on the couch.
Mom put the clippers down and folded her arms. “John, did you tell Clay to come cause trouble today? And what made you think he could cause trouble? This is our Clay.” She smiled down at him like he was her sweet little boy who could do no wrong. I swear she loved him more than me, but unlike Parker, I wasn’t bitter about it. My mom had enough love for us, the rainforests, all the orphans in the world, and every neighbor kid who had ever hit her up for extortion in the name of school fundraisers.
Clay cleared his throat. “He asked me to come and form an opinion about Denver. Sorry, Lauren.”
“Whatever. Apology accepted. This is about my dad, not you.” With that dismissal, I turned to Dad. “Did you tell Parker you made me choose between going to Idaho and bringing Denver here today?”
Parker looked up at me in surprise, and for the first time in a long time, I saw admiration there. I’d chosen his happiness over mine and hadn’t even rubbed it in his face. But that I’d had to do it at all was what we needed to talk about.
“Dad, you have to let me grow up. There’s no need for a boyfriend intervention, not now, not ever. If I need help, I will ask. I promise. But I can’t learn from my mistakes if you’re constantly trying to prevent them.”
There was a long thoughtful silence before Dad nodded, clapping his hands down at his sides. “I didn’t realize I was doing that. I’m sorry. I actually think Denver’s not a bad guy.”
“Me either. But he just wants to be friends now, so you can take the tracker off his car and stop bugging his house.”
“Ha, ha. Very funny.” He held his arms out for a hug, and I moved to give him one. Dad smelled like barbeque and my childhood. I loved him despite thinking he was the most infuriating person on the planet. Okay, in the top three. Clay and Parker were up there too.
Dad released me and looked over my head at the rest of the room. “Maybe this is a good time to mention that Mom and I have been talking. We think it’s time we restructure the company so we have a hand-off legally in place when the time comes. Parker and Lauren, we want to leave the company to you.”
What? I turned to see Clay’s surprised expression and Parker’s wary one. Knowing Parker, this was something he’d probably thought a lot about and formed an opinion on long before we’d reached this day. I wasn’t sure how I felt yet.
“Not me?” Connor asked with a twinkle in his eye. He’d learned early on that working with Dad was the fastest way to ruin their relationship. And thanks to his successful dental practice, he didn’t need the money.
Dad reached out and took Mom’s hand. “We’ll talk more about it another day. Your mother doesn’t want too much shop talk when we’re all together like this.”
“Split in half?” Parker asked. “And a partnership-at-will or a limited partnership?”
“Parker,” Dad warned. “We’ll get into that. And also discuss what happens in the case of death or divorce. Talking about Lauren dating made me think of it, but there will be plenty of time to hash all that all out.”
My dating life made him think of death and divorce? I met Clay’s eyes and knew he was thinking the same thing. My dad must’ve had all sorts of worst-case-scenarios rolling through his head when it came to me. But he forgot to mention Stockholm syndrome, avalanches, alien invasions, and the possibility that I might be replaced by a robot wife. Faith Hill was in a movie where that happened, right?
“Sounds great, Dad.” I’d only just returned, but it was best if we broke up this little party before Parker said something that spoiled my dad’s happiness in sharing it with us. “I’m headed home. See, ya’ll tomorrow.”
Despite Mom’s protests, I turned and escaped out the front door, hurrying to my truck. Owning the business? I should be excited, and in theory I was. But in reality? It sounded like a lot more trouble than resenting my Dad’s control over everything.