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“I just wanted to apologize for not being honest. You didn’t deserve that.”
“No, I didn’t.” He shifts. “I’m assuming you’re not here to tell me you’re not dating my brother.”
Irritation bubbles in my gut. I keep my tone as even as possible. “I’m still dating Mark. And before you can say anything else, I’m going to keep dating him. He’s a good man, Jonathan. He’s the best guy I’ve ever dated.”
Jonathan snorts. “Not like that’s a hard title to achieve.”
“Stop. Just stop. I know you’re mad, but that isn’t fair, and you know it.”
“You know what’s not fair? My best friend lying to me about dating my brother. After you promised you never would.”
“I made that promise when we were children! You can’t seriously hold me to something I agreed to when I was barely a teenager!”
“Yeah well, I guess promises mean something different to me.”
“I guess so, because when I promised to always support your decisions I meant it.”
“Are we done here? I have a rehearsal to run.” Jonathan turns on his heel and heads out the door.
If he thinks walking away from me is ending this conversation, he has another think coming. I storm out of the classroom to chase after him but end up running right into his back. I squeak in response to the impact. Before I can say anything I hear a voice I haven’t heard since childhood, but it’s a voice I know in an instant.
Jack Winters stands in the foyer of the auditorium dressed to the nines in an expensive looking three-piece suit with his hair perfectly coiffed. When I was younger his hair always reminded me of a cockatoo. Now that I’m older, it still does.
“What are you doing here, Dad?” Jonathan’s tone is clipped and cautious.
“Can’t a man come and visit his son?” Even his tone drips with a haughty air. A chill skates over my skin when I feel his eyes notice me. “Ah, Amelia. My, you have grown up.”
Jonathan puts a protective arm out to shield me. “Leave her out of this.”
Jack chuckles. “Always together. I guess some things never change.”
“Why are you here, Dad?”
Jack takes a step closer. “You weren’t answering any of my messages.”
“Because I already told you I didn’t know where Mark was. I didn’t see any need to keep reiterating what was already said.”
Another step closer. “I don’t know what you think you’re protecting your brother from. I just want to talk to him.”
“If he wanted to talk to you then he would. I don’t know why you think I could help you. We don’t exactly talk.” Whether he is referring to communication with Mark or Jack, Jonathan’s words are accurate.
Jonathan grabs my hand and pulls me with him as he walks closer to the door leading to the theater. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have a job to do. I’m sure you understand.”
Jack steps aside and lets us pass.
On impulse, I turn when we reach the door to face Jack. “Mr. Winters, I hope you know how amazing your children are. They’re some of the most genuinely caring people I know, and I’m lucky to have them in my life. Maybe someday you’ll actually want to know them.”
I turn and let the door close behind me.
I run straight into Jonathan as I rush through the second doors into the house of the auditorium. He grabs my arm to steady me as he has thousands of times before.
“Are you okay?”
I nod. “Are you? Jack just showing up like that?”
Jonathan shrugs.
I nudge him in the arm. “You can’t fool me, I know all your tells.”
