Page 55 of Studfinder

“Almost ready for dinner,” Rory says, finally making his way over to us, holding Brynne’s hand. The tension around the three of us is thick enough to cut with a knife, but I turn to my nephew and force a smile.

“Ready,” I state, noticing my ex-wife standing behind Brynne. Lisa’s eyes don’t miss my hand on Rita’s back which I slowly drop, and Rita turns her head toward me once again, watching my hand fall away from her.

“Who’s this?” Lisa snaps, but Rory steps forward to offer a hand to Rita.

“Hi. I’m Rory Drummond.” The firmness in his shake, along with the strength in his voice, says he’s gone into future lawyer mode. I’m so damn proud of him. My heart is ready to burst, but that also might be my blood pressure rising at the strain around us. Nolan and Rita. Lisa and Rita. I’m noticing a common denominator, and I’m not liking it.

“Congratulations. Rita Kaplan, fellow alumnae as you are now official alumni.” She smiles with warmth at someone entering her inner circle. Rory introduces Brynne, and I hold my breath as he introduces Lisa as Brynne’s aunt.

“I’m also Jake’s ex-wife.”

Jesus. My eyes briefly close.

“Okay, then,” Rita says as if that wasn’t awkward as fuck.

“Are you joining us for dinner?” Rory asks Rita, who immediately answers, “No,” as I say, “Yes.”

My head turns toward her, wondering when her plans changed.

“I’m only here for the graduation. Have a wonderful night with your family,” she says, turning to step away from us, but I catch the dark robe she’s wearing, distinguishing her as alumni.

“Excuse us,” I say to Nolan and the gang, walking Rita a few steps away.

“Hey. What’s going on?”

“I think it might be best if you celebrated with your family without me.” Rita’s quiet voice disturbs me. It isn’t like her to acquiesce like she is.

“Tell me what happened? Did Nolan say something?”

Rita lifts her head, eyes meeting mine once more. “This is Rory’s day. I don’t want to ruin it.”

“Ruin it?” I question. “It’s dinner.”

Rita turns to glance at the gathering of Nolan, Rory, Brynne, Monica, and Lisa waiting on me. “And I’m uninviting myself. Why don’t you call me when dinner is over?” She pats my chest in a patronizing manner, and I’m not liking the brush-off she’s giving me, especially before my family.

“What is this?” I state, glancing up and down her robed outfit. “Am I not good enough for you? My nephew just graduated from this school. He’s one of you.” I pause. “Is it that I’m not?”

“Jake,” she mutters under her breath, eyeing my family, who is surely staring at us.

“Is that it? I’m not some fancy attorney. I’m the criminal.” My voice rises a bit, and I swallow the lump in my throat.

“That is not it,” she says, leveling me with a hard stare. “I think it best if you call me once your family meal is over.”

I match her stare. In the time it took for Rory’s ceremony to finish, something changed her mind about us, and now she doesn’t want to spend time with my family. She doesn’t want to be with me. Well, screw this. My family means everything to me. Nolan has been my number one supporter my entire life. He’s been the one person who believed in my innocence. I don’t know what Lisa’s doing here, but she’s a part of Brynne’s life, and Brynne is important to Rory. And every hit I’ve taken, I did so Rory and Nolan could stay together. I don’t need this attitude from Rita. Swiping a hand over my hair, I hiss, “Fine.”

Only, it isn’t fine that my girlfriend is ditching me on such a monumental family occasion, especially when the reason she’s leaving me is because I’m not good enough for her.

I don’t call Rita after dinner. Instead, I celebrate with my nephew, finally catching up with him after seven long years. After that first awkward dinner, he hadn’t been home again, working to complete school and study for the bar, which he’ll be taking soon. Rory has grown into such a good man, and I am so damn happy to commemorate this accomplishment with him. I was so proud of him.

Even Lisa was pleasant throughout the dinner we shared at a fancy steakhouse near the law school campus.

However, Nolan was off. He was still his mouthy self, making inappropriate jokes and being the life of the party, but something wasn’t right with him, and the beers he consumed did not help.

Eventually, Lisa drives the two of us home as we closed down the bar. I thought I’d be going home with Rita after dinner, so I hadn’t driven. I was wrong.

“You look really good,” Lisa states to me once more as we arrive at Nolan’s and my house. I’ve helped him out of the car and watched him struggle to wheel himself to the ramp, brushing off my help. “Maybe I could come in for one more drink, and we could talk.”

The invitation startles me. Lisa has exited her car, waiting on Nolan to leave us alone. “We have nothing left to discuss.” Our divorce mediator handled everything over seven years ago.