Chapter Eleven

Luckily, when I return to the living room, Megan and Gavin are talking about movies, not Moorhurst. They're smiling and seem to be getting along. Good. I like it when my best friend likes the guy I'm dating. Makes things easier. Maybe going out with Decker has softened Megan's stance against Moorhurst guys.

"Are you seeing Decker tonight?" I ask Megan as I walk up to the couch.

"He might come over later to talk about a story I'm working on."

Talk about a story? Yeah, I'm sure they'll do more than that.

Gavin stands up, smiling at me. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks." I'm wearing a white cotton dress that's casual and cute. Another bargain from a thrift store in New York.

"You guys have fun," Megan says.

"We will," I say as Gavin offers me his hand.

"What time will you be back?"

"Not sure." I raise my brows. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason," she says nonchalantly.

"Would you like me to call before I come home?"

She looks at me, annoyed. She knows I'm teasing her.

"I'll text you," I tell her. "Have fun tonight!" Gavin and I leave and I say to Gavin, "Talking about a story. As if we'd believe that."

He laughs. "After what we witnessed on the picnic table, I'm pretty sure they'll be doing more than discussing work."

"Definitely." I swing our hands as we walk to the car. "So what about dinner? Where are we going?"

"You like seafood?"

"Love it."

"Then I'm taking you to a place along the shoreline. It's got the best lobster."

"Is it a long drive?"

"About a half hour. Why? Are you in a hurry to get home?"

"Nope. It sounds good."

I'm excited about the restaurant but going there won't leave us much time to do anything later. I was hoping we'd go back to his place after we eat. But maybe we'll still have time. I have to be up early, but I can skip a few hours of sleep.

"So I talked to Pearce Kensington at the party tonight," I say to Gavin as we're having dinner. The food is amazing. I was going to order salmon but Gavin insisted I get the lobster and I'm glad I did. It's the best lobster I've ever had.

"What did he say?"

"Not much. We didn't talk long. But I asked him about his son."

"And?" Gavin sets his fork down. "Did he tell you anything?"

"He said Garret's going to some small college in California. He didn't say which one or where it is. He kept it vague. And then he went off and talked to someone else."

"Did you tell him you're dating the guy who has his son's old room?"

"No. I forgot about that." I want to tell Gavin what I overheard but I don't know if I should. I decide not to. I don't want him thinking I eavesdrop on people.

"So tomorrow night," he says as we're waiting for the check. "Do I get to take you out?"

Get to, as if it's a privilege. That's really nice. I keep liking this guy more and more.

"Yes, you can take me out."

"I'm thinking a concert would be fun. Are you up for it?"

"Definitely. Where's it at?"

"At a park in Fairfield. I know it's a drive but it's something to do and I've heard the band is good. They're just a local band but they're pretty popular. What time do you get off work?"

"At three."

"So I'll pick you up at four?"

"That's kind of early. When's the concert?"

"At eight, but we need time to grab dinner and drive there." He smiles at me. "Plus, I want to spend time with you. It's the only way I'll get to know you."

I smile back. "Then four is good with me."

When we get back to my apartment it's almost midnight.

I text Megan from the parking lot. If Decker's there and you two are going at it, put your clothes on because I'm coming up any minute now.

She texts back. You're hilarious. Clothes are on. Decker just left. You need me to hide in my room so you can be with Gavin?

I glance at him, wondering if I should invite him up. But it's late and I'll see him tomorrow so I decide not to. I text her back. No need to hide. I'll be up soon.

"Is Decker there?" Gavin asks.

"No, he just left. I'd invite you up but it's kind of late."

"That's fine. I have to get back and study anyway."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow." I open the door to leave.

"Hey," I hear him say.

"What?" I turn to face him.

"No goodbye kiss? This is the second time this has happened. You don't like them or what?"

"I like them too much. That's the problem. Once we start we can't stop and I'll end up being here another hour."

"I promise. It'll be quick."

I lean over and kiss him, which of course turns into another kiss, and another after that. A half hour later, I'm finally upstairs.

Megan is on the couch with her laptop.

"Why are you still up?" I ask.

"Decker gave me an idea for a different angle for the story I'm working on so now I'm rewriting it."

"So he's intellectually stimulating as well as stimulating in other—"

"Okay, enough with the teasing."

"Are you kidding? I'm just getting started."

She laughs. "You keep it up and I'll give it right back."

"You can tease me about Gavin. I don't mind."

"So how was your date?"

"Awesome. It was the best dinner I've had in a long time."

"And how was Gavin? You still like him?"

"Too much. I'm starting to get worried."

"Why?"

"Because I shouldn't like him this much this early in our relationship."

"Again. Why?"

"Because I can't think clearly when I like someone this much, and then I end up getting hurt."

"That's the risk you take when you date someone."

"I never liked Kurt this much. Even after months of dating him. Come to think of it, I've never liked any guy this much."

"I'm starting to feel the same way about Decker," she says, sounding annoyed with herself.

"See? You're worried too."

"Only because I don't want to get involved with anyone right now. I don't plan to stay here. When I finally get a real job, I'm moving."

"Then just hang out with Decker until you move. It doesn't have to be serious."

She sighs. "It's that damn bow tie. I find it charming." She grins. "And sexy."

I don't find it either one of those things but to each their own.

The TV is on and my eye catches a story scrolling across the bottom the reads Suspect arrested for landscaper's murder.

"Did you hear about that?" Megan asks, pointing to the TV.

"The murder? No."

"Some guy was doing landscaping work at an office building and ended up getting killed. In broad daylight. And yet nobody saw anything."

"The TV just said they arrested someone."

"Exactly. So it's obviously a cover-up and the poor guy they arrested is the scapegoat."

Megan and her stories. She should write fiction instead of news articles.

"It's really sad," she says. "The guy who got killed had a family. Wife and two kids. Teenagers."

My breath catches. Wife and two kids. Teenagers. It's the same words I heard at the Kensington mansion. But those men had to have been talking about something else.

"Something wrong?" Megan asks.

I shake my head. "No. It's nothing."

She rises from the couch, holding her laptop. "I'm going to bed. I'll finish this in the morning."

We both go to our rooms but I can't sleep. I keep thinking about that news story. I'm sure it had no connection to what those men were talking about and yet I feel like it did. I swear I'm becoming just like Megan. Living with her is making me suspicious of everything, even when there's no reason for it. I turn my thoughts to Gavin and that kiss he gave me and eventually fall asleep. 

***

Friday night, Gavin and I go to dinner followed by the concert at the park. It's another great date.

Then on Saturday, he takes me to brunch at some fancy restaurant I'd never been to, where I have the best French toast ever made. 

In the afternoon, he goes back to his dorm to work on a paper. Our plan is to meet up for dinner later but I have another idea.

I call him around four. "How's the paper coming?"

"Good. We're still on for dinner, right?"

"Yeah, but I want to have dinner here instead of going out. Are you good with that?"

"Sure. I can pick something up and bring it over."

"Actually, I was planning to make dinner."

"You cook?" he asks, sounding shocked.

I laugh. "Yes. I cook. I'm actually pretty good at it."

"Why haven't I heard about this until now?"

"I like to slowly dole out information about myself rather than dump it all on you at once."

"So you're saying you have more to share?"

"Lots more." It's not really true but it sounds fun and flirty so I go with it.

"I can't wait to find out what these things are." He says it in a low, sexy voice. "Maybe I should come over right now and find out."

"You can't. I have to go get groceries."

"What are we having?"

"Chicken cacciatore, a salad, and cheesecake for dessert."

"And you're making all that? Even the cheesecake?"

"I already made the cheesecake. I made it this afternoon."

"Can I bring some wine? Or anything else?"

"Wine would be good. Nothing else. Except you."

"What time should I be over?"

"Six. Oh, and Megan's out with Decker tonight so it's just you and me."

"Great. I'll see you soon."

It's hard to believe that just a week ago I was walking in on Kurt and that girl. I was so upset, thinking it'd take weeks to get over him. And now, a week later, I've barely thought about him.

My mom always says something good comes from something bad and in this case she's right. Finding Kurt cheating on me was horrible, but if I hadn't found him with that girl, I'd still be with him and wouldn't be with Gavin right now.

He arrives just before six, holding two bottles of wine.

"I assumed red would be best with the cacciatore." He holds up the wine. "I got two different kinds. Wasn't sure what you liked but these are both excellent."

I step aside, letting him in. "You know about wine?"

"My dad's a wine snob so he taught me a thing or two. He has a wine cellar at the house that has wines that cost more than...well, let's just say they're expensive."

I wonder why he didn't finish his thought. Does he not want me knowing how wealthy his parents are? After seeing their mansion I already know they're worth millions, which I'm sure is mostly his mom's money. He still hasn't told me much about her.

"What about your mom?" I ask as I return to the stove. "Does she like wine?"

"Wine. Vodka. Gin." His voice trails off and then he mutters under his breath, "She'll drink any kind of alcohol."

"Are you saying she has a drinking problem?"

"No," he says in a harsh tone I haven't heard him use before. "She's not an alcoholic. She just has too much sometimes." He yanks open a drawer. "Do you have a bottle opener?"

"Yeah." I point to the drawer next to him. "It's in that one."

He finds it, then shuts the drawer harder than he should.

I stir the sauce around the chicken. "I didn't mean to upset you about your mom. I only asked because my dad's an alcoholic. He says he's not but then I keep finding him drinking. So I just wondered if your mom was the same way."

"She's not. I already told you that." He's still using that harsh tone. He's got the corkscrew in the wine bottle and he forcefully yanks it out, then sets it on the counter. His head drops and he scrubs his hand through his hair, breathing heavy. I obviously hit a nerve.

I set the spoon on the spoon rest and cover the bubbling sauce. "You want to talk about it?"

"Honestly? No. I'd rather keep pretending it's not an issue."

"Me too. I mean, with my dad."

"It's not the same. I don't know your dad but...it's not like that. My mom's not an alcoholic. She just...she just drinks more than she should, but not all the time."

"But how do you know? Most alcoholics try to hide it. When I'm at my dad's house he—"

"She's not a fucking alcoholic, okay?" He yells it at me.

I nod. "Okay."

He sighs. "Sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. I just don't like labeling her like that. She's not...that's not what she is."

He's in denial. If he's this upset about it, he's clearly concerned she has a problem. He just doesn't want to admit it.

"Sorry I interrupted you," he says. "You were saying? About your dad?"

"My dad will promise me he's not drinking anymore but then I'll search the house and find bottles of liquor hidden all over the place. In his closet. In the laundry room behind the detergent. In the garage. When I confront him about it, he says he has no plans to drink it. That it's been there forever. That's what really hurts. The lying. He thinks he's protecting me but he's not. I'd rather know the truth."

"Would you?"

I nod. "Yeah. I would."

"I wouldn't," he mutters, looking down at the floor. "I wish I didn't know."

"Have you found bottles?"

"She doesn't hide them. She doesn't need to. We have three bars set up in the house for entertaining. She can help herself whenever she wants and the staff will restock whatever's empty."

"Then how do you know—"

"Because I've caught her. I've caught her drinking first thing in the morning. I've caught her passed out in the afternoon. I've caught her in the middle of the night, filling a glass from the bar."

"Gavin," I say softly. "You know what that means, right?"

He doesn't answer, his eyes still on the floor.

"Have you confronted her about it?" I ask.

"She doesn't know," he says. "She doesn't know I've seen her."

"And you've never brought it up to her? You've never even hinted at it?"

"You don't do that in my family. You mind your own business. Look the other way."

"I know but if she needs help then—"

"She'd never go. She doesn't think she has a problem so she'd never get help for it." His head lifts and he looks at me. "Have you confronted your dad?"

"Yeah. Too many times to count."

"And?"

I sigh. "He still drank."

"See what I mean? It's no use talking to them. You can't change them if they don't want to."

"That doesn't mean I'm going to give up on him. My dad's a good person. He really is. He doesn't want to be this way. He's tried to quit. He's been to a treatment center and it kept him sober for a few years but then he started drinking again."

"Does he have a job?"

"He's a private investigator. Owns his own business. He actually does pretty well. And because he's able to run his business, he thinks he doesn't have a problem. He has to hit rock bottom before he'll do anything."

"My mom doesn't work so she could drink all day and it wouldn't matter."

"She doesn't go out at all?"

"She goes to charity events. Fundraisers. That type of thing. But she's never shown up drunk so nobody would ever know about her drinking."

"Has your dad said anything to her?"

"Not that I know of. They kind of do their own thing. They don't even sleep in the same room."

"Oh." I'm feeling uncomfortable, like maybe he shouldn't be telling me all this. I'm glad he's opening up to me. It's just strange to know all this about the people I work for. People who seem so perfect on the outside with their perfect houses and perfect clothes.

He looks me in the eye. "You can't tell anyone this. No one. Not even Megan. I've never told anyone any of what I just told you. I did because...I don't know...I guess I feel I can tell you stuff. But I need it to remain between us. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah. Of course."

"I'm sorry I reacted the way I did. I'm just really protective of my family. We have our issues, just like anyone else, but I don't want people knowing about them. It's none of their business. I'm sure you feel the same way about your dad."

"I do. Unfortunately, some people already know."

"How would they know? You said he hid it."

"Yeah, but he used to be a cop. He got fired for drinking on the job. Apparently he was too drunk to make it to the scene of a robbery and the robber got away. The story made the papers."

"When did this happen?"

"A long time ago. I was only four when he got fired. It was right after he left us."

"He walked out on you and your mom?"

"Yeah, but it was probably for the best. He was drinking a lot back then. He didn't want me seeing him that way. And it's not like he disappeared from my life. He showed up again when he got sober."

I don't like talking about this. Having my dad walk out on my mom and me still hurts. I still remember how abandoned I felt when he left. I cried for days.

"I'm sorry," Gavin says, holding my hand. "I didn't know he'd walked out on you like that."

I shrug. "It was a long time ago. Anyway, he got fired from the police force a few months later, and now, when people look up his name online, that story is what pops up first."

"I'm surprised your dad can get clients."

"When people are desperate to expose a cheating spouse, they don't care who does it. They just want the evidence."

"That's what he does? Catches cheating spouses?"

"Mostly. He's done other stuff but the cheating spouse thing keeps him busy."

A sizzling noise comes from the stove and I see my sauce is starting to boil over. I hurry and take the lid off and stir it.

"I think this is almost done," I say to Gavin. "You want to pour the wine?"

He comes up behind me, his arms going around my waist. "Thanks for making dinner. No girl has ever made me dinner before. It's nice."

"You're welcome." I look up at him and he kisses me.

He takes the spoon from my hand and sets it down, then turns me around to face him. "And thanks for listening. And pushing me to say what I said. I never thought I'd tell anyone that but now that I have..." He takes a breath. "I feel like a giant weight's been lifted off my shoulders."

"Anytime you want to talk, I'm always here."

He holds my face and kisses me, then his eyes go to mine. "You know what?"

"What?"

"I'm thinking this might go somewhere."

I smile. "I think so too."