Chapter 27
Raphael
Bob paces back and forth on the back patio with a glass of scotch dangling between his fingers. I lean against the banister with one hand deep in my pocket and the other gripping my own drink.
Dinner was tense as fuck although Bob Brooks is so self-involved and socially-inept that he probably didn’t even notice. All he cares about is how much Eva’s move back home will mess with his newly reinvigorated sex life.
"Damned girl," he mutters under his breath and then takes a long drag from his cigarette. Over the years, I've watched him quit smoking a million times and then fall off the wagon at the slightest wrinkle in the fabric of his ever-perfect life. Eva moving back home seems to be the latest wrinkle and the occasion appears to merit a nice, calming dose of nicotine.
He's so spoiled! Now I see where Eva gets her brattiness from. But at least hers is cute. And sexy. And comes with a side of toe-curling blowjobs. Bob's tantrums are just plain annoying. He really is starting to piss me the fuck off. He may be my best friend but I'm not sure how much longer I can hold my tongue. "Is Eva moving back here going to be a problem?"
"Hell yes, it’s going to be a problem. Me and my wife have just started getting our groove back, if you know what I mean." He does an awkward little pelvis thrust that proves to me once and for all that Laurie is getting the short end of the stick. I just shake my head.
"Is it really too much for you to offer your daughter a roof over her head?"
“I gave her shelter for the first 18 years of life. I’d say I’ve fulfilled my minimum parental obligation toward her,” he spits out.
I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Unbelievable.”
"If you care so much about the roof over Evangeline's head, why don't you take her to stay with you?" he asks sarcastically.
You have no idea how much I would like that, asshole.
"I’d be happy to help her keep her apartment. Or get another one." I struggle to keep my voice level and conceal my irritation. “Too bad she refuses my help. She wants to take care of it on her own.”
“Don’t you dare.” He glares at me with narrowed eyes. "You’ve always been so damn protective of that girl. You coddle her. You’re part of the reason she won’t grow up. She knows that she always has good, old Mr. Silver to fall back on."
"And why is that a problem? She’s a young woman now. She’s still learning how the world works. She’ll make mistakes, Brooks. Don’t you want her to know she has somewhere to turn when she needs help?"
"She needs to stand on her own two feet, Raph. She's an adult."
“She’s 22, for chrissake. Do you remember what you were doing at 22? You still thought it was funny to pull your pants down and moon innocent commuters on the I-90 on a Saturday night!”
"Are you seriously going to throw that in my face right now?"
"Yup. Absolutely." I chuckle under my breath.
"Anyway, that was different," he laughs. “That was just for fun while I was finishing my studies. She needs to go back to school. Earn a bachelor’s degree. Maybe her masters. Then get a good job. Do something with her life.”
“You can’t live vicariously through Eva. She’s going to live her own way, on her own terms. Fulfill her own dreams.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “And why should I foot the bill for that?”
“For crying out loud! It’s just for a few months, Bob!” I fling up my arm in irritation.
He holds my gaze for a long time. I don’t flinch. Finally, he sighs in defeat. "Okay, she can stay here. But I'm not helping her pack one single box."
"I'll take care of it."
He watches me again and sighs deeply. "Y'know, you really are a good friend."
I shrug, feeling guilt heavy on my chest. He'd be singing a different tune if he had any idea what is really going on between his daughter and me.
He turns away from me, his gaze distant. "She's just so frustrating. I gave her all the same opportunities that I gave Prescott. He became a successful attorney. He made me proud. Her? She just squandered every chance she got. Just drifting. Coasting along. She’s such a failure.” He says the word with bitter contempt. “She’ll probably end up as some rich guy’s trophy wife, a plaything he’ll take care of and parade around on his arm—"
Okay, enough of this shit. “Are you done with your little rant yet?!”
He stares off into the distance and heaves a breath. “Makes me so damn mad."
"Everybody has a different path, Bob."
"That's the bullshit you say when don't want to straight up call someone a loser."
Anger festers inside of me. I don’t want to lash out against him and if we keep talking about this, I will. "Y'know what? I'm changing the subject." Before I end up sending your teeth down your throat. "So what's up with you and Laurie? And that yoga retreat? Have you two been having problems?"
He looks embarrassed. "Oh, Evangeline told you about that?" He chuckles mirthlessly.
I nod.
"That menopause thing put a strain on our marriage. The mood swings, the constant sweating—" he glances over his shoulder then cups his hand around his mouth "—the dry pussy." I roll my eyes again. What a bastard. "Don't get me wrong – I love my wife, dry pussy and all, but it just really sucked. Anyway, she went to the doctor for some pills and creams then we did that tantric yoga thing. And now we're fucking all day. All over the house." I blurt out a hearty laugh but his features remain solemn. "I'm serious, man. The only downside is that we tend to get lube all over everything. The other day, I almost broke my back. Slipped on some lube coming down the hardwood stairs. But it would have been totally worth it because sex on the stairs..." he loses his words and his voice gets choked up. "All I'm saying is, you've got to try it on the stairs."
I'll keep that in mind next time I'm fucking your daughter, you jerk.
One corner of my mouth tips upward. "Well, I'm just glad you two worked it out."
“I am, too.” Worry settles on his brow. "We'll see how things play out once Eva comes back home."