Pieces of Him (25 page)

“Someone like Garrett?” he questions acidly.

“Exactly,” I confirm.

“So you don’t want to introduce me to her because I’m not good enough for you.”

“No. Baby, I don’t want to introduce you to her because I’m afraid that you’ll see what kind of person she is and think that I’m like that too. That I’m spoiled and self-centered and entitled. I didn’t want you to think badly of me.”

“Emelia.”

“I love you. I love you and Xander so much, and I was just afraid that if I told you about my family and their money, you would push me away and I couldn’t stand that. I wanted you to love me despite the fact that I was raised by someone like her.”

“I get that.”

“And I was talking to Hannah earlier and she encouraged me to tell you because…”

“Baby, stop. I get it, but you should know that I would never think of you as spoiled or any of the other things you said.”

“You’re not mad at me?”

“Well, I’m not happy that you kept it from me. You need to stop lying to me when you think it’s going to be something I don’t want to hear or something you’re afraid of how I’ll handle. You need to trust me with everything for this to work between us, Em.”

“I know,” I reply sheepishly. I never realized how hard relationships are or maybe it’s just that I’m not good at them. I certainly didn’t have a good teacher in Garrett. He was too busy being an ass all the time. “I promise I’ll do better.”

“Okay,” he says quietly, and I’m surprised at how well he handled all of this. I’ve seen how his temper can flare, and though I know he’d never actually hurt me, it’s not easy to watch. “When did you become so mature when it comes to arguing?”

He smirks at me. “I’m a work in progress.”

My arms instinctively wrap around his neck, and I’m so happy when his wrap around my waist.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” His lips find my neck and he places a kiss there letting me know that all is forgiven.

“Is that all you wanted to talk about.”

“No,” I say, repositioning myself to sit in his lap. “I wanted to ask you to come to my father’s birthday dinner with me. I wasn’t going to go, but Hannah’s introducing Colin to everyone. I figure if my mom is going to have a meltdown, it might as well happen with both of her girls ruining her hopes of world domination at the same time.”

“You sure you want me there?” He smirks.

Immediately, I nod my confirmation. I don’t want him to think that I don’t want him with me. I don’t want him to doubt that at all. “I don’t want to go without you.”

“Then I’ll go.” He slides a hand in my hair making me feel warmth everywhere. I love this feeling, and I’ve come to need it. I’m thankful that he reacted way better than I ever could have hoped for. He barely even seemed fazed by anything that I said. I breathe a sigh of relief that it’s over. Now, I just have to get through this meeting of the parents. The only thing I know for sure is that no matter what happens next weekend, I will not let my mother ruin my chance at happiness. I won’t let her take away the family that I’m trying to build here with Max and Xander.

I think about what Mrs. Park said earlier and decide to save that conversation about Xander for another day. I think there have been enough uncomfortable topics discussed tonight, and all I really want to do is get Xander to sleep, crawl into bed with Max, and make love. The rest of it can wait.

Max~

Emelia and I decided to leave Xander with Mrs. Park tonight. We thought about bringing him but decided that it would be better for her parents to meet me on my own first before introducing a baby. When I found out that her family was wealthy, my first thought was that I had been right all those months ago, that Emelia was too good for a guy like me. I thought she deserved better, and then I realized that their money is not hers. She moved to another state, took an average job, and moved into your normal every day apartment because she is not about the money. I know the size of my bank account doesn’t matter to her.

When I ask about tonight, she tells me that it will just be her parents, her sister, and her sister’s fiancé. This means all eyes will be on this poor Colin guy and me. I’m wondering which one of us her parents will hate more. Since Hannah has been out of the house and stuck in her rebellion for way longer than Emelia, I’m assuming that the one they hate will likely be me.

Emelia indicates that I should pull into the driveway a few feet ahead of us, and when I do, the sheer size of their house astounds me. I think that, maybe, Emelia downplayed just how rich her family really is. We walk up the driveway and straight into the unlocked house hand in hand. It happens as soon as we walk in the door. I thought we’d get a minute to settle in before bedlam began, but the minute we hit the foyer, we can hear an argument already in progress.

“What is your problem?” we hear someone yell.

“Shit, that’s Hannah.” Em says, practically pulling us through the front of the house into what looks like a sitting room full of unfamiliar faces.

“You’re engaged and you didn’t think it prudent to make your family aware of this or even that you were seeing someone at all?”

“Why would I do that, Mother? It’s really none of your business.”

Emelia takes a few steps into the room. “Hannah?”

“Em,” her sister replies, turning to face us. I can instantly see the resemblance between the two; they have many of the same features—same eye color, nose, posture. There are differences too, where Hannah is tall and slender, Emelia is slightly shorter and curvier. Something that works for me in a big way. She has kind eyes, though, and right now, they’re planted on my girl and they’re filled with a lot of love and relief. They practically leap into each other’s arms, and I take a step back not wanting to get in the way of their reunion. I briefly take notice of the man standing closest to Hannah; he’s young, fit, and well-dressed. Obviously, her fiancé, Colin. I give him a chin lift, one that he returns before my attention is called away.

“Who’s this?” The question comes from who I know to be Em’s mother; it’s cold, hard, and clearly unhappy. She was not expecting me, and she’s not happy that I’m here.

“Max, right?” her dad asks walking over to me and shaking my hand. Emelia and Hannah have now parted but their hands remain connected as they look our way. “Nice to meet you, son,” he says, warmly, welcoming and nothing like his wife.

“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Masters.”

“Sorry, Corrine, I must have forgotten to mention that Emelia was bringing her new young man with her tonight. Max, this is my wife, Corrine.”

“You forgot?” she spits out before I have a chance to greet her. I feel Em’s presence come up behind me, and she slides her hand in mine. “How do you forget to tell me something like that? And you.” She turns her deadly gaze on Em and I pull her closer. “I haven’t heard from you in weeks, you haven’t returned a single one of my calls, and now, you show up here accompanied by someone who I don’t know?”

“I’m sorry, Mother, but I’ve been busy. And I really don’t think I need to run it by you when I choose to start seeing someone. I’m twenty-four years old, employed, and living on my own.”

“Emelia Masters, what has gotten into you?”

I can say a lot in response to this question, but I hold my tongue because I actually like Mr. Masters and I’d like to show him respect in his own home.

“I heard you talking to Hannah when we came in, and I realized that you’re never going to change. You haven’t seen her in years.
Years
because she had to move to a whole other country to get away from you, and she’s finally back, even if it’s just for a short visit, and you start in on her immediately. Why does it bother you so much to see your own daughters happy?”

“Happy? Tell me, Emelia, tell me what your friend here does for a living.”

Em’s nostrils flare in anger, her hand squeezes mine, and I can tell she might break down in tears because she’s so angry.

“I’m part owner of a construction company,” I interject, trying to give my girl time to recover. This bitch is unreal, barely a foot in the door and she goes at her girls like this. She laughs, actually fucking laughs.

“Construction?” she says it like it’s the most absurd thing she’s ever heard. I might as well have told her I bag groceries for a living, I’m nothing to her, and I’ll never be anything to her. “This is who you’re dating? A construction worker?”

“Corrine,” Mr. Masters warns. He looks about ready to explode. “Enough of this. I’ve had enough of you pushing our girls away.”

“I want more for them. I want them to have everything.”

“Money,” Emelia says. “You want us to have money. You don’t care about what we want, about what makes us happy.”

“No, that would actually make her a good mother.” This comes from Hannah, who’s taken her place next to Colin now, but she watches her mother with disgust. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I wanted to be here for you, but I shouldn’t have come. I’m getting married to a good man, someone who I love with all my heart, and that’s not good enough for her. None of us will ever be good enough for her.”

“You’re right. I despise mediocrity, and I raised you both better than that. I taught you both what your place was and how to carry on your family name.”

“Thank god, we didn’t listen to you, or else we’d both be just as miserable as you are right now. Cold, miserable, and not willing to see anybody else happy.”

“You think you’re actually happy, Emelia? Will you be happy struggling, living from paycheck to paycheck in a tiny house somewhere with nothing to show for yourself?”

“As long as I have Max and Xander, I’ll be happy.” Em retreats a step, her back touching my front. She realized a little too late that she’s just opened a whole new can of worms. Instinctively, my arm wraps around her waist in a show of protection.

“Xander?” her mother questions coolly.

I square my shoulders at the same time tightening my hold on Em. “My son.”

“Well, that’s just rich. He has a son.” She snarls in the direction of her husband. “You knew about this? You approve of this?”

“Corrine, who cares. They’re happy. Leave them be.”

“Leave them be, leave them be? And what do I tell Garrett, who by the way should be arriving here momentarily.” Emelia’s entire body goes stiff in my arms. She’s scared of this asshole, has told her mom that she’s done with him, and she still invites him here.

“Why the fuck is he coming here?” This comes from me. Yeah, out goes the respect. It flies right out the window along with my patience.

“Don’t you dare speak to me like that.”

“Lady, do you know that this man showed up at your daughter’s work and threatened her, that he called her every night for months and harassed her?”

Mr. Masters takes a step in our direction, his expression is starting to match mine. “What? Emelia, you did not tell me that he continued to harass you.”

“I know, Dad, but Max took care of it.”

“This is ridiculous.” Everyone looks back at the mom from hell. “Garrett would never hurt anyone.”

Emelia shakes her head in disbelief. “God, you’re too much.”

“I am done with all of this. Hannah, I’ve given up on you ever being more than a disappointment. If you want to waste your life away in another country with this man, then so be it. It wouldn’t shock me one bit,” she says, eyeing Hannah like a parasite. When she turns her attention back to Emelia, her gaze hasn’t softened one bit. “Emelia. You have a chance at a good life. Garrett is perfect for you. He can take care of you and make sure that you have everything you’ve ever wanted.”

“I have what I want.”

“If you walk out of this house with that man, I will disown you. I swear to you, you will not see one cent from me.”

“I don’t need your money. I don’t want it, but even if money was an issue, I think you’ve forgotten that I inherit my trust fund in a few months and there’s not a damn thing that you can do about that.”

What. The. Fuck? Did she just say she’s about to get an inheritance? At this moment, I’m completely struck speechless. This girl just conveniently forgets to tell me major details of her life like I forgot what I had for lunch two days ago. I keep my place by her side and try to keep my frustration with her under wraps. In essence, she just gave up her relationship with her family for my son and me but keeping that in perspective is still a challenge.