I Shouldn’t Love Him (Book 2) – Chapter 58

Manning

This blueberry pie. I took my time eating it out of politeness, but I could have inhaled it in less than two minutes. On the one hand, it was delicious, but also, sitting at Kaplan’s table after the fight I had just seen was really awkward. It wasn’t like I expected Tiffany’s dad to welcome me into his life after a dinner date. I didn’t think he would be such an a*****e either.

Lake didn’t see it. Not yet. She had been embarrassed, ashamed and tried to take the fall for Tiffany. My sister had been like that, thinking she could help an argument by butting in when she should have stayed away. You don’t put your hands in a dogfight – I’d told him before, but it had done a lot of good. I could tell by the way Lake looked at her father that she still loved and respected him. I didn’t understand that. Family shouldn’t mean an automatic free pass to treat others like shit. At some point, we had to recognize people for who they were.

I had met a lot of girls who had voluntarily become attached to idiots. Maybe it was worse for Tiffany because he was her father. I didn’t have a good history with dads. Damn, I hated mine.

n though I had cleaned up a salad, two steaks and dessert. Was she upset or was she just not hungry? In fact, I was worried that she was a little too skinny. Then again, maybe it was a girl thing. Maddy would rather have read or explored than come to the table.. I had forgotten about her jewelry phase until it hit me that day on the wall, when

y were. At my mother’s, perhaps.

s again for dinner,

d first effort.”

ged.

covered Tiffan

m to cook.

ow all eyes were on me. Why had I come here? Partly to see how Lake and Tiffany fit into this family . I figured the dynamic would help me understand them. Neit

y relationships, boredom. They pretended things mattered that didn’t. They stopped asking questions because they didn’t like the answers.

s. Lake didn’t know it yet and I wanted her to keep this innocence as long as possible. Maddy? I could have protected her better. I did my best as an older brother, but if I had known what awaited him, I would have done more. I would have done whatever it took. And I wanted to do the same for Lake, except guys in their 20s didn’t just hang out with teenage girls they weren’t related to. And that left me with only two options, one of which was to leave. The other sat across from me, smiling as if she had trapped me in a corner.

said to Lake.

privacy.”

it.

?” Lake asked.

I got up.

help.”

thy put her

se.”

id. “Maybe you can take me out, Tiff.”

Of co

other.

t to check on Lake. She wanted to go out, I could tell, but Tiffany wouldn’t invite her and neither would I. At best, she stayed away after the fight I had just witnessed. I nodded goodnight, hoping she would understand in her own way. Damn if the pain in her

ry.”

ted it in the kitchen. .”

r work day and two glasses of wine hit me right away. I just wanted to lie down. There was a small grassy hill up to the sidewalk, and when we reached the bottom, I cut it off.

iting me.”

“I’m gla

driver’s side door.

t to do something?”

ng all day, Tiffany. I’m exhausted.”

ave to go out. We can stay.

ed behind me. “Here? At your parents

ttle. Or go home.

ave me a second wind. It had been a few months, which didn’t bother me until it did. Like now. She tugged on my shirt a little, pulling me closer. His breath smelled of blueberries, like the ones Lake had used to make a pie.

or someone speci

ffany whispered,

ked.

oment.

It’

m not going to get attached…” “

s not it,

errifying conversation inside about the girl who got pregnant.

Regina Lee?”

ol who had s*x with a teacher. All the parents got upset, but he was only twenty-four or something.

he?”

omes out.

er accusations against the teacher? But a man like him definitely had connections, and it was clear he didn’t want me near Lake. He’d been angry enough that I hadn’t mentioned my work next door, but it was Lake there, me near her, that really set him off. I hoped we’d be done with this house soon and get out of his proximity.

a hip.

regnant like Regina Lee? “

“No.”

dered fat.

not.”

girlfriend.” Did you lie?

im.

I said.

fany pushed out of the

you’re not going to just tell me why you don’t want it, then goodbye. Don’t call me again.

into the grass. I couldn’t breathe

ing. I didn’t let shit like that get to me. As for girls, I usually didn’t thought they were worth it. But as Tiffany moved away, so did Lake. I wouldn’

blueberry pie. But what have I done to deserve this sweetness in my life? Nothing. And who’s to say I wouldn’t ruin it? I could. So probably I should leave. But it wasn’t just Lake I was watching tonight. Tiffany was right when she said she was a disappointment to her father. He put her in a box, then got angry that she was there. Not that Tiffany didn’t provoke him. She did it. But she was just looking for some

“Waits.”

und.

I’m just old-fashion

“What do y

was in front of her. I took his shoulders as if to support us both. Maybe I didn’t deserve sweetness, but Tiffany did. She was a decent match for me. She would need someone by her side. And she came with Lake. I leaned over and kissed Tiffany on the lip

take things slowly,” I said. “I’m old-fashioned.”

linked.

I’ll call you.

ted me to.

kay,” she

ening.

d have expected a girl to pass out after that. Maybe Tiffany wasn’t quick because she was desperate to be loved. Maybe -maybe she was fast because she liked it. She might actually leave me in the dust if I didn’t move. I might lose my chance with h

n’t entirely sure I wanted to fight to keep Tiffany.

be a part of Lake’s life.