Page 43 of Say It Again
Okay, this seemed promising. “That’d be nice, right, Daniel? We’d love a drink.”
“Fine, just….” Robert held up a hand as he started for the house. “Please wait here.”
Aaron and Daniel exchanged glances. He didn’t want them inside? It was starting to feel like he didn’t want them inside. A few moments later, he returned with a bottle of bourbon and three glasses, which he filled and handed out. “Cheers. To… surprises.”
Robert emptied his, tossing it back in a rush, so Aaron did the same.
Daniel placed his glass on the corner of the grill without touching it. “So, Melissa seems nice.”
Robert wiped his mouth. “What’s the matter? You don’t like it?”
“Oh, that? Um. I’m not a big whiskey person.”
“It’s not whiskey, son,” Robert said with a frown as he poured refills. “It’s aged bourbon, but I think Melissa has some wine coolers in there if you’d prefer that?”
Ouch.
“Well, that has to be more tolerable than this.” Daniel shrugged. “May I go inside and get it, or is that also a massive inconvenience?”
“No.” Robert glanced around as people began to meander onto the patio. He mumbled under his breath, “You’re not drinking a fucking wine cooler here.”
“Who cares what it is so long as someone keeps pouring it, right?” Aaron said, extending his hand. “I’m Aaron. Nice to meet you, Mr. Greene.”
“Hi,” Robert said without making eye contact and tipped back his drink, wincing a little on the finish. That one had been pretty full. “How do you two know each other?”
“Dad, obviously, we’re dating.” Daniel snuck in an eye roll but played it off as just gazing around the backyard. “Not that you would care.”
Robert whipped around to Aaron, confusion clouding his expression. His head shook a little as he scanned him up and down. “Wait, you’re…? But you don’t look… huh. I wouldn’t assume, just by first impression, that you were like him.”
A reddish tint, either hurt or anger, spread across Daniel’s face.
Jesus, man. “If only we could all be more like Daniel,” Aaron said because Fuck you, Mister Greene would’ve been crass, “we’d be better people.”
“Sure. What do you do for a living, Aaron?”
“He’s an attorney,” Daniel said, a little snappier. “Do you care about meeting him now?”
Aaron tried not to wince, shifting his attention to his drink.
“No kidding?” Robert said, suddenly engaged. “A professional. Well hallelujah. What do you think of the dancing? You can’t tell me you approve of a career in dancing.”
Daniel opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut, his gaze traveling to his shoes. He took a tiny sip of the bourbon, his jaw tight as he swallowed. Deflecting jabs at him was starting to feel like navigating a minefield, but as messed up as it was, maybe having Attorney Aaron’s input would help this asshole gain a new perspective.
“Oh, I wholeheartedly approve of his career. I think his long-term goals will be highly lucrative. Plus, he’s got a thirst for it, he’s dedicated, and he’s not afraid to take risks. I know that’s more than I can say. Than most people can say. I’m proud of him.”
Robert seemed nonplussed, but Daniel perked up a bit, his little half-smile adorable.
“There’s the birthday boy!” a voice boomed from the house, and Robert flinched. A graying man with a protruding gut stepped out holding a beer. “Hey, Greene. Earth to Greene.”
Robert scrunched his face for a moment and quickly said under his breath, “My coworker. Be cool.” When he spun around, he’d plastered on a wide smile. “Jerry!”
“Hey, I met your new girlfriend. Not the brightest, is she? But smokin’ hot.”
“Not that smokin’ either.” Robert winked. “Until I bought the tits.”
Geez, when did they get teleported to a scuzzy locker room? Robert and Jerry laughed and pulled each other into a pat-on-the-back man hug.
“She calls you Robbie,” Jerry said, rubbernecking a woman in a green dress walking by.