I hurried out with Eli on my tail. “Don’t talk to me, Eli.” I said as I got in my car. “Go home. I’ll go to Dad’s.”
I slammed my door and started the car. He was lucky I didn’t drive over his toes I moved out so quickly. He’d have deserved it.
By the time I got to my dad’s house, I’d taken a lot of deep breaths and had calmed down. Something was up with Eli, and heaven help us if our lives were going to be full of this drama.
“Hi Dad,” I called as I came in. He was sitting in his special recliner that tilted forward when he wanted to get up.
“How’s my girl?” He’d greeted me like that since I could remember. “Did you have fun getting reacquainted with your friends?”
“I did, until Eli came by and ruined it. What’s up with him?”
“Oh,” my father made a dismissive sound. “He’s just a little lost.”
I sat on the couch, kicking my shoes off and tucking my legs underneath me. “That’s not a little lost. Something is seriously up his butt.”
My father chuckled. “What did he do?”
“I texted him that I was going to have a drink with friends, and he comes storming in. Telling Nick to keep his hands off me and ordering me home.”
“Nick had his hands on you?” My father’s bushy brows rose.
“We were dancing. Like normal people do.”
“So you and Nick—“
“No, Dad. It was just a chan
ce to talk alone. I get that Eli felt betrayed by me and Nick, but that was years ago. Surely he’s over it.”
My dad shook his head. “Eli and Nick aren’t friends.”
“After four years though, you’d think that type of intense hate would be gone. Seriously Dad, what’s wrong with him?”
My father sighed. “I think he’s jealous that Nick got the life he wanted. Couple that with Nick’s past relationship with you and his being the last one to talk to your mom—“
“He’s jealous?” It still seemed over the top to me. “If he’s unhappy, change his life. Don’t come storming in the bar and embarrassing me.” I huffed out a breath.
My dad shrugged. “Sometimes it’s easier to blame others. Nick got into Stanford medical school, when Eli didn’t even though he went to Stanford undergrad.”
“Nick didn’t take his spot. He should have studied more.” I knew Eli when he was in college. He did okay in school, but he partied hard as well. “Besides, he got into UC Davis, it’s a good school. But he didn’t go.”
“Davis revoked his admission when his last grades came out.”
“Ouch.” How did I not know that?
“He didn’t want anyone to know. He decided to come home and help me with the business. But now even that is starting to struggle.”
That surprised me. Parker Sporting Goods was the only place in town to stock up on outdoor gear. “Really? The store is established and no other place near here offers what the store does.”
“There is a big name sporting shop over in Kedler, and of course, people think nothing of driving to Reno these days.”
“So is it bad? Is the store really in trouble?”
My father rubbed his brow. “It’s making money, but I have suggested he look at getting out. He could sell it and use the money to find himself.”
“What about you? You don’t need the money?” How would Dad live if the Eli sold the store and took the money?
“The house is paid for. I’ve got Social Security and Medicare—“