“My father is Conrad Hendrix perhaps if you are into sports you know the name.”
“As in racing?” Theo perks up.
“The one and only.”
“Was a real shame when he had to retire. I was a huge fan. You must be proud to carry his name.” I can feel Killian going tense next to me. I trace tiny circles on the inside of his wrist.
“Do you plan to follow in his footsteps?” My mother questions and he is saved from answering by the arrival of our salads.
I stab a cucumber with my fork and shove into my mouth. As I am chewing someone my stepfather knows approaches our table.
“Fancy meeting you here.”
I look up and nearly choke on my food. Hunter and his parents are standing behind mine.
“Liri, dear I believe you mentioned Hunter last time I was in town,” my mother says and sneers at Killian.
“Well Mother, maybe they can join you for dinner. Killian and I are leaving.”
I grab Killian by the hand and leave the dining room without looking back.
“Can you believe her? I know she did that on purpose. I’m sorry. I never would have dreamed of her acting this way.”
“We can’t choose our parents, Liri. Though there have been times I wished I could. Why don’t you rejoin them. I’ll take a cab.”
“What? No. I don’t want to eat with them. I hope my mom is happy because I’m not speaking to her.”
“You shouldn’t have to choose.”
“No, I shouldn’t but I choose you. I always will.”
He smiles at me, but it is one full of sadness.
Chapter 37
Liri
After that disastrous dinner with my parents I received a text message from my stepfather apologizing on behalf of my mother. He asked if he could take me to lunch Just him and me, and I agreed as long as we could go to a joint that serves hamburgers, and I can dress down in my leggings that I wore to class today.
Killian is at some garage getting his car tuned or serviced. Whatever it is that he does before he has a race, but I shoot him a text to let him know my plans. We have been meeting for lunch when our schedules allow it. I had no idea that my boyfriend works part time at the university library. It makes sense looking back how he knew where the keys for the study room was and exactly where the books I needed were.
Liri: I’m meeting with my stepfather for lunch. He apologized and said it would only be the two of us.
Killian: I’m almost finished here and will grab something on my way back to campus then. I love you. I’ll see you after your ceramics class?
Liri: You better. I love you most.
Killian: More.
Liri: Most trumps more so we are clear.
Killian: I love you more than anyone has ever thought of loving you.
Liri: I know.
My stepfather picks me up outside of web design class. I’m not liking doing digital art as much as I thought I would. I prefer using my paints, chalks, and pencils. I slide into the opposite seat of him and place my bag next to me.
“Hope you don’t mind a bit of a drive. I feel like I never see you now that you are so far away at college.”