Unbreakable(34)

Eventually, we were interrupted by a loud growl from Will’s stomach, and that got us both laughing.

“The sandwich and beer didn’t fill me up. I better start dinner. Besides, I need to keep up my strength for later tonight.”

The way he’d said it, all low and sexy, made me all shivery. I don’t remember being so affected by his voice before this trip. It’s always been deep and gravelly, but now I’m pretty sure it’s the sexiest voice that’s ever whispered in my ear.

I’m so touched by what he did for me today. It just makes me sad when I realize that someday, another girl is going to get that part of him exclusively—the sweetness and thoughtfulness that I’m sure will make him a wonderful boyfriend.

I already hate this girl, and she isn’t even real. At least, she isn’t yet.

He’s brought back so many good memories for me over the past few days. Is it so wrong for me to want the chance to make new memories with him?

I have to derail this train of thought, or I’m going to get depressed.

“Will, is there anything I can do to help that won’t burn the house down?”

He grins, showing a dimple in his left cheek. “Can you chop up some of these veggies for the kabobs?”

“Sure.”

He slides peppers and other assorted vegetables over to me on a chopping board, and I get to work while he preps and seasons the chicken.

My cell phone begins to ring, and I cringe when my dad’s name pops up on the screen.

“Sorry,” I mutter. “It’s my dad. I have to take this.”

He nods as I pick up the phone.

“Hey, Dad.” I walk to the backyard and sit down at the picnic table. “What’s up?”

“Emmeline. How are you?”

My father is so formal sometimes. He’s the only one who ever uses my full name.

“I’m good, Dad. I’m home. Well, I’m in Ontario, anyway.”

He makes a tsk sound. “I thought you were spending your time wisely by taking a summer class in New York?”

“I did. The class is over, Dad. I’m up at the cottage. I just needed to get away from the city. I’m a little burned out.”

I hope he’ll take the hint, but as usual, he doesn’t.

“Better get used to the work, Emmeline. This is nothing—wait until you get into law school.” He pauses. “So, how was the class? It was an advanced math course, wasn’t it?”

I bite down on my lower lip and watch Will as he comes outside with the kabobs and freshly shucked corn.

“Yeah. Very advanced.”

“And how did you do?”

Oh God, this isn’t going to go over well. “My final grade was a C.”

“Is that what I’m paying for, Emmeline? For you to make Cs?”

“Dad, I tried. I did, but—”

“But what? You couldn’t hack it?” Disgust laces his tone. “Bullshit, Emmy. You’re distracted because it’s summer and you don’t want to work. You want to play.”

“That’s not true,” I say hotly. “I worked really hard in that class.”

I had, too. Even though I’m fairly decent at math, I struggled with the course content.

“The truth is, I’m struggling with a lot of my courses,” I tell him. “That’s why I had a tutor for most of my classes last semester.”

“You just need to work smarter,” he says dismissively. “You aren’t applying yourself the way I know you can. You’re a natural fit for law school. You’ve always done well while working summers at my firm.”

“I was filing and answering the phones at your office, Dad. That isn’t the same as helping you prepare for a case.”

Will glances up from the grill, a sympathetic look on his face.

“You have what it takes to do this,” my father snaps. “When you get back to the city, you just f*cking work harder. Understand me?”

“Maybe you need to accept that being a lawyer isn’t a good fit for me.” I fight to keep my voice even. “I’m miserable, Daddy.”

“Don’t you ‘Daddy’ me! I’m not falling for this shit. You’re a Sullinger, and Sullingers do whatever it takes to succeed. I don’t want to hear this wimpy bullshit from you. You sound like your mother with all of this whining.”

I keep silent, but I can feel the tears threatening.

“I have to go, Emmeline. I’m prepping for court. The next time you talk to your mother, tell her I’ll cut up her damn credit cards if she runs up another massive bill like she did last month. That selfish bitch is going to make me broke.”

“Tell her yourself!” I snap. I toss my phone down on the table and draw in a ragged breath.

Will kneels down in front of me and rubs his hands along my thighs. “Hey. What’s going on?”

“He won’t listen to anything I say. I’ve told him so many times that I’m struggling, but he always says the same thing. ‘Work harder. Study more. Apply yourself. You’re not a quitter.’”

“Is your Dad like this with Sully?” he asks.

“Are you kidding? Sully’s the golden child. He can do no wrong. Me? I’m nothing but a total disappointment.”