Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting, #1)(52)

Dad’s eyes lifted to mine, anger simmering in the brown. “I know it’s a lot of school. But Callihan men are lawyers. It’s in our blood. Hasn’t it provided a nice life for you? My work is what allows you to be out goofing around on that lake all the time.”

I ignored the goofing around jab, still trying to keep our discussion civil. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me, I do. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to live the rest of my life working a job I don’t want.”

Dad rose and leaned over the table, his posture all intimidation. “If you think I’m going to pay your tuition so you can go dink around, you’re wrong.”

I straightened and looked him square in the face. “Then I guess you’ll have to get used to the idea of your only son going to community college.”

A muscle flexed his jaw and he narrowed his eyes. “Where is this coming from? Is it that girl you’ve been hanging out with? Your mom says you two are close—don’t tell me you’re going to give up college to be with your high school girlfriend.” His tone made it clear how laughable and pathetic that’d be.

Steel filled my lungs, leaving them too heavy. “If Kate was my girlfriend, I just might. But she’d never ask me to give up what I wanted to do—she’d encourage me to go for my dreams. The truth is, I’ve felt this way for a long time. I didn’t want to disappoint you, or to make you mad enough to lose your temper.” I threw up a hand. “Mom and I tiptoe around you, trying to make sure there’s no noise and no mess here to keep you happy. But I can’t live like that forever. More than that, I shouldn’t have to. And neither should Mom.”

Red flooded his face, his anger reaching the boiling point. “If you think I’m just going to let you throw away your life—”

“Paul.” Mom stepped into the room. “Can you just listen to him? Listen to what he’s saying. Just for once, listen.”

“You’ve babied him too much,” Dad shot at Mom before pointing his finger in my face. “You’re doing the summer internship, and you’re getting your law degree. End of story. Now, it looks like I’m going to have to take this to the office instead of spending a quiet night here like I hoped to.” He swept his files off the table and tucked them under one arm. “I hope you’re both happy.”

With that, he stormed out of the room. The slam of his office door echoed through the hall.

I ran a hand through my hair and let out an exhale. “That went well.”

“He’ll calm down, and then hopefully he’ll be more open to a rational conversation,” Mom said, moving over to me.

“We’re talking about the same guy, right? He’s going to come up with three hundred arguments to prove his side, and there’s nothing you or I can say to change his mind. I appreciate the support, but you should just save yourself his anger and agree with him next time.” I turned to walk out of the room, but Mom stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.

“If you can be brave, so can I. We can’t tiptoe around him all the time. One day he’s going to have to learn that having a family means there will be people who live here and make noise, and occasionally even messes.”

I shook my head. “I’m not brave.”

If I were, I would’ve told Kate how I really felt, despite having the odds stacked against me. I wouldn’t just let her go to prom with some idiot who didn’t even know what a lucky bastard he was.

…

“Cooper?”

I spun around to find Amber. Since she and I had barely exchanged words this year, I fought the urge to scratch my head over her sudden appearance at my locker. The anxious body language confused me even more. “Yeah?”

“Do you have a date for the prom?”

“I’m not going to prom,” I said.

She glanced down at her feet. “But if someone asked, maybe you’d change your mind?”

“Who? Paris? Whatever mild flirtation she and I had ended long ago.”

Amber frowned. “I don’t do everything for Paris. I’m asking for me. I hoped you’d go to prom with me. I figured since Kate’s going with Mick…”

My stomach bottomed out. “She asked him?”

“I’m not sure who asked who. I just heard that they’re going together.” She leaned in and whispered, “Paris is super pissed about it.” If I wasn’t mistaken, Amber looked a little gleeful over her supposed friend’s anger.

But I couldn’t concentrate too much on that, because all I could think about was Mick and Kate. She asked him to prom. It’s really over.

I didn’t think I had any hope left, but the gut-punch, heart-clench combo made it clear I’d been holding on to something, and it’d just been ripped from me and squashed like a bug.

Kate and Mick. At prom. He’d push for more than kissing on a night like that, and I wanted to do something to stop it, but it wasn’t my place, and she’d made her decision.

I hated her decision.

It’d be torture to be there and see them together.

“So? What do you say?” Amber flashed me a big smile. “Will you be my date for prom?”





Chapter Thirty-Two


Kate


I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry…