I cleared my throat and shook the vision away. “Well, yeah, like I said. That’s why he worked so hard to keep us apart. To hide his gross behavior from me.”
“No.” Drumming his fingers on the table, Orion shook his head. “Maybe before but…he’s not with her no more. And your mother…” His eyes flicked up to mine.
“My mother is dead,” I said, so this wouldn’t get dragged out any longer. “What’s your point?”
“He didn’t tell me the truth when he called this morning, even now that you know everything. Don’t want my kind around you, I guess. He always said he was so proud of me and supports me no matter what I do. Guess that shit only goes so far as I stay away from his perfect family.”
“Oh, gimme a break.”
“It’s true.”
“My family is far from perfect. And what’s your kind? You a thief? A murderer?”
He scowled at me. “No.”
“Don’t tell me this is some stupid class thing, like you think you’re not good enough.”
He huffed, nearly spitting. “Fuck you, I got class.”
“Okay, I wasn’t saying you didn’t. My dad and I talked at length and when it came to you it was all about hiding his affair. And anyway, so what if he didn’t want you to meet me, why do you even care?”
“It’s finding out he’s been feeding me bullshit. That sucks, man. Doesn’t feel good.”
“Oh, boo hoo. How did this turn into me having to make you feel better?”
“Didn’t ask you to! I’m just airing my thoughts.”
“Look, I’m sorry your hero doesn’t live up, but as far as Jasper lying to people who are supposed to matter, I win.”
“Your betrayal matters more, I get it.”
“Not mine. My mother’s. Are you really not getting this?”
He held his hands up. “Oh, I get it. My presence offends you. Guess I’ll just leave then. Thanks for the cookie.” He stood.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh for God’s sake, take the drama down a notch. Sit.”
“No, it’s fine, I’ll get out of your sight.”
“I said sit! I have questions.”
He eyed me cautiously, then slowly sat back down. “Not sure why I’m listening to you right now.”
“I used my dad voice. It’s very powerful.”
He chuckled, twirling the yellow tendril hanging over his cheekbone. “Okay, I’m sitting.”
“Look,” I said. “Sorry my father let you down, but this is just who he is. Honestly, the way you talk about him sounds like a different person to me. He’s never been the proud supportive type, so be happy you got that from him at least, and let the rest go. He’s going through his own shit and it has nothing to do with either of us.”
Scratching his jaw, he shrugged. “He is proud of you. He talks about you all the time. Makes fun of you a little but…”
I grunted, nodding.
“But it’s good natured, you know?”
“If you say so. Anyway, speaking of him, I’m not too happy about some of the things he said about you. I have questions.”
Orion stiffened, dark eyes on me. “Like what?”
I groaned. I was so angry and disgusted with my father right now it made me physically ill, but I couldn’t stop caring about him, no matter how hard I’d tried all afternoon. And Jasper was doing some weird shit that I needed more information about.
“What’s bothering you?” Orion asked.
“I’m worried about him. And you seem to be privy to things that I’m not in that department.”
“I’ll help any way I can.”
“That’s great, Orion, but it doesn’t seem like you’ve been helping him so much as leading him astray.”
“What do you mean?”
“My dad has bruises on his elbows, said he fell down in the caves.”
“Oh.” Orion bit his lip and nodded. “Yeah. He did.”
“He said you told him my mother knows about his affair now that she’s passed on. And for some reason that I can’t comprehend, he believed you. So now he’s going down to the wishing pools to try talking to his dead wife. What the fuck are you putting in my father’s head?”
Orion avoided my eyes. Flicking his wrist at me, he said, “How bout you offer me something to drink, huh? No offense but your cookies are dry.”
“My cookies are perfect. Stop changing the subject.”
“Okay fine, the cookies are good, but this ain’t real fun for me, so if you’re gonna keep me here talking about uncomfortable shit, you could at least give me a drink.”
“You want some milk?”
“No I don’t want fucking milk! What am I, six?”
“All right, don’t get testy. I’ll get you a drink and we can talk about this like grownups.” As I stood, Orion’s stomach growled loudly. I frowned down at him. “Have you eaten? Besides my dry cookie, I mean.”
He shrugged.
“Would you like some lasagna?”
He glanced over at the tray on the counter. I’d already eaten one piece of it, but left it out in case I wanted more later, and the meatballs were still in a pot on the stove. Orion stared longingly. “I’m okay.”
“You’re welcome to have some if you’re hungry. There’s plenty.”
He shook his head. “I’m not a charity case.”
I sighed, not sure if his ‘Woe is me’ thing was sincere. It was over the top, and my dad had warned me Orion could be manipulative. But for Christ’s sake, it was just food.
Or maybe it wasn’t just food to him. Maybe that was my privilege talking. I’d been moaning lately about my life. But I had a nice house, money in the bank, food in the cupboard, and I took that all for granted. Sure, I’d worked hard for what I had, but couldn’t ignore that when I was young and desperate, someone—my wife’s brother—had given me a leg up. And worst-case scenario, I’d always had my parents there, ready to help out, even with my dad’s disapproval and grumbling. They wouldn’t have let me starve. I’d always had a safety net.
“You’re not a charity case, you’re a guest. And helping me eat all this will be doing me a favor.” I made Orion a plate despite his protests, adding two meatballs to a hefty piece of lasagna. “Red wine?”
I set the plate in front of him with a knife and fork, and his eyes widened. “Um…yeah. Wine sounds good.”
By the time I’d opened a bottle and poured him a glass, he was halfway through his meal. I poured a glass for myself.
“You’re not gonna eat?” he asked before shoving half a meatball in his mouth.
“I ate already.”
After chewing and swallowing, he picked up the wine and gestured vaguely at me with the glass. “Thanks. This is good. You cook like this all the time?”
“Hell, no. I usually microwave shit. My kids were supposed to come over this weekend.”
He glanced up at me. “That’s right. I knew that.”
“I know you did, because apparently my father is a big sharer when it comes to you. So now it’s your turn to share. Do I need to worry about him?”