Brad managed to look guilty “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring her up. I know that one’s a tough subject.”
“I’m sure you didn’t,” I said sarcastically. “But really, I know what you mean. I didn’t think I’d ever get back into a real relationship either. But Victoria . . .” I shook my head, looking for the words. “She’s just different. She’s beautiful, smart, headstrong, knows what she wants and—”
“She’s your stepsister.”
“Exactly.”
“I guess that does add a little excitement to it.”
Brad took a swig from his wineglass and shook his head. “This is some crazy shit. The one girl that you finally decide that you actually want to be with winds up being your stepsister. I can’t believe your luck.”
I shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”
“Ain’t that the fucking truth.” Brad set his wine down and his expression turned serious. “But . . . I gotta ask, and don’t get pissed . . . is she really worth it? I mean, is it worth losing your job over her?”
My immediate impulse was to snap at Brad’s suggestion, but I resisted. The truth was, I didn’t know what anything was anymore. I wasn’t used to dealing with this kind of emotion, and it was messing with my head.
I don’t know how to feel or to think, I thought. I swore I would never be in this position again, worrying about another female and fulfilling her wants, needs and desires, only to be betrayed by her in the end. Yet, here I am, trying to figure out how I can keep my job and keep her all at the same time. And for what?
It was scary, the feelings that Victoria evoked in me. She made me want to be a better man. She made me want to treat her with the respect that she deserved, made me want to be her knight in shining armor. For anyone else, it would have been a godsend. But for me, it was all new, and it both scared me and pissed me off at the same time.
I’ve got to do something about this, I thought. I can’t keep on like this—wanting her but too afraid of being with her.
“Anyway,” I said, changing the subject because I didn’t want to talk about it anymore until I actually had it sorted in my head. “I’m calling my dad’s bluff. I still have my doubts he’ll go through with it, but if he does call a vote to remove me, I want to know my options.”
Brad sat back in his chair and pushed his half-eaten steak away from him. “Well you have a couple of options, but only two make sense.”
“You can fight it in court, but . . .” Brad scratched at the stubble on his jaw, reluctant to continue. After a moment, he sighed and said, “The fact is, to be completely honest with you, Ty, I’m not looking forward to that. It’s just a lose-lose scenario all around. Not to mention with the wedding coming up and Katie’s constant demands to make everything as perfect as possible, the stress of a drawn-out court case will probably put me in an early grave. So that basically leaves you with two options.”
“And what are those?” I asked, curious.
“The first, and I’m just putting it out there, is to end your relationship with Victoria. I know it’s not what you wanted to hear, but that’s option one.”
I couldn’t help myself. “Well aren’t you just fucking useless.”
“I know, I know, I said it’s not what you wanted to hear, but it had to be said. Look, you’re not going to like option two either, but if your feelings for Victoria are real, it has to be done.”
I gave him one of those Did I just smell a fart? puzzled looks.
“You need to have a heart-to-heart with your father.”
Chapter 15
Victoria
The following day on lunch hour, I was sitting at my desk eating a donut. A big, powdered, jelly-filled donut. And I never, ever ate donuts. I was always too worried about gaining a pound. It definitely felt good now, but I’d regret it later. Damn Christine and her giving me self-esteem issues.
But today she could kiss my ass. I didn't give a damn if I gained a pound, because my relationship with Tyler was on the rocks and I was super fucking depressed.
After I left Bixby's, the image of him smiling at the waitress kept flashing in my head, filling me with rage and hurt. At least, that’s what I told myself. In all honesty, I think I was just looking for another reason to be mad. He’d really let me down with his nonchalant attitude.
I should've known he was no good. He just saw me as an interesting conquest. After he got what he wanted from me, I was no longer a priority. All that talk that he would fight our parents on my behalf? Obviously bullshit. He’s just a stubborn asshole that wants to defy authority. That, and he just wanted to make a point to his father that he can do what he wants.