Despite the warning, Trey laughed.
Luke spun around. “You think I’m joking?”
“Not at all, but I just discovered where Sue learned her talent in threats.”
Eyeing him with contempt, the man nodded toward the house. “Come on. I need to figure out what she sees in you before Wes gets home.” With that, he took off.
“Only for you, Suz,” Trey mumbled. “Only for you.” He headed to the kitchen, realizing for the first time that digging limestone was easy.
Chapter 45
“Add another ten,” Trey told Wes, adjusting his side of the bar. Laying back on the bench, he adjusted his grip. Trey pushed up the two hundred sixty pounds while blowing out a long breath. Damn! Obviously, he hadn’t been working out. Now that he was staying, he had to get back to the gym on a regular basis.
He planned on setting up a lot of routines, most revolving around Sue and Wes. He’d decided to hold off on joining a medical practice until Wes headed off to Penn. He’d already lost too much time with his son. He finished his set and took a swig from his water bottle. “You getting psyched for Penn?”
“Sure.” Wes had that look on his face. A look that didn’t contain one ounce of excitement. A look that appeared every time Penn came up. This was not the attitude of a senior heading off to college, especially one who’d received a full ride to a primo school.
They switched places. Wes lifted the weight with an ease that hurt the hell out of Trey’s ego. Old man. When he finished his set, they moved over to the dumbbells.
“You haven’t said much about college,” he said, watching Wes’s face in the mirror.
Wes shrugged and continued his workout.
“I figured you’d be more excited. That’s one hell of an honor.” He walked back to the rack and grabbed two forties. Glancing up, he caught his son studying the floor, looking miserable. “What’s the deal, Wes?”
“What are you talking about?” Wes asked, suddenly focused on his form.
“I’m talking about the fact that every time I bring up Penn, you look as if we’re sending you off to a work camp.”
Wes put back his weights. “I’m going to grab a shower. I’ll meet you out front.”
He took off before Trey could stop him. He’d give his son some time, but they were going to talk.
* * *
They didn’t speak again until they were on the road. Wes stared out the passenger window, deep in thought. Trey needed to get the kid comfortable if he was going to get anything out of him. “I thought we could grab lunch at this place I found on Lake Austin. It’s next to Turkey Creek.”
“Ski Shores.” Wes didn’t bother to face him.
“That’s it. Sound good?”
“Fine.”
Trey didn’t say another word until they were far enough away from Sue’s house to make turning back impractical. “What’s going on with Penn?”
Wes snorted. Trey checked and found him shaking his head, but at least he was facing forward.
“I wasn’t there for you in the past, but I’m here now. I want to help if I can.”
After several excruciating minutes of silence, Wes finally responded. “When we first met, you said something about your family planning your career.”
Trey nodded, knowing in his gut where this was headed.
“Is that what you wanted?”
He could sense Wes facing him, but he kept his eyes on the road. “No. But every Harrison in the last four generations had gone to Dartmouth, then Harvard Med.”
“Didn’t you want to make your own decision?” He could feel the desperation hidden in the kid’s words.
“Of course, but God forbid anyone break The Harrison Tradition.” He looked over at Wes. “Why? You interested in continuing the legacy?”
The poor guy rolled his eyes and forced a weak smile. “But now you’re a doctor, and you like it. So, I guess it was the right thing to do?”
He shrugged and thought it over. “In the end, it worked out. I think I would’ve eventually gone into medicine no matter where I went. But being forced down a set path didn’t play out well, at least in the beginning.”
“What happened?”
“I was resentful of not having a say in my future. And that’s before your mother even knew she was pregnant. I spent those first months blowing off classes, horsing around. Nearly flunked out after six weeks. If you hadn’t come along, I probably would have. After finding out your mom was pregnant, I went to the other extreme. It was easier to bury myself in academics than think about everything your mom was going through.”
He checked his rearview mirror and switched lanes, stealing a look at Wes. The kid was wrecked. Time to pull off the bandage. “You don’t want to go to Penn.”
“I didn’t say that!”
“You didn’t have to. It’s obvious.”
He turned to find Wes staring at him, as if waiting for his judgment. “You think I’m crazy. Not wanting this ‘opportunity of a lifetime.’ It’s pretty stupid, huh?”
“Depends on your reasons. If you’re scared of the program, that you won’t be able to keep up, then, yeah, that’s stupid.”
“It’s not that. I know I can do it.”
“I have no doubt,” he said, proud of his son. “So, what is the reason?”
Wes stared out the window as they sped by limestone bluffs toward the lake. Finally, he cracked. “You said Mom wanted all of this for me because she never had the chance.”
“Your mom—”
“How can I refuse this when I’m the reason she never got a chance? It’d be like ripping her off twice.”
The hopelessness in his son’s voice gutted him. He slowed and pulled onto the shoulder of the road. Was this fatherhood? Hurting for your kid and wanting desperately to help him? He had no plan, but he couldn’t leave his boy drowning.
“First of all, you did not rip off your mother. She loves you more than life itself. You are a blessing to her . . . and me, too.”
Wes threw up his hands. “Let’s not . . .”
Shit. Okay, no touchy feely. Redirect. “Wes, if it was up to you, where would you go in the fall?”
“Right. Like Mom would ever let me choose . . . in dream land.”
“So pretend you’re in dream land. You call the shots. What would you do?”
There was a long silence, but Wes finally answered. “I’d take a year off. Travel Europe. Jurek, the guy I lived with in Germany, is doing that. He invited me to come with him. They call it a gap year.”
Sue would shit. Trey kept his face neutral. “Sounds like fun.”
Immediately, Wes’s whole body tensed up. “It wouldn’t be about partying.”
Right. He raised his brows, and Wes shrugged. “Not all of it.”
“Tell me more.”
“When I was over there, we traveled every month. Not too far, but enough to get a glimpse of the surrounding cities. I want to check out different countries and have some time to get a feel for its people and customs. So, it’s not just partying.”
Trey found himself smiling. So his son was adventurous like his old man. But how serious was he? “So why not do this after college?”
Wes shook his head. “Never mind.”
“What? Tell me.”
“Once I go to school, the path will be set. It’ll be about fighting for grades, class rank . . . all that other shit that’s going to land me in the ideal graduate school, then internship, then job. And yes, I know that’s part of life, but right now, I’m not even sure I want to pursue business. Somewhere in eighth grade, Mom and some counselor decided it would be my path. Don’t you think I should be the one making that decision?” Wes’s voice was full of anger. He turned to Trey, looking for him to argue, but he didn’t say a word.
“If I could take a break, I think I’d figure it out. Hell, maybe it will be business. But right now, Mom’s the only one with that dream.”
“Have you told her any of this?”
Wes let ou
t a sick laugh. “Right. If I even hinted at this, she’d laugh in my face, then lock me up until my first day of classes. Mom’s set on Penn. She’s not going to consider anything else.”
“Your mom wants the best for you. It’s not about controlling your destiny. You need to tell her how you feel.”
“No way. She’s pretty cool about most things, but she’s a little crazy when it comes to me and school.”
Trey rubbed his jaw, knowing that situation all too well. “You know the reason behind that. So keep that in mind when you talk to her. Make her understand where you’re coming from—that you don’t intend to drop out of school permanently.” He hesitated. “You don’t, do you?”
“No!”
“Good, because if you do, I’ll kick your ass, and God knows what your mother would do.” Wes laughed, looking a little more relaxed. Trey’s chest eased, too. Maybe he’d helped.
“I’d probably lose the scholarship, but I could work during school and over breaks and get loans.”
He admired his son’s work ethic, but he’d help him out. “You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
“So would you talk to Mom? Maybe she’d listen if it was coming from you.”
“Oooh no. I’ll go with you, but if you plan to travel across the globe, you’d better have the balls to face your mother.”
Wes shook his head. “Maybe I will go to Penn.”
* * *
Trey tossed the remote on the other side of the couch. He’d been surfing channels for the last twenty minutes, but nothing caught his attention. He checked his watch. Three forty. He headed to bed, knowing he wouldn’t sleep.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Wes and all the shit that was hanging on the kid. He remembered his own senior year and the suffocating feeling of having no choices. Back then, he hadn’t even allowed himself to consider “what-ifs.” But Wes didn’t have four generations of expectations pressing down on him. Just his devotion to Sue.
Wes had the selflessness and maturity of a young man beyond his years. Trey was proud of him, but his heart broke when he thought of his son suffering through years of a program to make up for what he thought he’d cost his mother.
He couldn’t undo all the years he’d failed Wes, but today hadn’t been about the past. He’d gotten Wes to open up, which seemed to give the kid some relief. Damn, what a great feeling. Was this parenting? Always wanting to make life better for your child? Wes needed him, and he could give his son the choices he and Sue never had.
Lying down, he felt a weight fall from his shoulders. A weight he’d been carrying for almost eighteen years.
Chapter 46
“Mmm. Something smells good.” Sue dropped her purse and keys on the entry table and headed into the kitchen. Butterflies danced in her stomach when she found Trey. This was ridiculous, but she didn’t care. She loved this man.
“Hey, babe.” He walked over to her, drying his hands on a towel.
“Hey.” She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face until he did so with his lips. It started as a sweet peck, but immediately turned into a warm, soft connection that sent a sizzle through her body. It was always this way.
Soon, his hands were at her waist, pulling her into his body. She wrapped her arms around his neck, never getting close enough.
“Mom.” They jumped apart as Wes barreled down the stairs. He looked as embarrassed as she felt. It was no secret they were a couple, but it was still awkward to share affection in front of her son, especially when the affection almost always turned into passion.
“Hey, honey. How was your day?”
“Fine.” He allowed her an obligatory hug, then walked into the kitchen.
“Did you call Mr. Zembowski?”
“No.”
“Wes! The man’s left three different messages. You need to call him. Penn’s not going to wait around forever.”
“Jeez, Mom. Can you give it a break for one day?” He moved over to the counter and started slicing a loaf of French bread.
She was about to ask what his problem was, but Trey brought her a glass of wine. “Relax.” He stole another kiss and led her to the kitchen bar. She settled in and watched the guys at work.
Wes brushed olive oil on the bread, then stuck it in the oven. Trey minced garlic. The aroma made her stomach growl. “So, what’s on the menu tonight?”
Trey nodded toward the oven. “Lasagna, but we’re starting with bruschetta.”
“I hope you keep this up, son. Women love it when a man cooks for them.” She gave Trey a wink that hopefully conveyed how much she would thank him at the first opportunity. Watching them work together, she was overcome with a contentment she’d never experienced before. When Lily jumped on her lap, demanding her welcome scratch, the picture was complete. Who would’ve thought they could’ve reached such a place? The dream she’d buried in her heart seventeen years ago was right here in front of her. Hell, even the cat had made peace with Trey. She sighed, and Trey looked up with eyes full of love.
“Everything okay?”
“Perfect. Everything’s perfect.”
He looked at Wes, who was busy chopping tomatoes, then turned back to her. “It is, isn’t it?” He leaned over the bar and took her lips. Pulling back just a hair, he whispered, “Do you know how much I love you?”
Sue could only manage a nod, then quickly wiped away her tears that had broken free.
“You’re growing on me, too, beast.” He rubbed behind Lily’s ear. The cat moved in closer for a deeper massage, then, having had enough of the love fest, jumped down and fled up the stairs.
“Bread’s ready,” Wes said, pulling it out of the oven.
The guys put together the bruschetta and set it before Sue. She took one bite and moaned. “This is fantastic.”
Trey replenished her wine and his own, then sat next to her. Wes stayed in the kitchen, working on a salad.
Holding her hand, Trey gently massaged her palm with this thumb. “So, how was your day?”
“Same old stuff.” She took a hearty sip. “Hensen’s taking greed to a whole new level, and the Governor wants the deal closed yesterday.”
He rubbed her neck while she enjoyed more bruschetta. This was freakin’ bliss. But it wasn’t just the delicious food or his physical touch. The man’s presence eased her mind, her body. Having a partner to share the load with was a luxury she’d never known to miss.
“You’ll deliver,” he said, kissing her temple.
“I know. It just gets old being the bitch who has to kick ass all the time. But that’s why they pay me the big bucks, right?” She laughed and took another drink. “Wes, they call it work for a reason. At least as a Penn grad, you’ll make a lot more doing it.”
Wes turned with a tortured look on his face. He glanced at Trey, who nodded. She set down her bruschetta, suddenly losing her interest in food.
“Mom.” Wes headed over to the bar and stood tense. Again, he looked to Trey.
Dread crawled up her back. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Trey said, squeezing her hand, but speaking to Wes.
“Well, something’s going on. Wes, you look like you’re going to vomit. Talk to me.”
Trey caressed her shoulder. “Give him a chance.”
She turned to him, wondering what in the world Trey had to do with all this. What the hell was going on? Why the kid gloves? Were they planning some kind of intervention? She grabbed her wine glass, but then pushed it aside. She started to demand an explanation, but bit her tongue when Wes stared at her, his eyes pleading.
He wiped his palms on his jeans. “I’m not going to Penn.”
“What?” It took a minute to register his words. “What do you mean? Of course you are. You’re already in. You just have to call Zembowski to finalize.”
Wes looked down. “I mean . . . I’ve decided . . . I don’t want to go to Penn. I’m not going, at least not yet.” He finally lifted his head, his eyes searching for her reaction. For a moment,
she felt nothing but shock. She couldn’t even form a sentence.
“What . . . when did . . . is this a joke?” She turned to Trey. He didn’t appear confused, in fact, he was smiling at Wes, as if encouraging her son. She looked at Wes. He was still nervous, but she didn’t care. “This is ludicrous. Of course, you’re going. If you start at Penn, you know you’ll get into The Wharton Program. If you’re going to put in all that work, you might as well get the biggest—”
“Mom—”
She shook her head, stopping him. “This is crazy.” She took a drink of wine, hoping to rid her mouth of the bitter taste that had suddenly developed. She turned to Trey. “Can you believe this? Would you tell him how ridiculous he’s being?”
“No!” Wes’s angry tone caught her off guard. “I’m not being ridiculous. I’m making my own choices. I don’t want to go to Penn.”
“What is this all about? We’ve planned this since you were a freshman. You’ve always—”
“No. There was no we, Mom. It was you. You wanted this. I never did. You’ve been the one calling the shots all along, but I’m not going to do it.”
“Like hell, you’re not!” She jumped up, knocking over her stool.
Trey righted the seat, then put a hand on her shoulder. “Take a breath. We’re just talking here.” Why wasn’t he backing her up? She turned and saw something in his eyes that fisted her stomach. He started to massage the knots in her shoulders, but she pushed his hand away.
“So, where do you intend to go to school? Why would you waste your time on a degree that isn’t as valuable?” She searched Wes’s face, but she couldn’t see anything but a mixture of fear and anger. “God, Wes, is this because you’re scared of the curriculum? You are so bright, baby. You’ll be fine.”
“Stop.” Wes’s hands actually fisted. “It has nothing to do with that.”
She bit her tongue, waiting for him to explain. Waiting for his reasons so she could point out how wrong they were.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I’m not interested in business.”
What the fuck? “So, what is it you think you want to do?” Her sarcasm was loud and clear.
Then He Came Back (Love From Austin Book 2) Page 25