Chapter 02.4

I couldn’t even finish my burger. I just wanted to get home, confront my dad, and change out of my sticky clothes.

He was in the living room, scribbling something. Mom was watching TV. I was already on edge, and I didn’t care about the mess I was in—I needed to talk to them first.

“Why didn’t you tell me Jenny was paying for my ex’s sessions?” I asked accusingly, standing in the doorway. Both of them looked up.

“Watch your tone, son,” Dad said, eyeing me. Mom turned off the TV.

“Why didn’t you tell me Jenny was paying for my ex’s sessions?” I repeated, calmer this time.

“Because it wasn’t your business. And Shannon was my patient—she specifically asked me not to tell anyone.”

“So my girlfriend was taking crap from people while secretly paying for my ex’s therapy with my dad?” I said with a hint of sarcasm. Dad ignored it.

“Sit down, son,” he said, pointing to the armchair.

“After Shannon got out of the hospital, she clearly needed help. But her parents decided it was her mess to deal with. Jenny—” he smiled faintly, “—came to me and asked if I’d help. “She told me everything—even that she wouldn’t ask for it for free, but she’d be the only one who could pay.”

“And you accepted, I assume,” I said sarcastically. “That explains the extra money I got for vacation.”

“Watch your words,” Dad warned. “If you know your ex, you know how determined she can be.”

“That’s true,” I admitted with a small smile.

“Yes, she paid. But I returned every check to Amber, who quietly transferred the money back with the boutique’s earnings.”

“So that’s why her first earnings were so high,” I recalled Jenny’s surprised face.

“Exactly,” Dad said. “Jane never found out. And I’d like to keep it that way.”

He gave me a meaningful look. I nodded.

“So you treated Shannon for free,” I said.

“For a while, yes. After her parents divorced, her mother settled everything retroactively.”

“Sorry for the tone,” I said quickly.

“You saw her, didn’t you?” Mom asked. Her instincts were always spot-on.

“Yeah,” I said with a smirk. “She tried to crawl back, but I said no.”

“I can see that,” Dad chuckled, eyeing my dripping beard.

He sighed and glanced at Mom. Amber came down the stairs.

“Little bro,” she said, her voice slightly scolding. “What did you do this time?”

She looked me over and burst out laughing.

“Nothing,” I shrugged. “Just had a burger.”

“Jane wouldn’t throw a drink at you if you hadn’t done something,” Amber said, laughing by the end.

“Don’t tell me she called you to complain,” I asked sarcastically.

“She’d never do that,” Amber replied. “But one of my seamstresses saw it—some skinny guy with a beard started yelling at Jane, and she splashed her drink on him.”

“Son,” Dad said, patting my shoulder, “please just stay away from that girl.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not getting involved with gold diggers,” I muttered. Amber gave me a sharp flick on the head.

“Don’t be such a jerk,” she scolded.

I could barely sleep that night. Shannon’s words kept replaying in my mind, echoing those vivid images she’d painted. I remembered Jenny’s kisses, the weight of her touch, and all night long I tried to shoo the images out—the memory of Jenny with me versus the nightmare of Jenny with her new guy.

---

The next day, my grandparents and the rest of the family arrived. Brad came too. I knew they wouldn’t leave me alone.

“Son,” Grandpa said, hugging me. “I’m glad to see you.”

He pulled me aside.

“I’m sorry if I ever said anything that might’ve led to that girl not being here now. I liked her—she was right for you.”

“It’s okay, Grandpa. It’s better this way,” I said with a smile.

“Well, well,” Kevin chimed in. “You’re a mess, man. And you look like it too.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it,” I shrugged. He hugged me anyway. I expected that.

“You heard anything about her?” he asked.

“She’s got some rich old guy now,” I said for the first time out loud. My stomach twisted as I said it.

“Sorry, man. Really.”

“How about you?” I asked, changing the subject.

“I broke up with Eve,” Kevin told Will and me. “Took Grandpa’s advice.”

“Me too,” I laughed. “Though clearly with different results.”

“Different girl,” Kevin said. “Though if what you said is true, maybe not that different.”

He patted my shoulder. I just nodded.

Grandma didn’t let me off the hook either, even though she still barely reached my chest.

“Johnny, you’re so thin. Are you eating properly?” she asked.

“Yes, Grandma. I’m fine,” I smiled.

“Are you happy over there?” she asked. “You don’t seem like it.”

“I wish everyone would just get off my back,” I snapped. “Going there was the best decision I ever made.”

Then I went upstairs. Thankfully, no one followed me, and I managed to get some sleep.

That evening, no one bothered me, but I didn’t join the board games either. I went for a walk instead. Shannon’s words kept echoing louder in my head.