“So what did they say?”
He wasn’t sure how this was going to go. Actually he couldn’t picture it going well. Why would it? She was going to think he lied to her.
“I never made it to the Potters. I made a detour instead.”
“What do you mean? They still don’t know? Ethan, what if my father contacts them first?”
“He won’t. That’s where I went. I was in Miami.”
She put the fork down and looked as though she was trying to process what he was telling her. When she looked at him she said, “A plane doesn’t go off course like that Ethan. Not unless the pilot was told to. Did you ever have the intention of going to the Potters, or was meeting with my father always the plan?”
“Yes.” He saw the hurt in her eyes. There was no avoiding it. He wished he was able to say that his plan had worked. But that was still undetermined. “I’m sorry. I know if I told you, that you’d want to come.”
Hurt turned to anger. “Of course I would. He’s my father.”
“Exactly. And you told me everything you said to him before. Sometimes you can’t hear the people who are closest to you. I needed to see if he’d listen to me.”
“Why would he? He doesn’t know you. Oh right, that’s the point. A stranger coming off the street can actually get in to see my father, when people on his staff have to make an appointment.”
“I actually think he saw me because of you,” Ethan stated.
“That makes no sense. I never spoke to him about you.”
“No. I guess I need to back up a bit. This wasn’t my first trip to Miami. I went there looking for you. John, the new manager informed me you weren’t with the company any longer.”
“You went to find me? Why?” she asked.
“The same reason why I came to Hawaii. I wanted to apologize. I had been wrong for speaking to you like that at the cabin.”
“Yes. And I remember how we made up. But that’s not the point. What does you speaking to John have to do with my father?”
“I may have gotten a bit vocal with John. Enough that he went to your father warning him about me. Of course he didn’t know my name. But your father thought I might be…well…a crazed stalker.”
“A stalker? You really must’ve laid into John.”
“I really wanted to find you. Thankfully Connor was a bit more helpful and understanding,” which still surprised him.
“How did you convince my father you’re not crazy?”
“I’m not sure he believes that, but I told him we’re dating. Well, I started off by saying we were friends, and then it moved up to dating.”
“So you went to talk to my father about the Potters, and the only thing you did was talk about me. Sounds like I could’ve done a lot better than you,” she said sarcastically. “And by the way, I think it should’ve been me who told my father if we were dating.”
“You’re right. I overstepped.”
“Yes you did. And apparently, you wasted your time too.”
“Not necessarily.”
“You mean he agreed?” she asked, wide eyed.
“He’s looking at his options.”
“Oh. Which means he’s not changing his mind,” she stated.
“I may have offered him something in exchange.”
“My father can’t be bribed,” she said.