“I guess I just wasn’t Nico. I never had his business sense. I never had his brains. He wanted to turn me into something I’m not.”
“He should be really proud of you the way you are. You’re his son.” The flicker of sadness in her eyes makes my chest tight. It’s been a long time since I thought about any of this. Too much time has passed, too many bad feelings have festered, and too many scars have been caused by all of it. My dad wanted a son who could carry out his plans and give him the power and money he’d always craved but couldn’t actually grasp.
And instead of encouraging me to stick with things I’d been good at, he kept trying to push me toward a life I didn’t want. And after years of going along with what he’d wanted, I pushed back. He didn’t like that very much.
“He never accepted what I wanted. It was all about what he wanted and how I could help him get it.”
“You have a lot of really special gifts. It’s a shame he stood in the way of you pursuing them. Parents are supposed to support their kids’ dreams. It’s part of their job.”
“Not everyone has parents like that.” I shrug. “But I know when I have kids I sure as hell won’t shit all over their dreams, no matter what they are. I’ll make sure they take advantage of every opportunity they can to find their own happiness.”
A sad smile lifts Sloane’s lips. “I’ve been really lucky throughout my life. My dad, as overprotective as he is, has always been my biggest cheerleader. He always did everything he could to show me how proud I made him. I think sometimes he overdid it because he knew it was only coming from him.”
“Your mom would have felt the exact same way he did if she were still alive.”
“That’s what he’d always tell me. I think that’s why your dad’s behavior always upset me. He had you, every day, and never appreciated you. I missed out on that with my mom. Even when she was really sick, she’d try to do as much as she could to be involved with my life. She didn’t have much time, so she made the most of it.” She shakes her head, her eyes shining with tears. “You never know when you’re going to run out of time, so you always have to make the best of situations. That way, you can look back and not have regrets. You’ll know that you tried to do the very best for your loved ones when you had the chance. I think my mom would be as bothered as I am about your dad’s behavior.”
I swipe away a tear that streams down her cheek. “You’re incredible. I say that to you a lot, but trust me, it’s not nearly enough. You’re the best person I know, and you make me want to be the best I can be. I need to make sure I’m on the right path to being the guy you deserve.”
“You’re pretty amazing, too.” She drops a kiss on the tip of my nose.
“Speaking of amazing, how’s your speech? Do you want to run through it with me?”
She shakes her head. “No, I want you to hear it for the first time when I give it tonight. I want you up there, right by the stage, looking directly at me so I can focus on you and not completely panic in front of that huge audience. Okay?”
I nod. “I’d do anything for you, Sloane. I mean it. I will always be there for you, whenever you need me.”
“Thank you. I feel more relaxed already.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing else I can do to help you unwind? Do you need another shower, dirty girl?”
She snickers. “Actually, no. I’d rather save it all up for tonight. I have a lot of pent-up anxiety that I’m planning to release. I’d like your help with that.”
“I think I can figure out a way to take a little bit of time off so I can fulfill my part in your plans.”
Sloane’s smile widens, her pink lips curled upward. “I’m so nervous, but excited at the same time. This charity means so much to me. It’s like I have a piece of my mom with me all the time since it’s because of her that I even started it.”
“She’ll be there right next to me, cheering you on.” Just one more thing that makes this woman more than perfect. “So how did you get the idea for this charity anyway? Is it because you lost your mom to cancer?”
“I remember how hard it was on my mom, being sick and having a daughter to raise. She never had a support system, though, other than her nurses. They loved her and were so good to her when she’d come in for treatments, but it wasn’t the same as having a dedicated friend who was always there for you, who knew you as a person, understood your pain and your fears. My dad tried to fill that role because he thought he should as her husband, but it wasn’t enough for her. That’s why I came up with The Buddy System. And testing it out with the kids first was to see if they’d thrive with being involved with that kind of a relationship. So far, it’s been great. Except…”
Her voice trails off and she looks away. “Except what?”
“Well, not every kid responds the same way. For the most part, they do really well with their buddies. But sometimes, there are instances where the kid isn’t really open to the idea.” She turns back to me, her eyes sad. “Like that boy Eli I told you about. It’s so sad, but he’s completely despondent. No parents to care for him, just an older brother. I tried talking to him recently, and he completely shut down. Can you imagine being so young, finding out you’re sick, and not having parents to count on? How horrible must that feel?”
“I have no fucking idea.” I shake my head. “Poor kid. It sucks to have deadbeat parents. Can he beat it?”
“I’m not sure. I think he’s going to need surgery. But he’s got a serious chip on his shoulder, and I really want to help, but he’s not having it.”
“Give him some time. I’m sure he’ll come around once everything sinks in.”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t seem to want anyone around. And his brother isn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type either.”
“They’re going through a lot. Can you blame them for keeping to themselves? They have two parents they can’t count on for love, support, or anything else. They probably don’t trust many people. And they’ve got to be scared. How old are they?”
“The boy, Eli, is twelve, and the brother, Tommy, is twenty-one.”
Her voice cracks a bit, and every time she cries, it makes my heart hurt. I try to go for some humor to see if I can stop the tears before they can start. “I’d like to point out that you just broke your patient confidentiality contract, and frankly, I’m a little shocked.”