“Jesus,” Adam mutters under his breath beside me and I wonder if it’s because he’s also finding this conversation awkward or it’s because he’s working on this project too.
“Come on, Carl,” my dad says with a laugh, “surely, it’s not all about business and you’d like to be reconciled with your son?”
“I can assure you Neal, it’s very much about business,” Carl replies. “I learned at an early age you don’t get anywhere in life without an ambitious attitude and while Austin may have chosen a—how would you say—‘carefree’ lifestyle, thankfully I have one son who has the same steely determination to succeed like I did.”
I guess it looks like Mr. Business did, in fact, turn up for Thanksgiving today, leaving his alter-ego, Mr. Nelson, back at the ranch.
After dinner, we all go our separate ways, with Mr. and Mrs. Nelson bidding their farewells and my mom and dad settling on the sofa to watch a movie. Jude decides to meet some old school friends which leaves me and Adam alone. Ordinarily, I’d crave for these moments when it’s just the two of us, but today, I’ve been dreading it. We’re in my room and there’s an awkward silence between us, neither of us knowing what to say first.
“So,” I eventually say because the silence between us is deafening, “I guess we should talk?”
Adam sighs loudly before replying. “Yeah, I guess we should. You want to go first?”
I nod and take a deep breath before launching into what I need to say.
“I spoke to Kyler.”
“Fuck, Thea, that’s what you start with? That guy? Are you for real?” Adam shakes his head as he looks past me and out the window.
“I wanted to ask him why he assaulted you. Funny story, he says he didn’t. In fact, he said some very interesting things about how you acted at the meeting the other day.”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure he did. What kind of bullshit did he spin you?”
“Did you know the project you’re working on means evicting his mom?” I ask, interested to hear just how much Adam knows.
“No one’s getting evicted, Thea.”
“No? So, you’re just going to build the developmentaroundher mobile home and let her continue to live there?”
“That’s not what I mean. Each resident was offered a very generous moving package. Most of them took it. Some did not. I am not familiar with who did or didn’t, but if they don’t sign by a certain date, then yes, they would need to find their own accommodation before the move deadline. It’s as simple as that.”
“Nothingabout this is simple, Adam!” I object, exasperated. “You’re basically telling them to find somewhere else to live. It’s not as easy as walking into a realtor’s, telling them you want to buy a property and handing over some money. These people are struggling to make ends meet and you and your dad are bulldozing your way in without a single care for them.”
“Fuck, what do you want me to do? Ask my dad to pull the project? You know he’s not like that. He sees an opportunity and he takes it. My hands are tied here.”
“Are they?” I question him. “Or do you just want to follow in daddy’s footsteps and be just like him?”
“That’s not fair. You know I have no choice but to work for him. It’s not as if Austin left me with any other opportunities. Someone has to inherit the business, and if it has to be me, then I’ll do whatever it takes to learn the ropes.”
“Including hooking-up with the female intern?” I challenge, determination taking control of me.
Adam has the audacity to look a little shocked, almost as if he was caught with his hand in the candy jar, but doesn’t deny my accusation straightway and instead takes a measured breath before replying.
“What? I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t you? So, you weren’t sitting by some redhead at the town meeting with your hand up her skirt? Or, you didn’t have your tongue down her throat after you left? You were seen Adam. You can’t deny it, so why don’t you just tell me the truth.”
“Seen by whom?Kyler? That piece of shit? You’re believing him over me? Are you for real right now?” Adam starts pacing, running his hands through his hair as he does so.
“He has no reason to lie to me, Adam.”
“AND I DO?” Adam roars, striding up to me quickly and forcing me to take a couple of steps back.
“I don’t know,doyou?” I fire back, the determination in my belly now turning to anger. “You can’t deny things haven’t been the same with us since I moved. You’ve been distant, hard to get hold of. We hardly see each other and it’s not as if I have a car and can drive to see you. You said you’d be happy to come visit me on the weekends and you’ve been twice. And one of those was when you helped me move.”
“And who’s fault is that? I didn’t ask you to move. I didn’t evenwantyou to, but you did anyway, my feelings be damned. So, what am I meant to do? Wait here like a good little boy, until you come running back to me? Fuck that, I was lonely! So, while you were living it up with your new friends and playing house withKylerI was stuck here. So yes, I found someone to keep me company. I found someone who showed interest in me, which is more than you’ve done for the past few months!”
Adam’s words shock me into silence and the tears build up in my eyes. I blink furiously to keep them at bay because they are not tears of sadness. They are tears of anger at how Adam’s changed, and how he’s admitted he’s found someone else. And while I thought the dagger to my heart would be an inexplicable pain I would never recover from, I actually feel it’s cut the ties holding the weights on my shoulders. I feel like I can breathe again, and the suffocation of a long-distance relationship has finally lifted. I swipe at my eyes and nod once before replying.