they should just have everything handed to them. He thinks he is better than everyone and so much smarter than everyone else. He insulted me in front of my class. That lowlife scum deserves nothing.”
My mouth fell open as I listened to him talk. I couldn’t ever remember him talking so vulgarly, especially about a person. A person that was none of the things he said.
“Why would you say that?” I asked.
“Because it’s true. That punk probably stole whatever design he claims made him rich. He refused to listen to me back then. He came into my class thinking he was God’s gift to humankind. I took him down a peg or two.”
“Dad, you are wrong. He is not like that at all. He did engineer a new series of designs for ships. He has won awards for his innovative designs. I don’t think he stole them from anyone. Why would he do that?”
“Because he is a piece of shit that does whatever he wants without regard to anyone else.”
I slowly shook my head. The man he was describing was not the same man I knew. “Are you sure you don’t have him confused with someone else?” I asked, hoping to explain the situation away as a misunderstanding.
“I would never forget that name or that face. I know exactly who he is, just as he knows who I am.”
I felt defeated. I had so wanted things to go well between them. “I thought you two would get along,” I murmured. “You share a lot in common. I just… I just can’t make sense of it all.”
“I can’t believe you brought that man here to my table.”
“This was supposed to be a nice dinner. I cannot believe you. I have never witnessed you act so disgracefully. I’m shocked and angry. Why? Why would you do that?”
He shook his head. “You better not even think about dating a man like that.”
“Why not?” I asked defiantly. “You don’t even know him.”
“If you want to date him, then you can just forget about me.”
He was full of piss and vinegar. I had never seen him behave so terribly. I was embarrassed and angry. “This is ridiculous,” I told him. “I’m ashamed of your behavior. You can eat dinner alone.”
I stood, grabbed my purse, and walked out of the restaurant, hoping I could catch Xander. I looked up and down the sidewalk, looking for any sign of him.
“Excuse me,” I said to the valet.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, waiting for me to hand him a ticket.
“I’m looking for a man, very tall, shaggy light brown hair. He was wearing a black suit with a red tie.”
“He left a few minutes ago,” the young man answered.
I sighed. “Thanks.”
“Can I get you your car?”
I handed him my ticket. “Thank you.”
I waited under the canopy, half-expecting my father to come after me. My mind reeled as I replayed their heated conversation. I would have never imagined they knew one another. What were the odds? It was fate, but fate did not like me. I wasn’t sure what I had ever done to deserve the shittiest luck on the planet, but it was getting old.
I got in my car and aimlessly drove away from the restaurant. I had to assume Xander went home. He was likely very pissed at me. I didn’t want him to be angry with me. I couldn’t control my father. I needed Xander to know I didn’t think he was any of those things my father said. Just thinking of the venom he had spewed made me ill.
I found myself driving to Xander’s house. I doubted I would be welcomed, but I wanted to try and apologize. I needed him to know I didn’t think that way about him. I wanted to ask more specifics about the drama between them but I was a little worried about what he would say. Part of me was a little angry with Xander as well. He could have been the bigger man. He could have tried to be calm or set aside past grievances. Both of them had behaved badly.
The gate to his driveway was open. I hoped that meant he was home. I parked my car and got out, suddenly feeling a little nervous. I pushed aside the nerves. I wanted the matter settled.
I rang the doorbell and waited.
Xander pulled open the door. His suit jacket was already off and his tie was hanging loose around his neck. He looked at me with irritation. “What?”
His greeting told me