Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him, it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at lea...
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Alyssa and I walk through the towering black doors to the restaurant, a Please Wait To Be Seated sign filling the space right inside. Alyssa pauses, but I don't need to wait for someone dressed in all black to lead us to the table I know is already waiting.
Instead, with a hand on her shirt, I led her through the arched doorway to our left. My dad sits at the exact same table in a private back room every single time he comes here. Which is a lot. No one even glances in our direction as we cross through part of the main dining room and then take the little hallway off the right side of the room. Nearly every round table and booth is full. People leaning over the white table cloths deep in conversation, swishing wine in their glasses or sipping their aged whiskey slowly.
Alyssa stumbles slightly under my grip, but I don't dare let her go. I know far too many questions are waiting on the other end if I let her have any control in this situation and I need this evening to be over as soon as it can be.
The back room's ambience is so similar to the main part of the restaurant with its dim lighting and soft instrumental music in the background. The only difference is the limited amount of seating, all of which will remain untouched as long as my dad is here. He likes to dine in peace, so every single staff member will have been told that the room is off limits for the foreseeable future.
Just as I predicted, my dad's in his usual seat when we step into the room. It's at the table in the center of the room with everything removed except for the table cloth and water glasses. He doesn't like all the extra stuff in the way. No candles, no place settings. He doesn't even want a menu left behind. He's going to order what he wants for the table, and it's to be served family style just the way he likes it. I've never asked if the owners or chef even offer such a thing, but I think my dad would make the request even if they didn't. He would find a place willing to accommodate him regardless. Afterall, he is the head football coach for what most in this city, this state, would argue is the best school in the country. What's the point of all the hard work if he doesn't get special treatment for it?
I meet Cal's eye first, but he quickly looks towards our dad. I didn't say anything about bringing Alyssa, so Cal too, is trying to gauge our dad's reaction. If he's bothered, he doesn't show it as he stands and comes around the table to greet us.
"Ladies, welcome! You must be Alyssa," My father says, thrusting a hand in her direction. I'm genuinely surprised that he remembers her name since I don't even know if I've mentioned her. Thankfully Alyssa wasn't raised in a cave and returns the gesture without missing a beat. Her journalism background comes in handy as she greets him by name, and congratulates him on his win, giving special praise to an impressive stat that I didn't even know.
Now Callan is standing, coming around to play shadow to our dad. He mimics his movements while I let boredom flash on my face. Someone comes up behind us, and I turn to apologize to the waiter for being in his way while he just tries to meet my dad's ridiculous demands. Except it's not actually someone carrying his old fashioned with an extra orange peel after all.
