Page 150 of Gold Rush

He sinks down onto one of the benches in front of the courthouse. I remain standing, slipping my hands into my pockets, watching some brown leaves blow closer to the courthouse when a yellow taxi zips by.

“I do love my son, Rory. That’s why I push him. Everything I’ve manipulated has been to benefit Flynn. To encourage him to be the person I knew he was capable of becoming. Do you think Flynn would have gone to law school if I hadn’t intervened? Look at him now. Graduated summa cum laude, selected an early start, and signed a major client his second month on the job.”

I’m careful to keep my expression blank, pretending I knew all that. “You might have pushed him, but Flynn was the one who accomplished all those things. He deserves the credit.”

“I withheld his trust fund so he’d go to law school. Did he tell you that?”

I nod.

“I did it again, after he graduated. Did he tell you that?”

I nod again.

“Did he share what the new condition was?”

“We’re honest with each other.”

A laughable statement, in general, but true in reference to what Julian is asking. I don’t agree with his decision to dangle Flynn’s trust fund over him like a prize, yet I also recognize that the last few months would have looked very different if he hadn’t. I can’t fully resent what he did, not when it resulted in me falling in love for the first time. I’ll never regret getting to experience it at least once, no matter how much heartbreak accompanies the feeling.

“I’m sorry for implying otherwise. That wasn’t my intention.”

“You should apologize to Flynn, Julian. Not me.”

His father appears confused. “For what?”

“For changing the terms again.”

“I didn’t change any terms, Rory. Flynn told me he was finished with me, that he didn’t want the money, and he hasn’t spoken to me since.”

“But—” My head is spinning.

Julian stands, buttoning his wool coat. “That was all I needed to know.”

“You—what?”

“Flynn’s potential is important to me. But so is his happiness. I was concerned he’d proposed for a certain purpose, and now I know that wasn’t the case. Thank you for taking the time to speak to me, Rory.”

Julian heads for a parked town car without waiting for a reply.

Leaving me to try and make sense of what he understood that I seem to be missing.

46

Naomi waves as soon as I walk into Bowery Line. She’s already snagged a table toward the back. I skip the name-tag line this time, heading straight for her.

“You made it!” She rises when I reach her, hugging me tight.

“I said I’d be here,” I remind her, setting my Sue Me bag down on the bench.

“You did. But you’ve also canceled twice in the past month.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Work has been crazy, and Lili’s wedding was⁠—”

“I get it, Rory. I’ve just missed you.”

I smile. “I’ve missed you too.”

“Drinks?”