Page 79 of In His Skates

I’ve truly gotten to know the real Keanu now, and I want to defend him from this man at all costs.

I’ve barely touched my food, and Keanu hasn’t eaten much either. The worst part of it is that he’s trying to be nice because his father believes he’s me.

The only thing that’s making the evening less painful is alcohol. Even though I didn’t take painkillers today, I wasn’t planning to drink much, but I somehow kept ordering more. When Keanu excuses himself to use the restroom, I make a move to follow so we can have a talk in private.

“Sit down, Keanu. Your girlfriend can pee alone,” Mr. Santori barks, drawing attention to our table.

Keanu looks at me with round eyes, and I signal that he should go before his father makes a scene. I don’t need him turning the evening into tabloid fodder.

Keanu walks away, albeit not happy to leave me alone with his old man. He keeps looking over his shoulder every two steps to check on me.

“What the hell is your problem?” I ask, not biting my tongue.

His bloodshot eyes bug out. “Excuse me?”

“You were nothing but rude to Leigh. Got tired of hiding your true self?”

A vein on his forehead throbs. “You insolent prick. Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?”

“I’m a grown man who doesn’t need to tolerate your abuse any longer.” I stand up, but too fast, and the world spins for a bit. I brace my hand against the table to regain my balance.

“A grown man who can’t hold your liquor. You’re pathetic. I knew you weren’t mine the moment I laid eyes on you at the hospital.”

I feel the blood drain from my face. “What?”

He sneers. “That’s right. You’re not my son. Your mother was already pregnant when I married her.”

Fuck me. My legs give out from under me, and I have to sit down again. What’s with everyone in Keanu’s life making confessions to me?

“Who’s my father, then?”

Regret seems to shine in his eyes. He reaches for his glass and finishes the whiskey in one gulp. Then he sets the glass back on the table so hard that it’s a miracle it doesn’t break. “Ask your mother.” He stands up suddenly. “You can pay for dinner since you’re a grown-ass man.”

I can’t do anything but stare at the jerk as he ambles through the restaurant, bumping into chairs, drunk as a skunk. I’m still reeling from his revelation when Keanu returns to the table.

“Where’s my father?” he asks.

I glance at him. “He’s gone.”

His body tenses when he sees my face. “What’s wrong? What did he do?”

I run my fingers through my hair and notice my hand is shaking. “I… we need to go. He didn’t pay the bill, so we have to take care of that first.”

“Of course.” He signals the waiter, then takes my hand. “I’m here for you, babe.”

His endearment brings tears to my eyes. I don’t know if alcohol is enhancing my emotions, but I’m running the serious risk of bawling my eyes out in front of all these people.

The waiter comes right away, and I have no choice but to rein myself in. My eyes prickle, but mercifully, I don’t cry. Instead, I enter a stage of numbness that lasts until we’re inside Keanu’s car.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

I keep staring at my hands—his hands, so big and strong. “He told me something that I don’t think he meant to.”

“What did he say?”

The news is going to change Keanu’s world forever. I can’t tell him while he’s behind the wheel. “Let’s get home first. I’ll tell you then.”

He grinds his jaw, furrowing his brows. “Okay.”