Page 94 of Ink & Ambition

The ride to Alex’s house is much shorter than I thought it would be. If I lived this close to campus, I would be home visiting my family almost every weekend. Shoot, I might even stay home and save money on an apartment. But I know why Alex chose not to stay home for college and it had less to do with being a Kappa Alpha and everything to do with his father.

From what he’s told me about Oliver so far, I’m expecting to show up, have a pie smashed in my face and get booted right out the door. And if my life were a sit-com, that would probably happen but unfortunately my life isn’t split up into hilarious twenty minute vignettes. Nope, instead I’m going to have to sit through a Thanksgiving meal where a grown man talks down to his adult and teenage sons, pressuring them to commit to a life they don’t want to live, a future they don’t want to have.

When I look over to the driver’s seat, Alex’s face is stoic, as if he’s thinking about the same exact thing as me. Reaching over, I grab his hand, setting it in my lap and squeezing tightly. If there was anyone I would subject myself to an uncomfortable meal for, it was Alex Prescott, the amazing man who has been showing me that, at least,mylife can be what I make it, even if his can’t be.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Alex

I’veneverlookedatmy house from an outsider perspective. It’s always just been where I’ve grown up. Where I’ve played basketball in the driveway. Where I went swimming on a hot summer day. Where I exercised in my home gym or shot some enemies in my gameroom with Drew. I never really thought twice about it. Until I saw it through Margot’s eyes.

Her pupils were perpetually widened the entire time I walked her from the car, into the foyer, past the grand staircase and into the dining room where my dad had set up our little Thanksgiving meal. By Dad, I mean our chef Rosa and by little, I mean extravagant. There were place settings, multiple pairs of utensils, candles and decor that matched the season. This is par for the course for my father, but I realize that Margot might not be used to the opulence.

Interlacing our fingers, I pull her hand up to quickly kiss the palm. “Thank you for coming with me.”

Margot looks up at me with wonder in her eyes. “Are you kidding? Why aren’t we eating here every night?” She asks with a grin. And then the door sounds from behind us, alerting us ofmy father’s arrival. “Ah, right,” Margot says, squeezing my hand a little more tightly.

I had given her a long-winded warning about my father on the car ride here. I wasn’t about to let her walk into the lion’s den unarmed. I know she’s strong enough to take on whatever rude thing my father says to her. Because I’m sure he will. But it’ll be something smooth and unassuming. A backhanded compliment that actually put her down.

“Alexander?” A stern voice calls from the front door. My father’s voice.

“In here,” I answer, bending down to get Margot one more quick kiss for strength.

In walks Oliver Prescott. His suit pressed firmly as if he’d just picked it up from the tailor instead of wearing it all morning at the office. Of course Oliver works on Thanksgiving. There are very rare days of the year that he doesn’t go into the office. Drew and I spent many years celebrating holidays by ourselves, waiting for him to get home from work. I don’t miss those days.

Giving Margot a once over, he turns to me. “Where is Drew?”

“Dad, this is my girlfriend, Margot,” I say, ignoring his rudeness. Margot, the ray of sunshine that she is, reaches a hand out to grasp him, the smile on her face undeniable. Except apparently to Oliver Prescott because he looks at her hand, at her face, and then turns to me.

“Would you get your brother, please? I’d like to get this dinner over with quickly so I can head back to the office.” He clapped me on the back and then headed into the kitchen.

I didn’t even get a chance to apologize profusely to Margot like I wanted to. She turned to me immediately, putting her hand over my mouth.

“It’s fine. I’m tougher than I look,” she says, dropping her hand but putting her arms out to show off her muscles. I laughat the silly expression on her face. Only my sunshine could have me laughing in this house.

“Might as well go do what the man said,” I sigh.

Margot follows me as we head upstairs toward Drew’s bedroom. It’s at the end of the hall, near my father’s primary suite. My bedroom is one floor up. ThepenthouseI used to call it. No one was allowed up there while I was living in it. But that doesn’t mean I’m not surprised that Drew hadn’t moved up there the second I left for college.

Knocking twice on his door, I swing it open to reveal my brother sitting in his gaming chair, headphones on, control in hand.

“Go. Go, go, go. FUCK.” He shouts, not noticing our presence. I put my finger over my mouth to motion Margot to be quiet and I sneak around his back. Grabbing his headphones, I shout, “Drewster!”

My baby brother jumps, the control flying out of his hand. I can’t control the laughter that erupts out of me and I can tell that Margot has joined in the revelry.

“What the fuck, Alex,” Drew yells, grabbing the headphones from my hands and the controller from the floor. “I was just about to clutch that!”

“I’m sure you were. Drew,” I pull Margot deeper into the room. “This is my girlfriend, Margot.”

Having apparently learned her lesson from my father, Margot offers Drew a small wave rather than a hand shake.

“Hey, Margot. You’re hot. Surprised you’re dating my dickhead brother.”

I smack him in the back of the head. “Manners, dipshit.” Margot is biting her lip to hold back a chuckle and the sight is equal parts adorable and arousing.

Drew rubs the back of his head. “Sorry.” He holds up his hands. “Surprised you’re dating my charming, non-violent brother,” he amends. Margot lets out that laugh after all.

“Yeah well, that makes two of us actually,” she admits.

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