Page 16 of My Favorite Secret
God, I’msofucking perverted and sick.
“Thomas can’t stand Felix. Neither can Harper,” I say, trying to make sense of my father’s announcement.
“I don’t have time to explain. I have a business meeting I’m running late for.”
It’s past business hours. A business meeting is code for sex, I suppose.
I used to think Dad threw himself into work and sleptaround as a way to cope with Mom’s death, but she’s been gone fourteen years. Now, I don’t know what’s going on with him.
“Tyler, I need you to pack a bag of Felix’s clothes and bring it to the Winslow penthouse.”
“Tonight? I’m busy with schoolwork.”
“Yes, tonight. If I meant another night, I would have clarified.”
Shit. He’s serious. Felix is actually moving out of here, which makes no sense because when has he ever listened to Dad’s instructions? Something is up. I’ll get the specifics from my brother.
“Sure. I’ll pack a bag.” I slouch back against the headboard, feeling a hole open up in my chest, filled with melancholy.
With Felix being one year older than me, I’ve always known he would move out of home first. Now that he’s repeating senior year, I thought we’d end up moving out together once school is over. I’m not ready for him to be gone.
My father pulls the door shut, leaving without a goodbye.
“Dad, wait.” I stand from my bed, ready to follow him, but he steps back inside.
“Yes, son?”
I clear my throat, a little nervous, and stroke a hand through my hair. Considering how much Felix aggravates our father, I know this isn’t the best time to bring up this topic, but I don’t know when I’ll get another chance. “Ah… there’s something I want to ask you. Mom’s engagement ring… you still keep it in the safe?”
“Yes, why?”
“I’d like to ask for your approval to… give it to Harper one day soon.”
“Shit, Tyler.” His voice drops and he’s instantly scolding me. “Please tell me you have not gotten that girl pregnant. You’re supposed to be my responsible son. You’re the one I never have to worry about.”
“Jesus, Dad, of course not. I want to marry Harper because I love her.”
He sighs, calming down. “That’s a relief. I wasn’t aware you two were dating.”
“We’re not. She’s traditional. But I love her and want to propose to her with Mom’s ring when the time is right.”
He turns to leave, about to shut the door again and end our conversation. “You’re in high school. You’re not getting married.”
“I’m an adult. I can do what I want.”
My father glances over his shoulder at me. “I’ll make you a deal. Once you get into Columbia, I’ll give you your mother’s ring.”
I’ve already submitted my application to study business. If I’m lucky, I’ll be accepted for Early Decision in December. That’s just over three months away. I can work with that.
Dad insists that if I get a good education then one day I’ll work alongside him, the two of us developing luxury hotels, and he’ll be proud to make me his successor. It’s not what I have my heart set on.
What I really want is to get into business with Felix. There was one night this past summer where Felix took me to an illegal speakeasy. It was the best night of my life. The place was like venturing back to the 1920s, with women in flapper dresses and men in pinstriped suits. Therewere jazz bands and bustling dance floors. The finest liquor and cigars. Gambling.
Sex.
I fucked around a lot this summer. At first, I felt guilty. But Harper is the one who has always insisted we can only be friends. Hopefully that’s about to change. In hindsight, my reckless summer was the best thing that could have happened, because now I know with everything inside me that Harper is the one I want to be with forever.
That night at the speakeasy, Felix and I made a deal with a few too many whiskeys in our system. We’d go into business one day and open our own speakeasy, bringing the seduction of the Prohibition era and all its sin to the present. I’d run the business side of things, he’d bring the vision. The best part is that I’d be working alongside my closest friend.
