Contessa (83 page)

“
Okay, well before you get mad, let me explain.
”
He sighs loudly and rubs his forehead in frustration.
“
We weren
’
t just celebrating his birthday–
”

“
Correct me if I
’
m wrong, but he only turned
eighteen
today, not twenty-one.
”

“
Dad, will you give me a chance?
”

“
Go on.
”

“
He got his acceptance to Columbia, Dad!
”

My dad
’
s expression softens slightly as a faint smile forms across his lips.
“
That
’
s great, Tessa, but that
’
s no reason to drink. You
’
re only sixteen. He
’
s too young. What place even served you?
”

“
Dad, I didn
’
t drink,
”
I lie.
“
Jon
’
s uncle owns a bar. He wanted him to stop by for a drink–just one drink, that
’
s all–to celebrate. He said his dad would have wanted to celebrate this special occasion. He wouldn
’
t let me drink, though.
”

“
So
he
drank?
”

“
Just one little drink, Dad.
”

“
A shot?
”

“
I guess, yeah. Just one, and he was fine. Then we went to dinner, and he was perfectly fine.
”

“
I put my trust in him to take care of you while you
’
re together. Whether or not he seemed
‘
perfectly fine,
’
what he did is not acceptable in my eyes, Liv.
”

“
I was fine, Dad. He
did
take care of me. He wasn
’
t driving. He
’
d never have had anything if he was driving, Dad, I know that. And on top of that, I know how you feel about it, and I wouldn
’
t have gotten in the car with him. I promise.
”

“
This is, well, it
’
s a little disappointing,
”
he says quietly, and I feel bad for Jon, who has spent months trying to earn the respect of my father.

“
Dad, I think you
’
re over-reacting.
”

He raises his eyebrows at me, staying silent, waiting for me to continue.

“
It was supervised,
”
I tell him,
“
and it was no different than you letting us have a glass of champagne on New Year
’
s Eve.
”

“
It
’
s
very
different, Olivia,
”
he says, now audibly frustrated.
“
Then
, you were safe at home.
Then
, you had your cousin keeping an eye on your activities.
Then,
I knew exactly where you were and who you were with.
”

“
Well, what if his mom didn
’
t approve of him drinking that night?
”

“
I
’
ll have you know, Tessa, that we cleared it with her first. One drink at midnight.
”

“
Of
course
you did. I just don
’
t see why you
’
re mad about him having one drink tonight. You
’
re not his father.
”

“
I only care because you were with him. I mean, what if he had let you drink tonight?
”

“
So what if he had?
”
I counter quickly.

“
Did he?
”
he nearly interrupts, obviously trying to catch me off guard.

“
No!
”
I state once more.
“
But if he had, Dad, what are you saying? That I
’
m such an irresponsible child that I wouldn
’
t know how to behave? That I
’
d run off with strangers, or start snorting blow or something?
”

“
Okay, now
you
’
re
over-reacting. I am your father. I was put on this earth to make sure you make it to adulthood. That
’
s my job, my responsibility. It
’
s my purpose in life. And by the time you get there, it
’
s my
personal
goal to make sure you
’
re a functioning, contributing, exceptional member of society.

“
I don
’
t understand why you feel the need to constantly try to derail me. I
’
m doing this for your own good–
”

“
I. Didn
’
t. Drink. Tonight. Dad.
”

“
I
’
m sorry, Livvy, but I don
’
t believe you.
”

“
Well, I
’
m sorry you don
’
t.
”

“
You
’
re going to sit there and tell me that if I called him right now, he
’
d tell me you had nothing to drink tonight.
”

“
He would.
”

“
And would he also tell me that he, himself, had nothing to drink?
”

“
Probably–
”

“
So then how could I trust him?
”

“
Dad, he just wants to impress you. I mean, this wasn
’
t a big deal. It wasn
’
t even his idea. That
’
s the only reason why he may not tell you the truth about what he did tonight. He shouldn
’
t get in trouble for this.
”

“
No one
’
s getting in trouble, Livvy. But before you can go out with him again, I want to make sure he understands my rules where you
’
re involved.
”

“
Dad, he gets it. He doesn
’
t need you to tell him again.
”

“
Well, he can sit through a reminder.
”
I roll my eyes at him.
“
Why were you so animated at Kelly
’
s shop?
”

“
Animated? I don
’
t think I was animated.
”
Again, he waits for me to continue.
“
I don
’
t know, Dad, I guess I
’
m just happy for Jon. It
’
s a big day for him. Can
’
t I be happy for him?
”

Dad stands up as he nods his head.
“
Of course you can, Contessa. You should be.
”

“
Thank you,
”
I say stubbornly.

“
Has he gotten word of any scholarships or financial aid?
”

“
Nothing yet.
”
I remember what I
’
d suggested to Jon in the car and consider telling my father.

“
I
’
m sure it
’
s coming,
”
he says.

“
You
’
re sure, like, you know?
”

“
Of course I don
’
t know. I don
’
t see any reason why he wouldn
’
t get assistance, though.
”

“
You want him to go to Columbia, don
’
t you, Dad?
”

“
Sure I do.
”
He smiles as he walks to the door.
“
Invite him over on Saturday,
”
he adds,
“
so we can chat.
”

“
Alright, Dad,
”
I agree. Surely he
’
ll help Jon out with his tuition. I
’
m so excited about it that it
’
s all that
’
s on my mind when I talk to Jon.

“
Are you in trouble?
”
he asks without saying hello.

“
No,
”
I tell him. Even though my dad doesn
’
t believe me, he has no proof, and therefore doesn
’
t seem to be taking it out on me. He
’
s always been fair like that.
“
They
’
re cool.
”

“
Wow. That
’
s surprising. I can
’
t believe you pulled that off.
”

“
I
’
m not drunk,
”
I tell him.
“
But he does want to talk to you on Saturday before our date.
”

“
Oh, great. What about?
”

“
I think he
’
s going to reiterate the rules. Maybe something else, but I don
’
t want to ruin the surprise. Can you come over a little early so we aren
’
t late to the movie?
”

“
Sure. I had a few things to talk to him about, too.
”

“
What?
”

“
Well, my senior prom is next month, and I want you to go with me.
”

“
I
’
m pretty sure I can make that decision, Jon,
”
I tell him, my smile obvious in my tone.
“
Yes!
”

“
I didn
’
t think I
’
d get any objection from you,
”
he adds with a chuckle.

“
Well, they
’
ll be fine with that.
”

“
That
’
s not all I want, though.
”

“
Oh. What else?
”

“
I was thinking about getting a room at the hotel.
”

I laugh sarcastically.
“
They definitely aren
’
t going to be fine with that.
”

“
That
’
s not what I
’
m going to ask. There are a bunch of after-parties–one that the school is even hosting. I thought I
’
d just set the stage and test the waters.
”

“
Oh.
”

“
How do you feel about that?
”
he asks.

“
I
’
m not sure
.
”

“
I
’
ll say it again, we don
’
t have to do anything, Liv. I won
’
t pressure you. But I
’
d love to spend as much time with you as possible, and normally, curfews are extended or dropped on prom night.
”