Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Harvey Prescott.

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Baxter back slaps hands with his dickhead jock friends who are still living in their high school glory. I saw him slide over to Jen but his eyes were on me as he spoke. Locked on. Making sure I saw him plant his flag.

He’s frat boy to the bone and his boys got the same look. I already smashed his face in and honest to god, I’m ready for round two. For a person who never gave a single, genuine shit about Jennifer, this is nothing but a wounded ego on display.

When I invited her on this trip, it was for us to realign, to remember our frequency without the static of his presence.

He used to play football. I didn’t. But for these two weeks in Italy, I’ll stand in as quarterback and call his blitz. I’ll snap the ball and slam him into the turf if he tries it. You see, I am not a gentle player. I don’t know meek. They are languages I never learned, especially when something I value is in my hands.

He doesn’t realize what being in the army has turned me into. Maybe it’s because I’m good at containment, at holding my storm inside its walls. He has mistaken my silence all these years as intimidation. But he saw the velocity of my fist. A smarter man would have learned not to test the launch sequence twice.

Now why the hell is the old man walking over. With his wife, Winny that I can’t stand and my sweet grandmother. They can’t be coming about the upper cut black eye I put in Baxter’s face. No, if Winny knew I was the one that did that she’d have asked Francis Prescott to disown me or something.

Plus, Baxter is far too much of a coward to report that to anyone. So, if the grey head is heading my way, it’s because he wants an introduction to Jen. I didn’t reply his message days ago so he’s going to force me to answer face to face. Classic.

“Harvey? Aren’t you going to introduce us to your girlfriend?”

“A moment.” I say, then turn my back on them to meet Jennifer where she is standing. “My dad wants to meet you. You okay with that?”

She’s facing the lake so they can’t see her face. “Is Winny there?” she whispers.

“Yeah. But I’ll handle it. Just… follow my lead.”

Jennifer composes herself before we walk towards them together. Dad watches us approach with the same analytical stare he uses when he’s deciding whether to buy a company. Grandma looks delighted. Winny looks like she smells blood.

I smell blood too.

“You must be Jennifer.” Dad says.

“Yes, sir. It’s so nice to meet you-”

“I did some research. Found out your parents are divorced. Is that true?” Winny immediately asks like the screws of her brain are not present in there.

Jennifer stops talking and I see her hand tighten in mine.

“Have you ever opened your mouth and something that ain’t pure shit didn’t come out?”

“Excuse you?” Winny’s got that shock–face on.

She’s used to me just sitting quiet when she starts her ridiculous bullshit. But my blood’s on a hard boil right now. Baxter’s got the fire lit. So she’s not getting the packaged Harvey.

“Are people not allowed to get divorced? You got a problem with that?” I stare her down so she does that awful, smirking

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Chapter 10

smile before speaking again.

“Girls from broken homes usually can’t keep a man. It’s a fact.”

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“Keep huh? See, you’re looking at this all backwards. You’re worried about Jen ‘keeping‘ a man but take a look at her and the literal goddess she is. The real question isn’t if she can keep one. It’s which one of us is desperate enough to beg her to let us

stay.”

I lock eyes with Winny as I say it. I’ve got a gift for reading her to filth when I have to.

“How much did you have to pay her to be seen with a… a thug looking person like you?” Her nose wrinkles up.

That’s her comeback?

“Winny, that’s enough! How dare you say that! Jennifer is our guest and my grandson’s girlfriend!?” Grandma snaps on my behalf. The irony is too rich. If only Winny knew her precious golden son was the one in a paid contract with his own fiancée.

“I’m just saying what we were all thinking. I’m not trying to be rude-”

The old man clears his throat and the bickering from Winny stops.

He looks at Jennifer. “Jennifer is a successful fashion designer. That is an impressive achievement for someone so young. And I do not, in any way, believe that children from divorced homes are lesser or flawed.”

Jennifer’s shoulders ease, the stiffness in her fingers also softens

“So… how long have the two of you been dating? Harvey doesn’t tell us much about his life. He keeps to himself all the time.” The grey head says it in a tone he uses when he’s disappointed but pretending not to be. It lands exactly where he wants it

1. to.

“Well, we were best friends in high school and

“We’ve been a thing for a year. I pursued her after coming back from the army. I’d always been in love with her.”

Silence drops over them.

Old man looks at me. Grandma’s brows lift, impressed or maybe shocked. Winny freezes.

They’ve never heard me say the word love. Not about anything. I don’t even tell them my favorite food, let alone confess feelings.

I can’t see Jennifer’s face from where I’m standing, but I feel her surprise in the way her body stills beside me.

“In…love?” Winny whispers.

Dad clears his throat, zeroing in on Jennifer again. “And… would you say he’s a good boyfriend?”

“Francis-”

“Let her speak. I want to know if it’s really true that you, of all people, have a girlfriend. We can’t forget how we tried to set you up with my friend’s daughter and how you scared her away. And she wasn’t the first.”

Jennifer turns to me with her brows raised. Yeah. News to her that wealthy families shove their kids together like business mergers, and how I apparently traumatized more than one of them.

“Really? How did he scare them away?”

Instead of laughing it off, Jennifer actually wants details. Is she serious right now? And worse, the old man takes it as

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Chapter 19

permission to continue

“They came back crying. One said he stared so deep to fee sout the felt paralyzed

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Jennifer gasps, verly dramatic in a cute wary 1 witch her talk to Franvile su freely saturally like she’s known him theever I’ve known him for years and every concration se any Rod fall is the pertentaner And yeah Leall him by his name

“Well,” she says, recovering, “Harvey is good boyfries Charming And weary. That to say but the charming part is way

stronger

Grandma lets out a delighted win, holding her cheek these athmark net white t itch my hers waiting for this to be over. “I jaren we ‘n hreing dinner together whey everyone wettle on Your should join us as we can talk more”

“I would love to Jennifer answers politely

The moment they leave, 1 instantly turn my hack and start walking away

Okay what is wrong with you? I know Winny ja well wherever she is but you seem to be. Jen looks for the word. “Mad”

I don’t answer. Because I am mad. I am mad because I saw those idiot forever jocks sizing her up like they’re still in a locker room Because this entire place is getting loud, messy, and full of family I don’t like.

I want to ask what Baxter was telling but I don’t Asking means Batter’s game is working.

Why are you mad

I just look at her.

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