"Your dad has always been an ass," Tanner said. He knew he was one of the few people who could say something like that to me and get away with it. In fact, the only people who could were the ones in this room, and Neil. "If this Stephanie really is different and you actually care for her, you need to stand up for her."
"Especially if she’s as good a woman as you said she was the last time you told us about her, you can't let it go. Not even coming from him. She doesn't deserve that kind of disrespect," Shawn said.
Bart nodded his agreement before adding, "Frankly, you don't deserve it either. If you like her and she makes you happy, you should hang onto her with both hands. Fuck what your dad says. We all know that shit doesn't come around every day."
"You're right," I said. And I knew all the way down to my little toe that they were. They'd always been my biggest support system, and I was grateful for them, even if I was also done talking about this. "Are we really going to keep gossiping like little girls, or are we going to watch the tournament?"
A chorus of grumbled answers rang out. "Tournament."
We settled in to watch the up-and-comers in Bart's game—urg, sport—who might be competing against him next year and talked smack about the athletes we didn't like while supporting the ones we did.
The guys I bet on at the beginning didn't win, but that was okay. I was just enjoying spending the day with my friends instead of listening to my father's abusive ramblings on the golf course.
I considered the advice they gave me earlier as the afternoon wore on and went to grill some steaks out on the balcony before the game started. They really were right about it all.
Stephanie was a good woman who did make me happy. She made me laugh, made me feel cared for and want to care for her in return. She knew when to push and when to joke. What I found with her, I hadn't found in ages, if ever.
It made me feel like a total pussy to admit it even to myself, but I also wasn't stupid and knew it was true: she allowed me to be myself. A better version of myself, even.
I'd become so used to dating girls who were after my money, my family's hint of fame or both. It felt weird trying to wrap my head around the fact that neither of those things seem to be part of the appeal for Stephanie.
When she was with me, it felt like she was there for me. Plain and simple.
My father could think whatever the hell he wanted to about her, or about us, but if he continued to mistreat her, I was going to have to say something. And there was no doubt in my mind that he wouldn't like what I had to say.