Chapter 55
Peter wished it was just a dream. A nightmare. He looked over his shoulder a few more times, trying to convince himself that it was just a stupid and unrealistic outgrowth of his overly lush imagination, but unfortunately, it wasn't. Pepper was sitting at one of the tables on the other side of the cafe, constantly laughing at something the man who had been with her said - with the man who was certainly not his father.
He wanted to get up from his chair and walked up to them to ask what the hell that meant. But he couldn't do it. Pepper wouldn't do that… Would she really forget about them so quickly? Was this the new beginning she was talking about? He couldn't believe it, and his heart sank with pain, sadness, and betrayal.
"Are you all right, honey?" Mary asked him after a moment, noticing that he was stunned and digging into his food. Peter winced at the call and inadvertently turned his head to the side where Pepper was sitting. Only she had the right to call him that. Or… or not anymore…
"Of course," Peter muttered, glancing at his watch. He was sick. He needed to go home and sort it out in his head. Although… no. He will never understand this. He looked at Mary again, who was watching him closely. Doubts began to take hold of him, which he tried to suppress. What if Pepper… God, he couldn't even say it in his head! What if Pepper made it all up? He didn't believe she had anything like that in her nature. But he also didn't believe she could cheat on Tony. And look, she was here with a complete stranger. Which wasn't even handsome!
"I'm sorry, I'll have to go. I remembered that I still had a lot of homework and I wouldn't like to do it all night," he quickly blurted out the first lie that occurred to him and grabbed his backpack, in which he began looking for money. Mary stopped him with a raised hand.
"I'm paying, Peter, don't worry about it," she told him, smiling. "Shouldn't I go with you? You look kind of upset. Are you really okay? Wouldn't you rather call Dad to come for you?”
"No!" Peter snapped quickly. As if he needed Tony to see it for himself. Although maybe he would at least believe it. Peter would have to tell him so Tony wouldn't have any unnecessary hope that Pepper would return to them. He, too, will have to come to terms with it. And it will really hurt. What if Dad doesn't really believe him and Pepper will continue to lie to him and giving him false hope? When he finds out, it will destroy him.
Pepper, what did you do?
•••
He returned home quite upset. In a jacket and with a backpack still on his back, he went straight to the kitchen and poured cold water into a glass, which he drank with a few bows.
"Which one?" Peter jumped when he heard his father's voice behind him. He turned and was surprised to find that he was wearing one of his most expensive suits and showing him two ties with raised eyebrows. Peter swallowed. Tony shone like the sun, and he had last seen him so cheerful when his mom still lived with them.
"It depends on where you're going," he replied cautiously. He didn't think he was going to a meeting. He certainly wouldn't look like that. He seemed to be going on a date.
"Well, I guess I shouldn't tell you," Tony began mysteriously, and his smile widened, "but your mom has taken over the management of the company and is back. We're going to dinner tonight. So which one?”
Peter's stomach tightened and tears almost appeared in his eyes. Who was even that man? How could he afford to destroy their family? How Pepper could afford it… she met him and now she was going to dinner with Dad… Peter absolutely didn't understand.
"Hey, kid, are you listening to me? Are you okay?” Tony asked, a wary wrinkle appearing between his eyebrows. Peter looked down at his shoes and bit his lip. "Peter? Is something wrong?"
"Yes, it is, dad," he whispered barely audibly. He didn't dare look him in the eye.
"Out with it. It's just between me and you."
"You won't like it," Peter sighed, shaking his head. "I-I saw mom today. With a stranger. They went out to eat together and then… then they kissed. Dad, I don't understand."
Tony paused, frowned, then laughed. "Peter, what are you saying? Didn't you mistake your mom with someone else?”
"No, it was really her, Dad," he assured him. "Although I really wish I was wrong. She was happy. So happy. She didn't notice me at all."
"Are you telling me Pepper is cheating on me? If I didn't know her, it would start to bother me a little. But on the other hand - you never lie to me. So what about that now?” Tony said, folding his arms across his chest. Suddenly his phone started ringing. They exchanged a questioning look. "It's Pepper," he informed him when he saw her name and photo on the display. Peter and Tony's stomach tightened. "Yes, Pepper? What's going on?" Peter watched his father intently, and when he frowned for a moment, disappointment in his eyes, his heart dropped to his pants. "Yes, okay. No, that's fine. I understand. It was stupid, I shouldn't have pushed on you so hard. Well, we can go another time when you have less work. Meantime, bye," he said in a completely dull voice, and Peter felt really sick when their goodbye was not followed by his father's typical I love you.
"So?" he asked breathlessly. Tony laid the phone on the kitchen counter, tossed off his ties, and angrily removed his jacket.
"She is not going anywhere. She has a lot of work to do. I'll be in the workshop," he snapped in an uncomfortable voice, unbuttoning his shirt buttons along the way.
Peter looked as he left, tears welling in his eyes. As a little boy, he thought that all their troubles would be solved with one kiss. Now it seemed that the one kiss had ruined everything.
He sniffed softly. It would be better if he left Tony alone now. And he himself will slowly be coming to terms with it. He reached for jacket and ties, which lay sadly on the floor, and walked slowly to take them back to the wardrobe.