For the rest of the movie we remained just like that, him leaning in a little closer and me accepting it. It felt right, sweet even. His way of doing all he could to relax me and assure me that what I was feeling was normal and that he too felt the same.
***
“Jay Grady?” For the fourth time Darcy repeated his name like I was lying or something. “Wow, I figured you’d be calling me complaining about him being all hands and shit.”
“All hands?”
“Uh, yeah, all those guys are the same.” I’d heard her complain about a guy named Isaac on more than one occasion, but then again, Darcy is always complaining about guys. “They are all about getting laid. I figured Jay would be the perfect guy for you to wrap up item ten and then you could move on to a more solid one. One that isn’t all about sex and parties.”
“So you’re pimping me out to a whore?”
She laughed, but I remained calm, which surprised even me. My best friend had pretty much just told me she allowed me to go on a date with a guy because she expected him to be the one that would help me lose my virginity quick.
“Please, pull the stick out of your ass and tell me that you didn’t think the same thing.”
“No, actually, I thought he was sweet and that I may enjoy time with him.”
When she laughed I felt my confidence fade.
“Jay Grady is not your forever guy, he’s the one who will help you prepare for that guy.” I felt the disappointment settle in my chest. “I’ve been to enough parties to know that he or any other guy there aren’t looking for anything permanent and long term. They want to party, live out their inhibitions, and not be held accountable for their actions.”
The date now that I thought was fun and couldn’t wait to repeat no longer felt the same. It had been diminished to nothing more than a joke.
The sound of the front door shutting gained my attention and only added to my already ruined night. “I should go.” My chest ached and my throat burned. “My dad just got home and I’m sure we’ll be worrying about dinner soon.”
We said our goodbyes and I begrudgingly exited my room and walked downstairs to face my father. Everything always felt so forced around him, it reminded me of just how unhappy I’d been. Just a few hours ago I felt like I was on top of the world and suddenly the only thing I felt was anger. Toward my father yes, but mostly toward Darcy. She took away my joy, she took a great date and darkened it.
As I rounded the corner, I found my father and a woman standing in the kitchen and I froze. She was tall, with long blonde hair, and wearing a fitted skirt that hugged her a little too tightly. High heels, cheetah printed, and a belt around her waist that matched.
She was all the things I’d spent years listening to him tell me a woman should not be.
The sound of her laughter as she leaned into my father and placed her palm to his chest. It was the first time in longer than I could remember that I saw him smile.
“Ruby.” My father stepped back away from the woman and looked at me in surprise. “I wasn’t aware that you were home.”
Slowly, the woman turned around to face me and I noticed how young she was. I’d never seen her before.
“I’m always home at this time.” It was pathetic, yes, but also it was the easiest way to keep him off my back.
“This is Bianca.” I tried not to sneer at her. There was something about her that I instantly disliked. “She’s my new assistant.” Biting the inside of my cheek, I allowed him to continue. “We have several meetings lined up next week and we plan on working late. You can order something in and we’ll be in my office.” Without another word he ushered her out of the room and toward the hall. Just before they disappeared around the corner she looked back at me and the triumphant smile she flashed made me want to laugh. She actually thought she’d won, but if my father’s attention were the surprise, she could have it. She honestly had to be delusional if she felt he was a gift, that man was an ass.
In an odd way I was the winner because if he was focused on her. It meant maybe, just maybe, he’d be less focused on mine.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jay
I stood in the entryway of the frat house, holding my phone in my hand, staring down at it as if willing it to vibrate, ping, or fucking ring. Anything really.
I’d sent several messages over the course of the past three days yet still I’d received nothing in return.
“You still pining?” Isaac walked by and pushed on my shoulder, making me stumble. “You didn’t even get any and you’re hooked.” He paused and turned back to face me. “Wait? Is that it? Like a conquest that can’t be forgotten until conquered?”
“Shut the hell up.” Yes, I was testy, but he was being an ass.
Isaac was our president and he kicked ass in that role. But when it came to the opposite sex, he was an ass. Never the same girl twice and he had no intention of settling down. In fact, he made sure to hassle the guys in the house who had way more than he should.
“She’s too much work. I told you messing with the Dean’s daughter was a bad idea. She probably had padlocked panties.”
“Don’t you have something else you could
