by Adria Wade
“Your library is an avid readers dream…I could live in here.”
I beamed. “I know it’s book heaven in here.”
Chelsea stood on the stool and placed the romance novel back in its spot. That’s the third romance novel she has read recently.
“On a bit of a romance kick I see.”
“I was, but I’m thinking about reading a thriller this time.”
I pointed straight ahead. “Thrillers are over there.”
“There’s some more gossip going around.”
“Oh yeah, would you care to fill me in on the juicy details?”
“It’s about you.”
My brows raised as I nibbled on my lip. Please don’t be about Lucas.
“What about me,” I asked, wary of what she was going to say.
She turned and crossed her arms as a smile slowly formed on her lips.
“Do you have a thing for a certain rookie?”
I smiled and nodded. “Brody, this is about him.” I was sighing in relief inside. I am so glad that my plan is actually working.
“I heard you guys went out on a date tonight and then you went to visit him during his class. I thought you said you weren’t going to give him a chance.”
I shrugged. “He grew on me.”
“I see that. So he is the mystery guy. Why would you want to hide him from me, I was the one who told you to go for it.” She turned around and searched the shelf for a book.
“I don’t know, I guess I am a little embarrassed because he is a rookie.”
“That’s nothing to be embarrassed about. He’s a babe and all of the girl’s here are jealous of you because you are dating him. They all would die to have him show at least an inkling of interest in them.”
Now I feel bad. I’m not actually dating him, he is only a cover up and I can’t help but feel that I am robbing him of finding a nice woman...and he can’t find that with being linked to me. I really wish she would have kept that to herself.
“Oh,” I mumbled.
“So, If I were you I would appreciate your man. Could I ask you something?” She bit down on her lip as she smiled.
“Of course.”
“Have you guys been intimate?”
I smirked and shook my head. Yes, only my best friend would get this personal with me. “No, we haven’t.”
Her mouth fell open as she looked at me in disbelief. “And why not?”
I shrugged. “We just haven’t.”
She rolled her eyes. “Athena, you haven’t been intimate since you were with Isaac. It’s been over a year, how do you go that long without it?”
Well, to be honest I don’t think of Brody in that way. Sure he is attractive, but there is only one person that I want to get intimate with and I don’t even know if I have a future with him.
“I’m sure it will happen,” I mumbled.
She smirked and grabbed a book from the shelf. “Well, when you happen to dust the cobwebs off, your stalker best friend would sure love to hear about it.”
“I’m sure you would,” I said dryly.
She wrapped her arms around me, giving me a nice squeeze leaving a kiss on my cheek. “Don’t be mad at me for having Cameron follow you. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again, forgive me?”
“Of course I forgive you.”
“Alright, I’m going to take this book and turn in for the night.”
“Good night.”
“Sweet dreams, sleeping beauty.”
****
I flopped down on my bed and shoved my feet in my heels as I exhaled. I haven’t even laid eyes on my father yet and I am already annoyed. Tonight is the dinner with my father and Isaac and even though I have Brody coming along, which I should be excited about, I have a bad feeling about tonight. I know the dinner won’t go as smoothly as I would like and that has put me in one sour mood. In fact nothing that involves my father ever goes smoothly. I suspect he has something up his sleeve, I don’t know what, but my father doesn’t request dinner with me if he doesn’t have a reason to. I am hoping Brody will take the spotlight away from me for most of the dinner.
I stood up and carefully ran my hands over my curled hair, my brows furrowed as I walked over to my door hearing an argument outside in the hallway. I opened my door slightly and peaked out.
It was Brody and Aubrey. Aubrey was really letting him have it, while he stood there leaning on the wall and scowling. I have never seen her so flustered and ill-tempered before…well, there was that one time at the dinner table. Crap! I forgot about her little outburst during breakfast. She had gotten angry because he was flirting with me, how could I forget about this…then the answer was obvious, Lucas, I have been too wrapped up in him to remember anything. If only I remembered her hostility at breakfast then I wouldn’t have brought Brody into this mess.
She pointed her finger in his face. “You do not have any business going out on a date with her!”
“What was I supposed to do? She asked me and I didn’t have the heart to say no.”
She gasped as she took a step backward. “You like her, don’t you? Oh, just forget about me and pretend I don’t exist. Guess what buddy, she is next on my list!”
He scowled in confusion. “What do you mean she is next on your list?”
“It’s confidential,” She hissed.
She stormed down the hallway cussing like a sailor.
Okay, so I am next on her list. I’m not sure If I should take that threat seriously or blow it off thinking she was only venting. I had no idea Aubrey could be so spiteful…this was a side to Aubrey that I wasn’t used to seeing and that is quite suspicious to me. Now I am going to have to figure out what she is doing. Brody won’t be much of a contribution in helping me figure this girl out, he had no clue what she was up to.
I took in a breath and emerged from my room as I made my way down the hall to go meet my father, Isaac and Brody in the foyer. I tried not to think about the confrontation between Brody and Aubrey. I knew I was the cause of their arguing and now I have put myself in a position with Aubrey that I wanted to avoid. My guess is that they had a fling and Aubrey wanted more but Brody didn’t. I will have to ask Brody about their relationship later, I really don’t have time to dwell on her, not when I was about to go battle it out with Lucifer.
I held onto the banister as I carefully walked down the staircase. I was concentrating on every step I took trying to avoid falling down the stairs and breaking my neck in these heels.
My father was impatiently waiting in the foyer with Brody. He looked pissed already and I was smiling on the inside.
“You’re wearing that?” My father said as he gave a look of disapproval.
And so it begins. I looked down at my flowing knee length blue silk dress wondering what is was he didn’t approve of. “What is wrong with my dress?”
He shook his head. “Never mind,” He said dryly.
Brody smiled and kissed my cheek. “You look beautiful as always.”
“Thank you.”
“When were you going to tell me you were bringing Brody along?”
I shrugged. “I never intended to. Where is Isaac?”
“Isaac is taking care of Cameron. Apparently, someone did quite a number on her face. You wouldn’t happen to know about that would you,” He eyed me speculatively.
“No, actually I haven’t seen her for a couple of days.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Maybe.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Do you have a guilty conscious, Athena?”
I shook my head. “I don’t like to be doubted, especially not by my own father.”
He turned and opened the manor door. “Come, we wouldn’t want to be late I have a reservation.”
I looked at Brody and scowled. My father was getting under my skin already.
“Relax. Everything will be okay if you keep civil.”
I folded my arms and pouted. “I have no patience for him.”
“Yeah, I can
tell.”
I had the urge to run up the staircase and hide out in my library so I wouldn’t have to endure this dinner with my dad…he wouldn’t find me if I was in my library and he wouldn’t be able to get in either I am the only one with a key.
A black limousine was waiting for us outside with an older gentleman holding the door open.
Brody looked at me in surprise. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting this.”
“You obviously have never stepped foot in a limousine.” I said.
My father grinned. “I ride in style.”
I sat down on the black leather and immediately raided the mini bar.
I smiled as I opened a small glass bottle. “Ah, Mr. Daniels we meet again.”
“Athena Megan Bram, you put that bottle down right now!” My father yelled.
I shrugged and took a nice big drink. I could feel the liquor burn all the way down to my stomach as I took another drink, finishing the bottle in just three drinks.
I reached for the mini bar deciding on another drink when Brody grabbed my arm, stopping me from drinking anymore. “I don’t think you should be drinking, it’s strong and we are dining out. I don’t want you drunk.”
In other words, I would advise you not to drink anymore or you will feel my wrath if you embarrass me in public.
I sat back in my seat. “You’re right.”
My father scowled and shook his head. He was already showing signs of being stressed and I am certain he would like to rip his hair out from dealing with me.
“So, Mr. Peterson, you have been pursuing my lovely daughter.”
I pursed my lips. I am sure he was being sarcastic when he said lovely. I am more like his worst nightmare, instead.
“Yeah, we have gone out a couple of times already. We have actually been quite inseparable…you raised a fine young woman.”
“Well, good luck, you are going to need it, she is a handful.”
Brody placed his hand on my knee as he glanced my way. “She is, but I like the challenge she brings.”
“So, tell me about your family.”
“There isn’t much to tell, my father is a dentist, and my mother is a high school teacher.”
“Do you have any siblings?”
“No, I am an only child.”
Why is he all of a sudden interested in Brody’s life? Last I checked he didn’t care about anyone but Isaac…but since my dad was asking questions I thought It was a good time to bring up Aubrey.
“Any ex-girlfriends that live in the manor?”
His brows raised in surprise as he looked at me. “What?”
“Aubrey, have you dated her?”
“What gave you that impression?”
“I saw you guys out in the hallway before we left for dinner.”
He glanced over at my father. “We shouldn’t talk about her right now.”
“Later then.”
“Yeah, later,” He mumbled.
“Trouble in paradise so soon?” My father asked as he eyed us both.
“No, it’s not a big deal I was just curious.”
Brody cleared his throat. “What about you Sir, how did you get so wealthy?”
“I was in the oil business before I focused on hunting.”
The limousine came to a stop and my dad opened the door. “We have arrived, children.”
Chapter Fourteen
The elegant restaurant had a silver and white color theme going as a big piraled crystal chandelier hung in the middle of the spacious room. We took our seats by the restaurant’s fireplace and looked over the menu as our waiter, a young brunette boy waited to take our orders.
“How old are you, Brody?” My father asked.
“Twenty-two, sir.”
“I am assuming you would prefer wine opposed to the liquor since we are in a restaurant. Bring us red wine and a Shirley temple for my daughter, please.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like I haven’t drank before.”
“You certainly showed me that you could handle liquor in the limousine, but last I checked you were nineteen going on twenty, not twenty-one.”
“And you didn’t even ask Brody if he wanted wine, maybe he doesn’t like it.”
My father sighed. “Brody, is it okay that I ordered you wine?”
“I don’t mind.”
He smirked at me. “See, he doesn’t mind…I hear they have fine lobster here.”
The waiter came back with our drinks and we placed our orders. I ordered stuffed chicken and it tasted amazing from what I did eat of it. Throughout the dinner I played with my food more than I engaged in conversation. I was trying to figure out the cause of this dinner. I know it’s important and it has something to do with Isaac and myself. I was growing impatient waiting for him to finally reveal the big news.
My dad stood up. “If you will excuse me, I will return shortly.”
“Are you okay?” Brody asked me when my father left.
“Yes, why?
“You barely touched your food and you have been spacing out on me. Did the liquor in the limousine get to you?”
“No way, I have a high tolerance for alcohol.”
He chuckled. “Because you have zero tolerance for your dad.”
“Well, if anyone would drive me to drink, he sure would be the one.”
“It was a one night stand.”
My brows raised as he caught me off guard. “What?”
“The Aubrey situation. You asked about her in the car. I was never with her, she was just a one night stand…I didn’t realize she had feelings for me until after we finished.”
I grabbed for my drink and took a sip. “Now I know why you refused to talk about it in the presence of my father.”
“Well, I know we aren’t actually together, but he still has to approve of me.”
“She has it out for me doesn’t she?”
“You don’t need to worry about her, I will handle her.”
“I’m not afraid of her. I just don’t want any more boyfriend drama.”
“I’m not her boyfriend.”
“Well, she thinks you are.”
He shook his head. “Aubrey, was one big mistake.”
I groaned and took a bite of chicken as my father returned.
“Athena, I wanted to tell you when you and Isaac were together, but I had a will made and I put you and Isaac down as the beneficiaries of my estates. When I die you and Isaac will get my money and my business.”
“So what is the catch here?”
“You know me well. I will keep you in the will only if you marry Isaac. If you decline then Isaac will have the rights to everything.”
I tried my hardest to remain impassive. I had to remind myself that I was in a crowded restaurant and that I didn’t want to flip out and cause any embarrassment to myself or Brody.
“That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. You are trying to force your daughter into marrying someone she no longer loves, don’t you care about her happiness at all?”
I pushed my plate away, grabbed Brody’s wine and chugged it down. I stood from the table and walked away from my dad aware that they were following right behind me. The second I got outside I turned around and punched my father in the nose. He winced as his blood streamed out of his nose and left drops of blood on his shirt.
“How dare you try to pull this, I will not for the last time marry Isaac. Give him everything because I don’t need anything from you!”
“What is it that you want? Do you want to marry Brody? Don’t believe for one second that I bought this whole relationship.”
Brody wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. He pushed my lips a part as his tongue invaded my mouth. The whole time I thought about Lucas and wished it was him I was kissing. I resisted the urge to push him away because I didn’t want my father proven right. He would never let me hear the end of it.
Brody gasped and held his head as an apple fell to the ground. “What the hell!”
“Hey, you get the hell o
ut of here!” My father yelled.
I looked across the street and saw Lucas standing there glaring my way.
Oh no, this was the last thing I needed. He told me not to kiss Brody, but in my defense I wasn’t the one who kissed him, Brody kissed me. The kiss was very unwelcome but I couldn’t stop it from happening I had to prove to my dad that I was indeed with Brody. He is angry, and I know there will be no reasoning with him.
Lucas shook his head before turning to walk into a bar.
“I can’t believe he threw a damn apple at me.”
I had to talk to Lucas; I know this may not be the best time with his temper flared, but I had to explain myself, even if he didn’t want to hear any of my excuses.
“I think I’m going to stay behind and clear my head. I’ll stay here and go shopping.”
“Fine, just call after you’re done and I will have the limousine pick you up.”
“Do you want me to stay?” Brody asked.
“No, I want to be alone.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later then.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on my cheek.
I ran my hand through my hair and exhaled in exasperation. Facing Lucas is already stressing me out. I crossed my arms and walked across the street feeling a slight chill on my arms as the wind blew.
The bar smelled like cigarettes, sweat, and beer as I walked around searching for Lucas in the crowd. He was sitting in a corner with a beer in his hand, glaring my way. I walked over to his table and sat down.
“Please, don’t be mad.”
His brows raised as he lifted his glass and took a drink. I waited for a response but then realized I wasn’t going to get one.
“Are you ignoring me?”
He sat back in his chair and directed his eyes to the television that was broadcasting a game.
“Fine, pretend I don’t even exist.” I grabbed his glass and took a drink.
“Since when do vampires drink beer?”
He growled. “Why are you here?!”
“Because I want to talk to you. Are you going to answer my question?”
