That's not what I meant,” I plead, his words stinging
to my core.
“Look, I'm sorry that your dad isn't around, but your whole
situation has nothing to do with mine!”
“Fine!” I shout, feeling hurt. I push off the sheets and
stand up. “I promised her I'd tell you, so I did. I'll never try to help you
again.”
“That's all I ask!” he calls after me as I stomp out of his
room.
I slam my bedroom door behind me, my fists balled in anger.
I walk straight to my bed and grab my pillow and swing it down as hard as I can
onto the mattress. I. Can't. Believe. I. Ever. Had. Feelings. For. That.
Asshole. I think as I bring the pillow down again and again until I'm out
of breath.
It's officially time for me to move on.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“You look nice,” my mom says as I enter the kitchen, giving
me a wink.
“Mom…” I reply, rolling my eyes.
“Well, you do! Where are you two going tonight?”
“La Mirabelle.”
“French—how romantic!”
“It's just a first date, OK? Don't get too excited.” I turn
as Nate and Pierce enter from the dining room.
“I just have a good feeling about this one, that’s all.” She
continues, pouring me a glass of water, “And he's picking you up, right?”
“Oh, do you have a date tonight, Brynn?” Pierce asks,
wiggling his eyebrows at my mother.
“Yes,” I groan, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.
“Greg! The intern from your office,” my mom tells him.
“Well, well. You know, I remember seeing you two huddled
together in the copy room last week, and thinking to myself, ‘those two would
make a fine couple.’”
I blush as my mom smiles enthusiastically. It's amazing how
quickly things have gotten back to normal after that woman went on TV. For
about a week, a handful of photographers waited around outside the gate, but
they eventually left when the buzz died down. Pierce told us he has investigators
working to discredit the woman’s claims, and that everything will be back to
normal. As for Nate and me…
“So it'll just be the three of us for dinner then,” my mom
chirps.
“Two, actually. I’m going out tonight, as well,” Nate replies
casually. I manage to resist the urge to look at him.
“Oh?” my mom asks.
“Nate, you should’ve let Holly know about your plans. How
many times have I had this conversation with you? Responsibility,
responsibility, responsibility,” Pierce says as he crosses to the fridge. I
glance at my mom, but she's looking down at her chopping board.
“Sorry, Holly,” Nate says dutifully.
“It's alright, really,” my mom says quietly. Thankfully, the
doorbell rings and I can excuse myself. Angry as I am at Nate, I still don't
like to hear his dad speak to him in such a condescending way.
I walk down the hallway to the foyer, and hear my mom and
Pierce following me. I wince. I was hoping I'd get out the door without them
all meeting—wishful thinking, clearly. I smile at Greg as I open the door. He's
wearing a navy blazer and khakis, and looks a little nervous.
“Hey, Greg,” I greet him.
“Greg! It's so nice to meet you,” my mom says from behind
me, forcing me to open the door all the way.
“Good to see you,” Pierce says, shaking his hand.
“Mr. Thornhill,” Greg replies formally. I see Nate appear in
the entrance to the living room, leaning casually on the doorjamb but saying
nothing. He smiles at me as I catch his eye. I frown at him and look away.
“Have her home by ten,” Pierce instructs Greg.
“Yes, sir,” Greg replies.
Pierce slaps him on the back just as I'm about to protest.
“Don't worry, Greg, I'm just giving you a hard time.”
“Oh, you had me for a second there,” Greg says, exhaling in
relief.
“Well, we should get going,” I cut in so that Pierce doesn't
have the chance to make any more hilarious jokes. “See you later!” I
call, pulling the door closed behind me. I just catch Nate's smirking
expression before I shut the door.
“You
to my core.
“Look, I'm sorry that your dad isn't around, but your whole
situation has nothing to do with mine!”
“Fine!” I shout, feeling hurt. I push off the sheets and
stand up. “I promised her I'd tell you, so I did. I'll never try to help you
again.”
“That's all I ask!” he calls after me as I stomp out of his
room.
I slam my bedroom door behind me, my fists balled in anger.
I walk straight to my bed and grab my pillow and swing it down as hard as I can
onto the mattress. I. Can't. Believe. I. Ever. Had. Feelings. For. That.
Asshole. I think as I bring the pillow down again and again until I'm out
of breath.
It's officially time for me to move on.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“You look nice,” my mom says as I enter the kitchen, giving
me a wink.
“Mom…” I reply, rolling my eyes.
“Well, you do! Where are you two going tonight?”
“La Mirabelle.”
“French—how romantic!”
“It's just a first date, OK? Don't get too excited.” I turn
as Nate and Pierce enter from the dining room.
“I just have a good feeling about this one, that’s all.” She
continues, pouring me a glass of water, “And he's picking you up, right?”
“Oh, do you have a date tonight, Brynn?” Pierce asks,
wiggling his eyebrows at my mother.
“Yes,” I groan, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.
“Greg! The intern from your office,” my mom tells him.
“Well, well. You know, I remember seeing you two huddled
together in the copy room last week, and thinking to myself, ‘those two would
make a fine couple.’”
I blush as my mom smiles enthusiastically. It's amazing how
quickly things have gotten back to normal after that woman went on TV. For
about a week, a handful of photographers waited around outside the gate, but
they eventually left when the buzz died down. Pierce told us he has investigators
working to discredit the woman’s claims, and that everything will be back to
normal. As for Nate and me…
“So it'll just be the three of us for dinner then,” my mom
chirps.
“Two, actually. I’m going out tonight, as well,” Nate replies
casually. I manage to resist the urge to look at him.
“Oh?” my mom asks.
“Nate, you should’ve let Holly know about your plans. How
many times have I had this conversation with you? Responsibility,
responsibility, responsibility,” Pierce says as he crosses to the fridge. I
glance at my mom, but she's looking down at her chopping board.
“Sorry, Holly,” Nate says dutifully.
“It's alright, really,” my mom says quietly. Thankfully, the
doorbell rings and I can excuse myself. Angry as I am at Nate, I still don't
like to hear his dad speak to him in such a condescending way.
I walk down the hallway to the foyer, and hear my mom and
Pierce following me. I wince. I was hoping I'd get out the door without them
all meeting—wishful thinking, clearly. I smile at Greg as I open the door. He's
wearing a navy blazer and khakis, and looks a little nervous.
“Hey, Greg,” I greet him.
“Greg! It's so nice to meet you,” my mom says from behind
me, forcing me to open the door all the way.
“Good to see you,” Pierce says, shaking his hand.
“Mr. Thornhill,” Greg replies formally. I see Nate appear in
the entrance to the living room, leaning casually on the doorjamb but saying
nothing. He smiles at me as I catch his eye. I frown at him and look away.
“Have her home by ten,” Pierce instructs Greg.
“Yes, sir,” Greg replies.
Pierce slaps him on the back just as I'm about to protest.
“Don't worry, Greg, I'm just giving you a hard time.”
“Oh, you had me for a second there,” Greg says, exhaling in
relief.
“Well, we should get going,” I cut in so that Pierce doesn't
have the chance to make any more hilarious jokes. “See you later!” I
call, pulling the door closed behind me. I just catch Nate's smirking
expression before I shut the door.
“You
Similar Books
