5

HARLEY

Ugh. What was he doing right here?

I might inform my dad this was a enterprise assembly. He already knew I used to be leaving Extremely Vivid Applied sciences to take a job at Nic’s firm. That may very well be a wonderfully good clarification for why I used to be at the costliest restaurant on the town with him. He was my soon-to-be boss. I’d solely have per week and a half left on my discover, however assembly with the proprietor of Holly Day Lights wasn’t that uncommon.

Sure, I might have blown it off as that, however I made a decision towards it. I’d spent years respecting my father and following his guidelines, solely to stroll into the workplace and discover my school roommate carrying his button-down shirt…and nothing else. The one factor saving me from going off proper now was that he wasn’t seated throughout from that school roommate. As a substitute, he was with some man in a swimsuit.

“Harley?” Dad requested, his eyes widening and his expression brightening barely. Then his gaze slid to the left slightly and he noticed the person behind me.

His eyes didn’t instantly darken as I’d have anticipated. No, this look was considered one of confusion. I might clear that up for him.

“We’re on a date,” I mentioned. I began to make clear that it was our first-ever actual date, however why? No, higher to plunge proper in. “We’ve been seeing one another for a number of days now.”

The man seated throughout from him shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and I couldn’t blame him. This was some drama he hadn’t signed up for when he agreed to fulfill my father for dinner. In truth, seconds in the past, the 2 of them had in all probability been discussing enterprise plans and fourth-quarter earnings.

“Mr. Baxter—” Nic started.

However my dad didn’t let him get one other phrase out. “Why are you doing this? Is it due to the factor with Whitney as a result of—?”

“Since you and Whitney are the true deal?” I requested. “You felt that one thing particular the primary time you noticed one another?”

These had been clearly the phrases he’d deliberate to say—or some variation of them. Dad opened his mouth as if to talk, however clamped it shut once more, shifting his gaze to Nic.

“That’s precisely what I might say about my emotions for Nic,” I mentioned. “It sucks, doesn’t it, when you have got the suitable emotions for the flawed individual?”

I used to be conscious, even because the phrases had been popping out of my mouth, that they may very well be a step too far too quickly. What if Nic obtained the flawed thought? What if he ran, like different guys tended to, the second he obtained a whiff that I wished one thing severe?

He was a serial bachelor. That was what each Taylor and Carly had mentioned earlier tonight, placing it as gently as doable. He was infamous for blasting via the city’s enticing ladies, by no means fairly settling down.

What made me suppose I’d be any completely different?

“I’ve at all times completed precisely what you ordered,” I mentioned, crossing my arms over my chest and maintaining my voice low. The restaurant wasn’t jam-packed, however there have been sufficient individuals round that I might simply make a scene by elevating my quantity a few notches. “I wished to make you proud. I wished to be the kind of individual I assumed you had been. However it seems, you had been no completely different than each different man I’ve met. So I don’t should comply with your guidelines anymore.”

I stepped again and checked out Nic, who’d moved to face close to the desk. I’d thought it was a protecting transfer, however he regarded involved another way. He regarded like he wished to clarify to my father why he’d screwed his daughter. Possibly he’d even downplay it.

It meant nothing.

She got here on to me.

I promise, it received’t occur once more.

He mentioned none of that, however did he should? Did I would like to attend round for him to interrupt my coronary heart?

“So courting Nic Brooks is your approach of rebelling?” Dad mentioned, pushing his seat again and standing. I frightened for a second he may throw a punch or two. “You’re with this man to make some type of level?”

I shook my head. “You simply don’t get it. You’ll by no means get it. It’s not about you. It’s about me.”

The sting of tears informed me I’d higher get out of there, and quick. In any other case, Nic Brooks and my father would see me cry. I used to be not going to let Nic know he’d gotten into my coronary heart. Not if he was the “love ‘em and go away ‘em” kind my associates made him out to be.

“I’m my very own individual,” I mentioned. “It’s time you perceive that. Now, if you happen to’ll all excuse me, I should be alone.”

As I sped from the restaurant, pulling my cellphone out to name for a rideshare, I let the tears fall freely. Even the sympathetic look from the maître d’ couldn’t cease me from crying.

No, I didn’t care what anybody thought proper now. All I knew was my coronary heart was breaking, and I’d by no means get well from it.

6

Supply: www.seynovel.com