“Oh man, that’s a good one, Captain. If you say ‘have my babies,’ I’m out of here, just letting you know.” I giggle, shaking my head, until I realize he’s not laughing with me.
I really look at him, and that’s when I notice he’s completely serious.
“You're insane. It’s not happening,” I tell him, just as I can finally see my father’s townhouse from here through the snow.
“Hear me out, Princess. You can come and go as you please like a roommate, and you don’t have to pay anything. Get a job, start living, and we’ll go from there. Oh, and be my fake girlfriend,” he says seriously, but he’s smirking at me when I glance at him.
“Nope. Nada. I barely know you. I don’t even know what your favorite color is, and you expect me to move in with you?” I stare at him like he’s crazy. Maybe he is, but I might be the crazy one, because it sounds so tempting that I can almost grasp it within my reach.
I know it’s not realistic, but it would be a dream come true to be who I want to be. I can’t do this, and even the thought of it fucking hurts my chest because it’s like something is being ripped away from me.
“Think about it, okay? And if you need me, I’m on Allen Street in the Prescott building. Just ask for my name in the lobby. Give me your phone,” he demands, and I roll my eyes but hand my phone over to him.
He bites that plump lip and plays on my phone for a second before handing it back. I watch him type something on his and hear my phone ding a second later.
“This is my stop. It was nice being your girlfriend for a little while. I can’t even imagine what type of date you would have taken me on, Captain,” I joke, and walk backwards away from him with a salute.
I’m really hoping my father isn’t around because I don’t know what he would do if he saw Granger. I’ve never brought a guy home, and never planned on it. I rush up the steps, feeling his gaze on me, and pull my phone back out to tell him to beat it. He sent me a text, and a giggle leaves me when I read it.
“My favorite color is blue.”My heart does a small flip.
“Night, Princess,” he growls deeply a few doors down. I glance over my shoulder one last time before going inside and see him checking out my ass with a pleased smirk.
I fire off a quick text to him, and just as I start to shut the door behind me, I hear him chuckle. I don’t know why I’m flirting with him. He’s an ass, a jock, bossy, an amazing kisser, and he smells good. Oh God, I’m in trouble. And he’s never getting this jacket back.
I read the message I sent him with a smile on my face, it’s at least one good memory I’ve had in a long time at this place.
“Stop staring at my ass.”
I’m just about to put my phone away to creep upstairs on silent feet when another message comes through.
“Never.”
I almost consider his offer to be his fake girlfriend…almost.
* * *
I’m lyingon my stomach on my bed, hugging my pillow and staring at my butterfly drapes in a daydream, when I hear the front door slam shut downstairs. I glance at the clock, which shows it’s past midnight, and send a silent prayer that he just passes out in the study. Multiple male laughter rings around from downstairs, and I feel my skin grow clammy, Why would father bring anyone home at this time of night? I go to my bedroom door and crack it open a little to hear what they’re saying.
“Kathleen! Come down here,” my father bellows from downstairs, acting like I should be awake and come running, even at this hour. I mean, I’m not sleeping, but still.
Heaving a deep inhale for courage, I realize I’m still dressed from the party with Granger’s jacket hugging my body, but I don’t have time to change. He’ll just get mad if he has to come get me.
Slowly walking down the hallway, I stop at the banister to see my father below with his long time friend Harold and a younger man. They look uncannily alike, so it must be his son. Father’s been trying to merge their companies together for years, but Mom would never have wanted that. She would’ve wanted to keep the company in the family, as her family had done for years. They stand in the middle of the foyer, drinking from tumblers like old chums. A snort escapes me before I can stop myself, watching them stare at my father like he’s the best thing in the whole fucking world. Instead, he’s just a monster. He looks up sharply and narrows his eyes at my choice of outfit, but plasters a smile on his face and beckons me closer.
“Kathleen, come hear the exciting news,” he says pleasantly, but I can see his white-knuckled grip on his glass.
I don’t know why, but I feel in the pit of my stomach that whatever he’s going to say is about to change everything and nothing all at the same time. Taking my time walking down the stairs, I ignore the disgusted way Harold’s son looks me up and down, like I’m the scum beneath his shoes. Finally at my father’s side, he places his hand on my shoulder with a tight smile that says I’ll pay later for my behavior.
“You remember Harold, and this is his son, Donald. I thought it would be a great idea for you two to meet, since you’ll be workingveryclose together,” Father announces with a warning in his tone, and I see the smirk form on Donald’s face out the corner of my eye before he takes a drink to hide it.
Working together? What is he talking about? I won’t be going anywhere with this pompous ass, who obviously has his nose stuck in the air and a stick up his ass.
“Close together?” I question with a glare at Donald, and almost hiss out in pain as Father squeezes my shoulder in a tight grip.
“Of course! I was ecstatic when Karl said his daughter would be working for the brokerage firm once you graduate! The stock market is where the money is after all. I’m sure you and Donald have a lot in common and will be great…partners.” Harold finishes with a wink and claps his son on the back with pride.
I whip my head around to my father to see him looking down at me with barely contained rage, daring me to speak out. What the hell did my mother ever see in him? Was he like this with her and I never saw it? Did she try to hide this side of him from me?
“Something will have to be done about that hair though. You can’t be running around the firm with pink hair like a homeless person.” Donald’s voice grates on my nerves, and I would like nothing more than to knee him in his small berries.
“Of course, she’s already agreed to change some things. Why, she’s even given up skating to focus on the business. Isn’t that right, Kathleen?” Father stares me down, and all I can do is nod my head in agreement. I don’t think I could find my voice, even if I tried.
He gives one more painful squeeze that no doubt left another bruise, and I hide my reaction because I won’t give him that, even when I feel my eyes watering. He walks away with Harold, leaving me alone in the foyer Donald, the table between us.
“I can’t wait to begin working with you, Kathleen. It’ll be apleasure.” Then he leers at me, making me shudder with dread, before he turns on his heel and follows after them into the study, shutting the door behind him.
I stand there, wishing I could curl up in a small ball while the floor opens up and swallow me whole. I lift my hand up to run it through my hair and realize it's shaking… My whole body is shaking. It feels like the walls are closing in, and I can’t draw in a proper breath. Without a second thought, I fling open the front door, not caring if my father can hear me. I ignore the heavy sheets of rain falling from the sky, turning the snow into ice and freezing my body instantly. I start running, soaked to the bone, and I don’t stop, even when my lips turn blue from the cold or when my lungs feel like collapsing.
I just keep running until my body stops outside a building.
