“Iamcareful, Dad. Why do you think Dakota thought my name was Jane?”
“I’m serious, Ottavia. What you do in private is between you and Leo—but your marriage represents a union between our families. Please don’t do anything that would damage that union.”
I sighed. “But what about whatIwant? What if I want a man who actually loves me and is loyal?”
Dad placed a hand on my shoulder, and his tone softened as he tried to impart his paternal wisdom. “Sweetheart, I understand your desires. And I want you to be happy; I really do. But sometimes we have to make choices for the greater good of our entire family. I know it may not seem fair, but life isn’t always fair.”
“All I want is to be like everyone else, and be free to marry someone that I actually love. Why is that such a crime in this family?”
“It’s not a crime, but our situation is different; we have interests to protect,” he said. “And love alone cannot sustain a marriage. A successfulmarriage is based on shared values, goals, and a deep understanding of one another’s backgrounds. Andthat’swhat will truly ensure your long-term happiness and security. Now, Leo may not be as exciting as a famous pro athlete, but he doescome from a similar background. He understands our way of life. Our responsibilities. And that connection, that understanding, is invaluable in a marriage.” He pinched my cheek. “Now, no one ever said you can’t have others; that’s between you and Leo, of course. Butplease,Ottavia, be smart about it. And that boy you brought here?” He made a dismissive gesture towards the house. “That’s not smart.He’snot smart. He’s a loser.”
“Da~d.” I groaned. “I’m not breaking up with him.”
“We’ll see about that,” Dad sang, as if he knew something I didn’t. “Now let’s head in. I gotta grill this punk and show you what a loser he really is.” He hung his arm around my shoulderand walked me out of the courtyard. “So I’m curious—how did Dakota and ‘Jane’ meet, anyway?”
I giggled. “Nice try. I know exactly what you’re doing, Dad.”
“What I’m doing?” he repeated, his words laced with too much confusion to be authentic. “What do you mean, Ottavia?”
“You’re going to ask Dakota the same question later. And if our answers don’t match up, you’ll take that as proof that we’re lying.”
“Okay, smartie pants. Maybe Iamdoing something.” Dad flashed a grin at me. “But then again, if you two are telling the truth, you shouldn’t have anything to hide, and your answers will be the same.”
“If we were lying, don’t you think we would’ve worked out our story in advance?”
“Maybe. Maybe not,” he said. “Maybe you two just met and you haven’t had the time?”
I laughed. “Even if we just met, it’s a thirty-minute drive out here from the city. That’splentyof time to talk and get our stories straight.”
“That’s nice and all, but you’re still not giving me an answer.”
I sighed. “Fine. Youreallywant to know how we met?”
“Yes, honey, I would love to know.”
“Okay, but you’ll regret it,” I warned as we made our way up the steps and to the front door. “We met at a bar. I thought he was the tallest, sexiest, most handsome man I’d ever seen in my life.”
Dad was practically squirming already.
“He struck up a conversation with me. An hour or so later, he took me home, and my clothes were off before he even got me to his bedr—”
“OH!” Dad yelled, clamping his hands on his ears.
I kept talking. “To tell you the truth, I think Dakota thought we were going to be a one-night kind of thing. But after the nightwe had together? I wasnotgoing to let him get away that easily. Oh no.”
“Okay, okay!” Dad pleaded with me to stop as he held the front door open for me. “Enough!”
Andthat’swhy our stories won’t add up,” I said with a sly grin. “Dakota’s a sweet boy, so he’d probably tell you we met through mutual friends, or at a party or some such.”
“Forget it! I’m sorry I asked,” he said as he followed me into the house.
On one hand? I was pretty sure Dad believed me about Dakota, so I’d saved his ass.
On the other hand?Myass was just as screwed as it ever was …
10
Absolutely Worthless
