He turned back around and kissed me on the lips before I could say another word. Ethan didn’t want to talk about his scars any more than I wanted to talk about mine.
More than a week of nights at Ethan’s place and I needed to get back to my flat for other than a grab of fresh clothing. I needed a recharge in my own home. Ethan agreed to come over here tonight. I told him slumming was good for the soul. He teased me back, saying it wouldn’t matter as long as we had something to eat and a bed because we’d both be naked for his sleepover. I told him that if Gaby showed up he’d have to get dressed; that I wasn’t going to allow my roommate the chance to lust after my boyfriend’s godlike physique. He laughed and told me he loved the sound of jealousy in my voice. I told him to show up hungry for dinner and fully clothed. He was still laughing when we hung up.
I changed into some yoga pants and a soft t-shirt after Neil dropped me back home. He’d picked me up from the Rothvale, plus a quick stop at the supermarket for ingredients for the Mexican dinner I’d planned. Ethan knew that Mexican food was my favorite and I was determined to recruit him over to my team. On the menu tonight? Chicken tacos with corn salsa and avocado. If Ethan hated it then I would fix him a burrito. No guy can resist a burrito packed with meat, beans, cheese and guacamole. I hope. Brits were weird about food.
As soon as I got the chicken started and my hands were washed I decided to call my dad. It would be morning for him but he’d be at work by now and if he wasn’t too busy we could have a chat. I set my phone on speaker and dialed his office.
“Tom Bennett.”
“Hey, Daddy.”
“Princess! I’ve missed hearing your sweet voice. This is a surprise.” I smiled at my dad’s choice of name for me. He’d been calling me Princess ever since I could remember. And now that I was twenty-four years old, he didn’t seem bothered in the slightest about continuing with the nickname either.
“I thought I’d call you for a change. I just miss you.”
“Is everything all right over there in London? Getting excited for the Olympics? How was Benny’s show? Did you like how your pictures looked when they were blown up huge on canvas?”
I laughed. “That was four questions all at once, Dad. Give a girl a break would ya!”
“Sorry, Princess, I just get excited to hear from you. You’re so far away and busy with your life. The proofs you sent of your photos were magnificent. Tell me about Benny’s show.”
“Well, it was a success. Ben did well and the pictures sold. I’ve had some more jobs too, so I’m just taking it slow and we’ll see where this leads.” I was happy I could talk to my dad like this and that he supported my modeling. He thought it was good for me, unlike my mother who was embarrassed by her daughter posing sans clothing.
“You’re going to be famous the world over,” he said. “I’m proud of you, Princess. I think that the modeling is going to help you. I hope you feel that way.” He sounded a little off to me, almost sad. “What are you doing right now?”
“I’m making dinner. Tacos. I have a friend coming over in a bit. Dad, is everything okay with you?”
He hesitated for a moment before answering me. I could tell there was something on his mind. “Brynnie, you heard about the plane that went down and Congressman Woodson’s death?”
“Yeah. He was the one they were going to tap for vice president? That was big news even for over here. Why, Dad?”
“Have you heard about who is replacing Woodson on the ticket?”
I never expected the name he told me. And just like that the past reared up and dug its claws in again.
“Oh no! Do not tell me Senator Oakley got the nomination! You’ve got to be kidding me if that—that—man, could be the next Vice President of the United States! How is it possible they want him? Daddy—”
“I know, sweetheart. He’s been working his way up the food chain these last years. First State Senator and now U.S. Senator—”
“Yeah well, I hope they all go down in a big ball of flames.”
“Brynnie, this is serious stuff. There’ll be digging into his past to find dirt on Oakley—on his family—by the incumbent party. I want you to be careful. If anyone approaches you or sends you anything suspicious you need to let me know right away. These people have the resources to dig down deep. They are like sharks. When they scent even a drop of blood get ready for a sneak attack.”
“Well Senator Oakley is the guy with the demon seed for a son. I’d say he has a very big problem then.”
“I know, sweetie. And Oakley’s people will work just as hard to keep his family secrets buried. It’s not a nice situation and I hate that you’re so far away from home. But I do think in this case it might be a good thing that you’re in London. I don’t want anyone to hurt you and the further removed you are the better. No evil stories to surface in the news or…anything else.”
Like a video. I knew that’s what my dad was thinking of. That video was still out floating around in cyberspace somewhere.
“You’re doing so well, Princess. I can hear it in your voice and that makes your old dad smile. So who is this friend you’re cooking dinner for? It’s not a man is it?”
I smiled as I mixed up the corn salsa. “Well I met someone, Dad. He’s really special in a lot of ways. He bought my picture at Benny’s show. That’s how we met.”
“Really.”
“Yeah.” It felt weird telling my dad about Ethan all of a sudden. Maybe because I’d never talked to him about boyfriends much. There had never been reason to. I hadn’t wanted one for a long, long time.
“Tell me more. What does he do for a living? How old is he? Oh and go ahead and let me have his number while you’re at it. I need to give him a call and set him straight on the ground rules with my baby girl.”