Tears burned the back of my eyes. “Dad,” I mumbled, blinking rapidly.
“I still don’t like Jake, but I’ve got to admit, I like everything he said in that apartment. I like how he sees you.” His face darkened. “But that doesn’t mean I accept him as part of your life. Just because the boy is good with words doesn’t change his past actions.”
“Dad…” I tried to gather my patience. “Please, just give him a chance.”
“I can’t promise that.” He shook his head stubbornly. “I’m just here to see my kid and try to convince her to do the right thing. Starting with calling Andie and apologizing.”
“I can’t promise that.” I threw his words back at him. “I don’t think I should be the one apologizing.”
Dad sighed. “And this from someone who wants me to treat her as an adult.”
I closed my eyes, feeling my patience slipping. “Let’s just eat dinner,” I muttered. Seemed neither of us was willing to compromise. I’d just have to hope for some kind of miracle to happen while he was in Edinburgh. A miracle that would finally show Jake in a favorable light and bring my family on board with our relationship.
I wasn’t holding my breath.
Chapter Seven
No matter how much I was willing myself to be unaffected, to be calm, I wasn’t. Bolstering my courage, I threw back my shoulders and prepared to reenter the common room where Jake had some redheaded sophomore hanging all over him.
Instead of facing Jake, however, I walked smack bang into a hard chest.
“There she is.” Beck wrapped his arms around me and I hugged him back. I felt his lips brush my ear. “Can you please talk to your best friend?”
I pulled back, frowning. “Hi, Beck, it’s good to see you too, after six months, since the last time didn’t really count.”
He blanched. “Sorry. It’s good to see you. It really is. I’m just a little distracted at the moment.” He glanced to his left, where Claudia stood laughing with Denver, Matt, and a couple of guys I didn’t recognize. “She won’t even look at me.”
“Whatever you do, don’t start flirting with another girl.”
It was his turn to frown. “Wasn’t planning on it. Any other suggestions?”
I felt Lowe’s hand at my back. “Don’t put Charley in the middle, Beck. The middle is a f**ked-up place to be.”
“I’m not. I’m just running out of ideas.”
Honestly, it was frustrating watching two people who were supposed to be together mess it up so royally. I had a hard time keeping my nose out of it. But my nose tried.
Beck searched my face as I stared back at him, steadfast in my stoicism. His eyes narrowed. “Is she really dating someone?”
I shrugged.
“Charley. Please.”
“Yes.”
A pained look crossed his gorgeous face. “Is it serious?”
“She doesn’t talk about it.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
I shot a look Claudia’s way to make sure she wasn’t aware I was talking to Beck and about to betray the girl code. “It means when you see her on her own, stop her and make her listen.”
“Just stop her and make her listen? I don’t know if you remember but last time that happened, I got verbally bitch-slapped in public.”
“Yeah.” I smiled, remembering it. “But you also made your point and you got to her. She can’t not listen if you’re constantly there trying to talk to her.”
“Valid point,” Lowe added.