I sighed and took another drink. “Yes, I was. Although I don’t think I get to call him my man.”
“You get to call him anything you want,” she said. “You are way into him. I can see it all over your face. Are you going to keep seeing him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why don’t you know? Don’t tell me you’re going to let your father decide who you get to date. I know you’re a good girl and you’re a daddy’s girl, but you are also a little too old to let him run your life.”
“You would think,” I muttered.
“Maybe you need to try talking to him about Xander,” she suggested.
“I did. At least, I tried to. He doesn’t want to hear it. He has made up his mind and that’s that.”
“He was angry. He was reacting to the situation. I’m sure once he has had a few days to cool down and realize he is mad at a guy for acing his class, he might reconsider. I have never known your father to be overly dramatic. You probably caught him on a bad day. He took it out on Xander.”
“And me,” I added. “He was awful to me as well. He’s never been like that. I just don’t understand how he can hate Xander that badly. Xander is a good guy. Just because he thought of something no one else had does not make him an arrogant prick.”
She winced. “Ouch. That’s harsh.”
“That was one of the nicer things he said about him.”
She slowly shook her head. “I really don’t think you’re getting the full story. There has to be more to it.”
“Maybe, but it’s ugly. Very ugly and I don’t like it.”
“Try and talk to your dad again. Be calm. Explain to him the man you know.”
I rolled my eyes. “He is not going to listen. He is going to be furious if he finds out just how well Xander and I know each other.”
“Make him listen. You are hung up on Xander. That is pretty clear to see. Maybe he is your true love and maybe he isn’t. But you deserve a chance to find out. Don’t walk away because daddy told you to. You are going to end up miserable. You are going to end up resenting your father, and eventually, you lose twice.”
“Because I lose them both,” I said.
“Yes. Exactly. Now, speaking of Xander, I need you to do something.”
“What?”
She leaned forward. “I need you to find out if he has any friends. Single preferably, but if they aren’t single, that wouldn’t be a complete deal breaker.”
I slapped at her shoulder. “You homewrecker!”
“Hey, if a guy is interested in me when he already has a girlfriend, that home is already broken.”
“That doesn’t mean you fuel the fire,” I argued.
She shrugged. “I just want everyone to be happy. Ask him.”
“No. Definitely not.”
She pouted. “I’m not sure I’m available Saturday after all.”
I shot her a dirty look. “Not cool.”
She shrugged a dainty shoulder. “Ask him.”
“He doesn’t have any friends,” I told her. “Don’t you remember me telling you he was a recluse?”
“He has friends. I want a double date, but only if his friend is under, let’s say fifty.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ew.”
“Fifty isn’t that old.”
“It isn’t that young. A fifty-year-old could be your father.”
She grinned, her eyes flashing with mischief. “I believe that’s why they call them sugar daddies!”
I burst into laughter. “You are so wrong.”
“I have to get back to work. Ask him.”
“I’m going home,” I told her.
“Ask him,” she said again from the other end of the bar.
I shook my head and walked out of the bar. I felt a little better after unburdening myself to her. The night with Xander had been amazing, but the last twenty-four hours had left me feeling horribly guilty. I hated that I’d defied my dad. I hated that I was doing something he didn’t like or approve of. I wasn’t that kind of daughter. I liked making him happy. I liked knowing he was proud of me.
He would not be proud to know I did exactly what he’d asked me not to. Not just that, but I went a little wild. I could admit that the excessiveness was a direct rebellion against him. When he told me I couldn’t have Xander, it only made me want the man more.
I drove home, kicked off my heels, and poured myself another glass of wine. I needed to decide what to do. Nelle was right. I had to talk to my dad. I