Amelia’s, who isn’t shy in hiding her annoyed expression.
“Even better.” Dad winks, sitting back down and sliding the tray of chicken toward him.
As we enter the car, I expect her to say thank you or some sentiment worthy of a conversation starter, but nothing of the sort. The drive is quiet and unsure of what to say, I want to pry more into this whole boyfriend thing—the subject alone piquing my curiosity.
“So, does your dad know about your boyfriend?”
She clears her throat, avoiding my gaze. “Not exactly. He knows of him and that we dated in high school. Why do you ask?”
“Just surprised you lie to him.”
Her face turns to meet mine. “I don’t lie to him. I merely save that information for myself. It’s not like he asked me about it, so, therefore, no lying.”
“John Hopkins is far. What kind of a relationship is that, anyway?”
“One that’s none of your business.”
Her frustrated tone is obvious, like she seems bothered to be in my presence.
“You better be careful,” I warn her, without a smile. “If your dad finds out, all hell will break loose.”
“I’m nineteen next week. I live across the country. He can say all he wants. He can’t expect me to stay celibate forever,” she responds with more bite than before. “And anyway, why do you care about what my dad thinks? If I have to fight my dad to be with someone I care deeply about, then so be it, I will.”
I almost laugh at the notion. No one goes up against Lex.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It’s like you haven’t met Lex Edwards.”
“As long as I’m with someone who respects me, I believe my father will be fine. Not some playboy like you who would break a girl’s heart with so much joy.”
“Ouch, so you think I’m a playboy?”
“Let’s just say I’ve heard Mom and Aunt Nikki talk. You’re no saint, which probably explains the revolving door of assistants. Mr. Bigshot, a CEO, can’t commit. It’s all too familiar, according to them.”
“I see.” I nod with a smirk. “I’m the son your father never had.”
“Yes, so I’ve heard.”
“You hear a lot of things, but hearsay isn’t always the truth.”
I glance over, noting her arms crossed in defiance. “My dorm is just over there. And you know what, I don’t care. Fuck whomever you want. It’s your life.”
“Well, you seem to care since you keep bringing it up? You seem to be bothered that I like to fuck beautiful women.”
“Trust me. I don’t care. I find it entertaining, but since we’re here, thanks for the ride, Will. I have no idea why you had to torture yourself by taking me home, unless, of course, you’re hoping to prowl the campus looking for a damsel in distress needing to be rescued?”
“You know what?” I growl, frustrated at her assumptions. “You’re just as annoying as you were when we were kids.”
“Yeah, and you’re just as arrogant.”
I let out a huff. “Well, are you going to get out? According to you, I have someone’s bed to be in.”
She shakes her head with a knowing grin before exiting the car. “Goodbye, Will, a pleasure as always. Remember to be safe… no glove, no love.”
The door slams, the same time I fall back onto the seat, annoyed with the entire night.
I just have to pretend this never happened. If Lex asks me to check on her, I’ll tell him I’m busy with work. He should understand that, surely.
Yes, work, a distraction I need at this moment to ignore my bothered thoughts and rid myself of Amelia Edwards.
Once again, the bane of my existence.
8
Amelia
“Can you send me a pic of what you’re wearing?” Ava demands over the phone. “I’m so jealous you get to go to an actual club.”
“Don’t say anything to Dad,” I warn her. “Besides, one of the guys from my economics classes older brother owns the club, which is how we’re getting in. It’s my birthday, and I want to celebrate.”
“It’s your first birthday without us,” she whines into the receiver.
“Even more the reason to have fun.”
I soon learn that being underage in college often leads to falsifying your age in order to have fun. Joshua Matthews is dating my friend, Liesel. And because of that close connection, he offered to drive us into the city, where he reassured us we could get in. We plan to have dinner next to the club, where Andy will join us. He opted not to continue to the club part of the night since he