Page 39 of Snowed In with My Best Friend's Dad
"See? It's all settled. Oliver will take you home, and I’ll check on you later.” There was no sense in arguing with Lindsay.
As Oliver led me outside, I said, "You really don't need to drive me."
"You're doing me a favor by letting me take you home."
I eyed him skeptically.
"No, really. I didn't even want to come tonight.” He winced. "Not that I didn't want to meet you—”
I held up my hand. "I understand. I was talked into tonight as well."
He gave me a sheepish smile. "Are you really sick or did you find an excuse to leave? If so, it was brilliant. I wish I'd thought of it. "
"I'm not ill," I admitted.
"Your secret is safe with me."
Oliver was very sweet, and I was grateful that he took me home. He walked me to the door and assured me again that he wouldn't reveal my secret. I sure was gathering a lot of secrets these days.
Once inside, I went to my bathroom, stripping and getting in a hot shower to scrub Brett off my body. If only it was just as easy to scrub him from my mind. I hoped that with time, he’d become a distant regret. That the humiliation would subside. I could look back and chalk it up to the ignorance of youth.
I put on pajamas and climbed into bed. Only then did I cry. I grieved for giving myself to a man like Brett. For the hurt and humiliation that I felt. I’d give myself this night to wallow in self-pity. Tomorrow was a new day, a new year. Tomorrow, I’d leave Brett in the past and focus on my future.
My plan worked well. The next day, I cracked open my books to get a head start on the new semester. Two days later, school started, making it even easier to forget Brett. Well, not forget, but distract me from thoughts of him. I spent all my waking time in class or studying.
Lindsay thought I was nuts. “It’s all downhill from here. You don’t need to study so much.”
“I want to finish my college life strong.”
She shook her head. “You’re going to burn out, girl.”
By the beginning of February, I was starting to think Lindsay might be right. I was hit with exhaustion that made going to class and studying difficult. I decided to take the weekend to rest my brain and body by sleeping in and napping as much as possible.
I was half dozing Saturday morning when I heard Lindsay in the bathroom.
“Oh, thank God!" she cried out.
When she exited the bathroom, I called out from my bed, "Is everything alright?”
She popped her head in my door. "Did I wake you?"
"Nah. What's up?"
"I'm not pregnant!" She did a little dance in my doorway.
I arched a brow. “Was that a possibility?”
"Liam and I had a little mishap a week or so ago. But my monthly friend showed up today.” She let out a breath. "My dad would kill me if I got pregnant. He already thinks I'm irresponsible.”
“Your dad is no saint.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. Another testament to the fatigue.
“What makes you say that?" Her question seemed more like curiosity than offense.
Thinking quickly, I said, "Look at the plastic bimbos he dates."
She rolled her eyes. "He is a player, isn't he?"
I nodded, feeling relieved that I didn't tip my hand.
