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Keaton fidgets beside her, and I know that my dad notices. I want to tell her to stop, not to show weakness in front of him, because he will view that as weakness and attack. But I don’t. I only hold her hand a little tighter.
“How can that be? You said she was nothing,” he says, and I feel Keaton go rigid beside me.
“I didn’t—”
“You said there was nothing going on between the two of you,” he continues, as if I’m not even talking.
“There wasn’t at that point, but things changed,” I explain, heat blooming across my cheeks as my hatred for this man starts to boil.
“Of course they did. I only told you not to pursue her, so of course that was the first thing you did. Just one more thing to piss me off, because you love doing that so much,” he sneers, shaking his head in disapproval.
I feel Keaton’s arm go slack, and I know that I should turn and walk her out of this room right now. I should thank my mom and reschedule and then tell him to piss off. But I don’t.
“My being with Keaton has nothing to do with you,” I state, jabbing a finger in his direction, so close to losing my cool.
“Like hell it doesn’t. Boy, everything you’ve ever done has been some calculated maneuver to get back at me,” he proclaims, disgust pinching his features as he looks on at me.
“Of course you would think that,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“I don’t think it, I know it. Just like I know she is no good. Not for your career or this business,” he says, and I want to walk across the room and level him out.
“She has nothing to do with my career,” I yell, no longer able to remain calm.
“Finally, we agree on something,” he shouts right back.
“This is ridiculous,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief.
“No, what’s ridiculous is how absolutely careless and irresponsible you’ve become ever since you met her,” he says, pointing a firm finger across the distance at her, but still refusing to make eye contact with her.
“Oh whatever,” I scoff, ready to leave.
“From the accident to the absurd amount of money you spent to remodel her car, when all I told you to do was pay for the repairs, to your car being stolen,” he says, and that last part has me stopping, my chest freezing over like ice crawling through my veins.
“Stolen?” Keaton whispers beside me, but it’s still loud enough for my dad to hear.
“Yes, stolen. You didn’t think the insurance company would reach out? They faxed over the claim just now,” he says, pointing behind him in the direction of his office.
“Dad,” I say, wishing he’d shut up.
“What? Ashamed? You should be. They found the car, but we can’t get it back until after they question the little thug responsible,” he says.
Keaton gasps softly beside me, and I know she knows.
“This is why we don’t associate with south side trash,” he says.
At that, Keaton pulls her hand from mine, and storms out the front door. It’s all I can do to follow after her and not strangle my dad.
Chapter 57
This was a mistake. It was all a mistake. Today, yesterday, the day before… the relationship. All of it. I should have just trusted my gut and stood my ground. But no. Those pretty blue eyes pulled me in, made me feel special. Made me want things I shouldn’t. And then they let me drown, right there in the middle of his parents’ dining room. And I was the fool who let it happen.
Well, not anymore.
I storm across the foyer and yank open the front door, taking the steps in quick succession, wishing now more than ever that I’d forgone the heels.
“Keaton, wait,” Bodhi yells from behind me, but I don’t stop. Not until I’m standing beside his car, desperate for a way out of here.
“Keaton, don’t listen to him. He’s an asshole,” he says, coming up behind me.
