“I’m not good with company right now.” I don’t know if he understands me since I’m speaking with a full mouth.
He sighs. “Olivia, give her a chance.”
I can’t, considering the parade of pretty faces that have moved through his house and through my life. Every new potential “mommy” has only been inconvenienced by me. Dad would believe any act that these women put on as long as he got a sweet smile out of it.
This newest girlfriend, Sophia, is at least close to his age, and stunning.
“She’s fine, but I don’t need to be around her.”
“She likes you, Olivia.”
“Yeah, as much as she likes complex math problems.” I snort.
“Liv, I like her. Do this for me.”
“Dad, it took her what, two months to move in? She’s just like the others—eager for your money and hoping you’d soon hop into your grave willingly.” As nice as she was to his face, I’d overheard enough of her haughty, nasty phone calls to know what she wanted. “She wants a sugar daddy, and face it, you fit the bill.”
“Olivia!”
“Was it Stephen who got you to break up with the tramps before her? It clearly wasn’t me or my complaints.”
His face turns red. Just like it does every time I’ve mentioned Stephen in the last month and a half since the rumors started. Lately, it’s been less lecture and more rage from him.
“I think for myself.” Dad won’t even say Stephen’s name.
I shrug and take another bite of ice cream.
He takes a slow breath, one I know he’s learned from the “stay-at-home yoga instructor” taking over his life. Sophia got me to take one class with her—wine yoga. She gave me a bottle of water instead and, of course, she had to call me out to criticize my form, making all her friends laugh. It was humiliating.
“Look, baby,” Dad tries again. “I’d appreciate it if I got to see you more. I want to be a part of your life and not just get the…short version. I want to see you happy and smiling like you used to do when I’d visit.”
I was happy until you ruined it. I don’t have any evidence, but I just know in my gut that my dad had something to do with Stephen breaking up with me. The only thing that would keep Stephen from me is my dad.
I sigh. I’m exhausted from this short time with him.
“Just…think about it,” he murmurs. He starts to walk away but he hesitates and looks at me like he wants to ask me something, but then he continues out the door. As soon as he’s far enough away, I check my phone. I have texts from my two best friends, Jane and Izzy, but nothing else.
I chew my lip, knowing I’m at the cusp of making a bad choice, but my fingers are faster than my brain. I click on Instagram and check a page that posts the latest gossip. There is Stephen with not one, but two girls hanging in his arms as he walks out of a nightclub. He’s so handsome. The faintest of laugh lines grace his face. He looks happy, not a trace of breakup on him. He’s smart, sexy, sophisticated, and rich. No wonder women are drooling all over him.
Izzy calls me before I can fall down the rabbit hole of nostalgia.
“Bitch, where are you!” She giggles over the loud music in the background. “Girls’ night?”
“I don’t feel like going out,” I grumble, looking at my oversized pajamas.
“Stop being a Debbie Downer and get out here. You need fun, not wallowing.”
I’m grieving, mourning, and tired. “I’m just not feelin’ it.”
“Oh, you can feel plenty if you get your butt out here. No man will turn you down if you just flash a smile.”
“Sorry, all out of those.”
“Then we’re coming over,” Jane’s voice takes over. “I mean it. No, Iz, don’t chase the jock! Come on!” she yells away from the phone.
“But—” Iz groans.
“Woman in need on the line.” Jane huffs, then addresses me again. “Pizza and ice cream plus sappy romance movies?”