“Have you talked to Tonya, yet?”
“No, sir.” The best way to get this over with quickly is by showing the most respect I can, even though he doesn’t deserve it.
“Why the hell not?” he demands.
“I haven’t had the chance, sir.”
“You don’t have a job, and all you do is hang out with the idiots you went to school with. Don’t give me the bullshit that you haven’t had time.”
“Sorry, sir. I’ll take care of it this week.” I lie through my teeth. I have no intentions in following through with their ridiculous plan.
“You better,” he says. “Don’t forget, everything you have, we’ve given you. We can take it all away, and let you struggle.”
“I understand.” I say and turn around taking the stairs two at a time so I won’t have to be in their presence any longer.
I don’t know why they think they can just buy people off. I know they aren’t hurting for money, but this affects more than just my life. And I’m not going to give up any claim on my daughter.
Closing the door to my room, I pull out my phone. I need to put a lock code on here before they get any ideas and start snooping through my phone to see what contact I’ve had with Tonya.
I’ve just set the passcode, and as I’m reaching toward the button to put it on the lock screen, a message pops up. It’s from a number I don’t know.
Unknown number:Yes
Me: Is this Charleigh
Unknown number: Do you hand out your number to a lot of girls?
Me: I knew you would change your mind.
Unknown number: don’t get cocky…
I quickly addher contact information to the number. Even though I’m still pissed at my parents, that one three letter word made my night slightly better. Now, it’s time to plan a date that will sweep her off her feet.
Ten
Charleigh
This apartment is notbig enough for the amount of pacing I’m doing. I lost count of how many times I’ve gone from one wall to the other. I’m starting to regret saying yes to Jake. I’m not even a hundred percent sure why I did. Maybe it was all the happy endorphins from being told I can start taking clients, who knows.
I’ve never been so nervous or apprehensive about a date. I should not have butterflies caused by a guy that I don’t even really know. The few times I’ve been around him all he’s done is annoy me…onpurpose. I mean, who does that?
I don’t even know what we’re doing. When I asked him what I needed to wear, he just replied back withsomething comfortable. Comfortable to me is a band t-shirt and yoga pants, but sure he doesn’t mean that sort of comfortable.
I’m almost tempted to text Bianca and ask her if what I’m wearing is okay, just so I have another female’s perspective.I quickly decide against that. Besides being super humiliating, it’s just one more thing for her to give me shit about.
I stop at the full length mirror hanging on the wall, first looking at all my sketches surrounding it, then studying myself. I have on light blue skinny jeans that hug the few curves I have just right. I paired them with a solid white tee, covered up by a plaid long sleeve shirt tied at the waist. I have no idea if where we are going is to be indoors and cold, or outside and hot. I finished the look off with my Vans. I’m tempted to switch them out for wedges but decide against it.
Running my fingers through my long, wavy hair, I make sure my makeup isn’t smeared after all my movement. I grab a hair tie and shove it in my small bag just in case I want to throw my hair into a ponytail later. Let’s be honest, it’s more than likely going to happen. I love my long hair, but it usually just gets in my way.
I’m starting to sit on the sofa so I don’t wear a hole in my floor with all the pacing when there’s a knock at the door. I jump. I knew he would eventually be here, but I still jump. The sound of his knuckles on the wood door scaring the hell out of me. I look at my phone. He’s early. Not by much but still. I figured he would be the type of guy that is always late.
I start speed walking to the door, my nerves pushing me forward. I pause, willing my feet to move at a normal pace. I continue to the door. Hands shaking as I grip the knob. I take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and open the door.
His hand is raised mid-air, as if he was about to knock again. He jerks back in surprise when it registers that the door is in fact already open. “I wasn’t sure you were going to answer.”
“I just had to put a few things in my bag,” I lie. He doesn’t have to know that I’m completely freaking out. I’ve been on dates before. But, not with anyone that has intrigued me, or driven me as crazy, as he does.
He takes a second to look me over. Starting at my feet and working his way up, until his eyes land on mine. “You look amazing,” he barely whispers.