I haven’t mentioned it to anyone, but that night at the party, she’d seemed more upset than usual. I’d called Lisa away because I’d seen the anger growing in Susie that night and knew that if she’d done anything to her, I’d have retaliated for sure, and no one would win.
But Lisa seems so unaware of the danger Susie poses, which is another reason I doubt what Chad had said and something that bothers me a bit. On the one hand, I should tell her, warn her at least about the kind of person Susie is, and on the other, it’s my job to protect her from that mess. As her man, I’m supposed to shield her from all danger. How do I do both without scaring her?
I selfishly don’t want her to join that particular sorority because of Susie, but wouldn’t I be taking something she wants away from her, robbing her of something she wants because of that idiot? Somehow that doesn’t feel right. Susie’s my problem; I’ll be damned if she becomes Lisa’s.
I’ve made it a point all these years to ignore her, not even calling her out on the shit she’s done because I saw that as the best course of action, the best way not to feed into whatever she’s got going on in her head, but now with Lisa in my life I’m kind of rethinking that stance.
Ever since Chad gave me the heads-up, I’ve been stressing about it, but I still can’t bring myself to give her that much importance in our lives. Besides, Lisa’s the type to tell me if something was bothering her, but for the last few days, all she could talk about was her new car that was arriving any day now and how she couldn’t wait to start driving lessons. Aside from that, her only interest was in my dad and his preparation for the medical trial that was coming up soon, something we were both excited about.
I have yet to call and thank her dad for his part; though my parents are already on top of it, I know I’ll have to see him at some point, not only about that but about his daughter’s future with me. Lisa doesn’t mention her parents much, but I get the idea that they’re loaded, something anyone would know once they learn where she’d grown up.
I never pushed her about her background or he finances because it wasn’t important to me, but now that I’ve given her the heart of me, I can’t help but worry if I’d measure up in her dad’s eyes. It must mean something that he’s willing to help my dad out, and I’m hoping that it means he’s reasonable enough to give us his blessing even though I don’t come from much.
To have raised a daughter like her, they must have more substance than some of the snobs I’ve seen on campus; at least, that’s my hope. It wouldn’t matter anyway; she’s suckered me in for life. Any girl who can go up in flames like that at my mere touch is a keeper.
Speaking of which, it’s been hell keeping my hands off her in the days since she almost jumped me. I’ve kept it to kisses that start out light but end up on the incendiary list according to where we are. I doubt my little virgin even understands what she does to me when she gets all clingy and cute from just a simple hug.
Just thinking about it brought a smile to my face, which didn’t go unnoticed by my nosy ass friends, and I wrapped my arm around her, forgetting for a moment that we were in a roomful of people who all seemed to have their eyes trained on our table. The light of pleasure that entered her eyes was enough for me to ignore the whispers and murmurs that were no doubt about my display.
Sometimes I forget how much my reputation has changed since she came here, that it’s not only Susie who has me in her crosshairs. Funny, I never thought of it before; it didn’t seem important. Why should anyone care that I was dating someone after years of rejecting offers? But now that I feel the stares of interest, some of them not so nice, I realize I might’ve been negligent.
“Baby, has anyone been bothering you?” Her look of confusion helped ease the sudden unease I was beginning to feel. And that innocent shake of her head made me want to wrap her up tighter, protect her from any backlash for getting caught up with me.
“Why do you ask? Has something happened?”
“No, nothing happened; I just asked.” She wrinkled her nose like a bunny, so cute, and even that got a rise out of me. How could her little ass make me feel so much? I drew her in and kissed her, surprising us both since I try not to make a spectacle of her around my nosy ass boys. “Stop, baby.” She’s getting carried away again.