I’ve met plenty of powerful men.
Plenty of hungry, sexual men. And I did not want any of them.
But I want him.
I’m pulled from my thoughts as Rylee smacks my arm.
“What is up with you, weirdo? You okay?”
I shake my head with a smile. “Fine. I’m fine. I think I forgot to grab coffee before class this morning. My brain stopped working like two hours ago.”
“You were studying?”
“Yeah,” I lie, trying not to blush.
“Well,” Rylee says, leaning closer, “if that’s studying, I seriously need to re-evaluate my life choices.” She grins.
Makayla chimes in, “There’s a party at Fiji House tomorrow. Hula theme or something. You going?”
“I can’t,” I say, and this is not a lie. “I have a thing with my dad.”
“Oh,” Rylee says, feigning disappointment. “A…fun thing?”
“A hockey game,” I say. “You know… my dad and his Chicago Reapers.”
Makayla whistles softly. “Wow. That’s amazing. Your dad’s actually cooler than most people your age could ever dream of being.”
Rylee leans back, smirking. “Yeah, no kidding. Tall, sharp… scary in that ‘don’t mess with him’ way, but also ridiculously good-looking. Leanna, you have to admit, that’s impressive.”
I groan, half-laughing, half-cringing. “You make it sound like I live with a movie star.”
“Exactly!” Rylee grins. “And you’re the leading lady, living with him every day. Lucky—or unlucky, depending on how you look at it.”
Makayla winks. “Either way, you’ve got the coolest dad on campus. Hands down.”
I shake my head, smiling despite myself. “You two are ridiculous. But… thanks.”
The truth is, my dad rarely goes to the games. He claims he prefers watching them at home, but I know it’s more about keeping his profile low. People don’t readily know he owns the team, and he likes it that way. When he does show up, he takes the owner’s box and fills it with Campisi loyalists. To anyone, it appears to be a corporate outing.
I don’t love going to games.
There are many reasons, but mostly it’s the way my dad leans in and says, “One day, all of this will be yours.”
And that’s… awful.
Because, a.) I don’t want it.
And b.) Vince is usually within earshot, and later, when no one’s around, he makes me pay for it, physically.
Of course,my brothers will be taken care of when Dad passes.
I don’t want to think about that day, but death comes for us all. Eventually.
When he goes, trust funds will be waiting for all three of them, enough cash that they’ll never have to work another day in their lives.
But that doesn’t mean they’ll be happy.
Especially Vincenzo.
