She nods and walks off. At least she isn’t trying to hit on me again. I have zero patience for that tonight.
“I appreciate you telling me. I want to protect that girl with all I have. Today, I saw some guy corner her in the stairwell. He was trying to touch what was mine, and I swear I could have punched him. He was such a pussy too.”
Jameson laughs. “I feel sorry for all the guys that look at Liv with a possessive fuck like you.”
“You mean a boyfriend like me?” I quirk my eyebrows up and down.
“Shut the fuck up!” Jameson looks at me in disbelief.
“I shit you not, my friend.”
“Well, damn it to hell. I didn’t think I’d see the day Dax claimed someone as his girlfriend.”
I ponder, letting him know the rest. The conversation I had with my dad in his office is still fresh in my mind.
“I guess you should know that I told my dad about her today. My mom was talking to him about me bringing a presentable date to her fundraiser this year.”
Jameson laughs. “Well, can you blame her? You brought that girl with a subzero IQ and looked like a high-priced call girl.”
I feign shock. “Excuse me, but she was hot, and I wasn’t looking for an intellectual discussion that night.”
Simone brings us our shots, and we both toss them back and suck on the lime that accompanies our drinks.
Changing the subject off Liv, I ask him, “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know what I can do at this point,” he quickly responded. “I can’t make her like me. She isn’t my girlfriend, and I don’t know how I can change her feelings for me.”
I pull out my phone and check my messages. “Is she worth it?”
Jameson goes to speak and then stops abruptly. I can see he is trying to choose his words carefully. I put my phone down to give him my full attention.
“I don’t know. I’m friends with Eduardo, but I know my limits of trying to cross that guy. When he sets his sights on something, he won’t stop until he gets it. If Emma wants him instead, then that is her choice. I can’t make her want me.”
I know that, without a doubt, Liv is worth it to me and more than that. She is my everything. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to claim her as mine. The thought of anyone else with her makes my blood boil. I don’t care if it makes me look like a caveman, but I will gladly throw her over my shoulder and prevent her from talking to anyone else if need be. I hope that guy from today doesn’t become a future problem. I saw his chicken-shit face and knew I had stopped that before it started. I will annihilate him if need be.
Jameson and I take another shot and change the subject to lighter things. He asks about how my parents are and about the upcoming visit with Liv in tow. I know that my mom will love her. What’s not to love about her? She is the girl next door. She’s tall, sexy and does so without trying. There is nothing fake about her. She’s also intelligent and driven. Even with her hair in a messy bun, she’s elegant, with her long neck and beautiful features. My mom will be ecstatic to see us together. Let’s be honest. Liv is hot as fuck in my eyes and has rocked my world. She’s the entire package and all mine. While I daydreamed about Liv, Jameson changed the conversation to lighter subjects and seemed in better spirits. The alcohol is probably a temporary balm to ease his calloused thoughts. I’ll have to find out more about Liv and her roommate. If she is in danger, I will make sure she’s safe. Jameson isn’t wrong about my last date, but my priorities have changed, or it could just be because of my girl. I like the way that sounds—My girl.
ChapterTwenty-Five
Liv
I replaythe conversation with Dax over and over in my head. I still can’t believe that he wants me to meet his parents. As I drive toward his place, I do my best to control the butterflies in my stomach. The week flew by with our busy schedules. He’s working late today and wanted me to meet him at his house so we could leave from there. At first, I was reluctant to go over and let myself into his place without him there but he assured me it was fine. When I told Emma about our plans, she…well, she squealed while jumping up and down, clapping her hands. In her mind, this means we’ve moved from casually dating to a serious relationship. Maybe that’s what has butterflies going rampant in my stomach. But at the same time, I know in my gut this is what I want. He is what I want.
When I asked her if she thought things were going too fast, she just gazed at me with a faraway look in her eyes. I called out her name, and she looked at me and smiled. Her smiles hardly reach her eyes these days. Far from the girl I graduated nursing school with—a girl who has become one of my best friends and confidants. She thinks I don’t notice how she always tries to appear so happy and self-assured. However, the smile she gave me was a no holds back one. A full one with a hidden meaning—a secret she knew that she wasn’t sharing.
“Liv, sometimes you just have to take a chance. Especially, if you know he’s the one.”
I waited for her to elaborate, but no explanation came.
Then she got right to business, picking out my outfit. She helped me get dressed and do my makeup while dancing around our apartment. I kept my alcohol intake to only one glass of champagne as we primped in front of the mirror, and I let her help me enjoy getting ready to meet my man and his parents tonight. I would hate to show up at Dax’s parent’s house to meet them looking anything less than my best. You only have one shot at making a first impression, right?
I decided on a black fitted jumpsuit—classy, comfortable, and the shoes I borrowed from Emma pulled it all together. At least that’s one thing we can share. I look at myself in the full-length mirror, turning back and forth to get a good look at the whole ensemble. I’m officially almost six feet tall with these stilettos, but Dax is a tall guy, so I can get away with heels like this. Brodie pops into my mind. He wasn’t as tall, so I tended to wear short-heeled shoes. Thinking about him immediately makes me sad. I should really check on him again soon. I have had a lot of clinicals, so I haven’t had the energy or time.
Between seeing Dax, hanging out with Emma, studying and running, driving across town to Brodie’s house wasn’t the easiest. I need to make time in my schedule to see how he is holding up. Electing to Uber over to Dax’s place, I made it there in record time. Or, maybe my thoughts just went rampant that I didn’t pay attention between my thoughts and the chatty Uber driver. Either way, I get out of the car and this time get to walk in through the front entrance. Having a concierge in Houston is a nice luxury. I’m let in on through to the elevators. I hit the button for the floor of Dax's Luxury apartment. I let the ride relax me as I am trying my best to collect my thoughts. I need to calm down after overthinking about him wanting me to meet his parents. I was excited when he let me know the plans and concerned that maybe things were progressing too fast. I am here now, so I hope everything goes smoothly tonight.
I walk the hall slowly and when I get to his door, I feel calmer or so I thought. I ring the doorbell and am greeted by a very sweaty Dax.
“Hey, babe. I just finished a workout downstairs and need to take a quick shower.”
