“You talk like you want to get revenge on her.” I don’t know how to react. Don’t know what to say. His words fill me with fear. He could push her to admit things I never want her to confess. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen my dad like this.
“Maybe I do.” He laughs, but it’s an angry sound, as if torn from his throat. “Maybe I want to make her suffer. Make her look like a stupid slut. I gave her everything. When we first met, she was perfect. Beautiful, fun, thoughtful, and amazing in bed.”
I grimace. Last thing I want to hear. “Didn’t need to know that.”
“Come on, Drew. You’re an adult. That sort of comment shouldn’t bother you.” He studies me. “Now that I think ofit, you haven’t mentioned your little girlfriend. Are you two still together?”
My entire body stiffens at the reminder of Fable. “We broke up.” Not really, but technically we were never together, so what else can I say?
“That’s a shame.” His words are completely insincere. “Not that I thought she was the sort of girl for you.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I growl, flexing my hands into fists.
“You know exactly what I mean. She’s the sort of girl you screw on the side, not the one you keep forever.”
I stand so fast I knock my chair into the person sitting behind me. My blood boiling, I glare at my father, but all I can see is red. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Fable is one of the best people I’ve ever known. She’s loyal, kind, sweet…”
Dad’s gaze meets mine, his eyes full of contempt. I’m making a scene and he doesn’t like it. I really couldn’t give a shit. “If she’s so great, why aren’t you with her?”
The truth falls from my lips with ease. “Because I’m not good enough for her.”
I leave the restaurant without another word.
Fable
“You look different.”
I smooth my hand over my newly colored hair, my freshly painted nails catching my eye. They’re red, as bright as the color coating my lips, and I feel like a different person. But I want to show indifference. As if this sort of thing is commonfor me. That handsome men who just so happen to be my boss whisk me to a popular and expensive hair salon in the late afternoon without an appointment and pay for my complete makeover. All the while he’s standing by with a satisfied grin on his face, as if he’s solely responsible for my transformation.
Which he sort of is.
I should be insulted. Colin taking me to the salon is basically saying I don’t look good enough to work for him. That I need to change—at least physically.
But secretly, it’s also flattering, his attention. No one pays attention to me. They all just…count on me to get stuff done. My mom, my brother, my old boss at La Salle’s—yep, I gave notice this morning, finally. Drew paid attention for a little while, but he’s too wrapped up in his own problems to worry about mine.
I miss him. I hate that I miss him, but I do. Funny how someone can come into your life for such a brief time yet leave such a lasting impression. He permanently imprinted himself on my heart, and I permanently imprinted his name on my skin.
It’s silly, longing for a man who doesn’t long for me.
“Your hair—the blond is darker.” Jennifer smiles at me, nodding with approval. “I like it. Suits you better.”
Colin is a great boss, but he employs a bunch of bitches at his restaurant. And I’m starting to realize why they’re so bitchy—we’re all in direct competition with one another, not only for being the most wanted waitress at The District, thus getting the most in tip money at the end of the evening, but also to be the most wanted waitress in Colin’s eyes. Which is all sorts of fucked up if I think about it too long.
So I banish the realization from my brain, something I’m so good at.
Jennifer so far has been the nicest to me, but she was the new girl on the block until I showed up, so she’s probably thankful there’s a fresh target here for them to hate. She’s pretty in an exotic, almost mysterious way, which I find amusing considering her standard, every-girl name. She has long straight-as-paper black hair, large dark brown eyes, and olive-colored skin, and she’s so incredibly tall, I get a crick in my neck if I stare up at her for too long.
She’s everything I’m not. We’re complete opposites in every way.
“Did Colin take you to get your hair done?” she asks as we set the tables for the evening. I’m doling out the silverware, she’s setting out the freshly polished glasses, and I’m so startled by her question, I stand there with my mouth hanging open for a second. Long enough that she speaks again.
“It’s okay to admit it. He took me for a haircut and mini makeover when I first started.” She smiles, her cheeks tinged red. “Colin likes to take in strays and fix them up. ‘Bring us to our full potential,’ is how he phrased it to me.”
Her words make me feel the tiniest bit less special, and I want to smack myself. “Don’t you think that’s sort of…”
“Weird?” she finishes for me with a rueful smile.
“Yeah.” I finish setting the silverware on the table and watch her as she carefully adjusts the last water glass, placing it sit just so. The table linens are a perfect, creaseless white, with an equally perfect silver bowl sitting in the middle, full of freshly cut flowers the colors of spring. All vibrant pinks and lavenders and whites, they add a touch of sophisticated glamour to an otherwise plain palette.
