“Maybe I could help take the edge off,” Kaitlyn said, walking over to me to rest her hand on my arm.
I shrugged her off.
Her eyes flashed with hurt. “I thought we had a connection, Parker,” she spat.
I shrugged. “I’m just busy with work.” It was a lame excuse.
“Right, busy working with your new assistant.” Kaitlyn glared at me. “You know, I thought to myself maybe this wasn’t happening because you didn’t want to date an employee, which is rational. I can respect that. But that is not this, is it.”
“We weren’t dating. We went on half a date,” I snapped. “It didn’t work out.”
Kaitlyn crossed her arms. “You’re so pathetic and predictable. You’re after Sadie because she’s a virgin. Men are always obsessed with virgins for some reason,” Kaitlyn said, tossing her hair. “I don’t see why. She’s going to lie there like a dead fish.”
“How did you know she was a virgin?” I asked suspiciously.
“Some guy posted about it on Reddit with a picture and everything.” She pulled out her phone, showing me.
Shit. Sadie was not going to like that.
“He said she threw herself at him, and it was weird and pathetic.”
I clenched my jaw. Vance.
Kaitlyn rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. This isn’t going to be weird between us. You’re going to play your little conquistador games with Sadie, you’ll see what a gold-digging time sink she is, then you’ll come crawling back to me. You’ll be craving the company of an actual intellectual. Enjoy your virgin.”
Kaitlyn had hit a nerve, and I suddenly hated her. Then I forced myself to kill the anger. I ran a hand through my hair. I really was starting to act like my father. He hated anyone who called him out on his shit. Kaitlyn was just hurt. I forced the rational part of my mind to get in control.
It was obvious: I needed closure on my father. He was living rent free in my head, making me second-guess myself. I knew I should tell Garrett or even Hunter or Remy, but my father was a demon who had haunted me my entire childhood. I needed to confront him on my own. I was a grown man. I refused to let him dictate my life.
I pulled out my phone.
“Take care of this,” I ordered myself then typed the message:
Parker:I’m willing to meet with you. Where will you be?
Leif:Meet me in New Bristol, the town 30 minutes to the south of Harrogate. I don’t want Garrett in my business.
I couldn’t believe I was doing this. I didn’t have to confirm. I could take my phone to Garrett, and he could take care of it.
You need to man up and take care of this yourself.There was no telling what Garrett would do. There was also no telling what he would do to me, but I would deal with that when the time came. Hopefully he would never find out.
* * *
After textingmy father with more details confirming time and place, I took off down the hill into town. It was late; I should go home. Instead, I found myself parked in front of Ida’s General Store. The light in Sadie’s apartment above was on. I wanted her more than anything else.
Parker:I’m looking at your window. Should I climb up?
Sadie:Uh, please don’t? It’s not a good time.
Sadie:Sorry I don’t mean to be awkward. See you tomorrow?
As I pulled out of the lot, I thought I saw her peek through the window from the rearview mirror. Why didn’t she want to see me? She had been doing this a lot. Was it because she was a virgin? Was it something else? What was she hiding?
36
Sadie
Icurled up on the bed after I watched Parker’s car drive away. At this rate, he was probably done with me. I bet he was running straight into Kaitlyn’s arms.
