And even though she’s not gonna get it—that’s not in my contract—I’m ready to make her think she will.
CHAPTER TWO – LYSSA
This week started out bad and only got worse.
My father is back. Not that I ever thought he’d completely disappear, but I had hopes. It’s been two years since he really bothered me. There was one iffy moment last summer when he tried to tell me what to do and how to act. And that one weirdo who attacked me in an alley a couple months ago and made me morph into fight mode. But I’m not positive that last one was my father. I tell myself it wasn’t because I need to believe. Can’t be sure though.
I think I shut my father down well enough this week to make him disappear back into the shadows he oozed out of for a while.
I think.
I hope.
I need to believe.
My father was tenacious, I’ll give him that. He called and left messages on Monday and Tuesday, then tried to approach me outside a bookstore on Wednesday, and actually waited for me in my building lobby on Thursday.
I successfully navigated my way through all of that. Then Friday… nothing. I thought maybe he’d gotten the hint.
But no. He called today and left a message that I have duties and I will be fulfilling said duties no matter what.
It left me feeling shaky and scared. My heart palpitating with thoughts of past bad days. Things like getting fingerprinted in police stations, and mug shots, and sentencing.
So what should a girl do when faced with that kind of week?
Party, of course.
So even though I’ve had a bad week the club is super fun tonight. All my friends from college are here and it’s nice to forget about the shit going on in my life, even if it is only for a few hours.
I’m gonna stay until they kick me out. I’m gonna drink, and dance, and maybe, if I’m really lucky, I’ll find someone cool to spend the night with.
Can’t go home, that’s for sure. My father will probably be waiting for me in the lobby again. Or hell, inside my apartment. It used to be a complete sanctuary, but not anymore.
I’m not going to think about that. Not now. All that crap will be waiting for me tomorrow. Right now all I want is a good time.
So we dance. Me and my friends. They are not close friends, but still. Familiar faces are enough right now. I need old habits. I need casual acquaintances. I need something… anything… to take my mind off all the problems swirling around in my brain.
But it would be really nice to meet someone new too.
A stranger. Someone who knows nothing about me and who I am. What I have or what I could do for them. Not that I have much that’s my own. It’s almost all his, isn’t it? That’s why most men like me. For him. My powerful step-father.
So when I see the tall guy walking towards me on the other side of the dance floor, my heartbeat picks up speed. He’s a possibility. Kinda dark. Dressed in blue, not tan, like every other guy in here. Tight-fitting shirt and jacket, stubble on his face—just the right amount, because I don’t do beards—and a look in his eyes that makes me want to stare at him.
I smile. Turn my head a little. Flirting.
He smiles back, then looks quickly away.
Oh, what do we have here? A player? Maybe?
I’m up for a game of Who Can Fake Indifference While Showing Interest. I practically invented that game.
“Lyssa!” someone shouts in my ear.
I turn to see Greg, and almost forget about my bad week. Because this is why I live these days. Greg and all his secrets keep me going. I don’t even have to force the smile I flash at him. “Hey!” I say, leaning in to his neck so he can hear me over the thumping music. “What are you doing here?”
“I need the money,” he says. “I’m sorry to bother you like this but—“
“No,” I say. “No, no, no. It’s fine. I have it.”
I turn away and push my way through the crowd to the booth where I’ve stashed my purse under my summer jacket, then take out the cash and turn back to Greg, handing it to him.
“They’d like to talk to you,” he says. Looking down at me with his dark eyes.
“Oh,” I say. “Is that really necessary?”
I know it’s my responsibility to take care of this business, but can’t I just have one night where I don’t have to deal with problems? I rally, because it’s important to look the part, and say, “Twenty minutes, OK?” Because that stranger in blue is still taking up a major part of my slightly drunk mind and I don’t want to let him go yet.