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I looked down, his intent gaze only made me feel more awkward.
Of course, I knew he cared for me. He’d just always cared more for Mom. When she passed away, he practically closed himself off. He still contacted me to come home and spend time with him sometimes, and I’d been doing it more often after the divorce. I didn’t think it would be a simple thing to close the distance between us, but if he was willing to try, then I wasn’t going to say no.
I’d always been closer to Mom, and it had caught us both completely off guard when she died. I didn’t want to have any regrets when Dad left me, too.
“That’s fine, Dad,” I said, clearing my throat. I looked up and smiled. “So, when are you guys getting married?”
His expression softened. “In about six weeks, we’re still working through some things, so I can't give you a specific date. Will you come?”
“Sure, Dad.”
He was holding an olive branch out to me for the first time in decades; I wasn’t going to say no. Besides, I was truly curious about who this woman was. Dad had only ever had such a soft expression when it came to Mom, even when it was me, he’d face me with a stern look no matter what.Chapter Seven
Ben“Hey, Ben. What’s up with you, you look like you’re in a bad mood.”
I looked up and scowled at Andy. He was one of the guys I usually hung out with. He wasn’t on the swimming team, though he did play a sport, so I didn’t spend a lot of time around him.
“It’s nothing,” I muttered, distracted.
We weren’t close, so I wasn’t about to tell him the whole story. I was sure my friends would find it hilarious if I told them about this, so I wouldn’t be saying anything to them, either.
Suddenly, I was very glad I decided not to when I thought about bragging to my friends about my girlfriend. I hadn't even talked to Sandra after I found out it wasn’t her I’d been texting, and I didn’t know what I was going to tell her, because I was more interested in this texter than I was in her.
She’s not going to be happy when she finds out.
To begin with, Sandra wasn’t the kind of girl that dated just anyone. I’d known her for all four years at school, though I’d only grown interested in her last year. The one thing I’d been looking forward to in my final year was getting to date her, and now, all I wanted was to avoid her. She’d even sent me a text with her number, so I wouldn’t get it wrong again, but I never bothered to text back.
If I didn’t speak to her, she’d get the idea. Maybe she’d be angry, but I didn’t care. Besides, she had a lot of guys after her, so she could replace me easily enough.
What I want is for this person to text me back already!
I’d sent a text yesterday, and I waited all night for her to say when and where we could meet. I knew whoever it was, was at least an adult and lived in the same area, so meeting at night shouldn’t have been too much trouble.
She never replied.
“Does it have anything to do with Sandra?” Andy asked. “I thought you guys were good.”
So did I.
I frowned up at Andy. I’d almost forgotten he was there. We were both in the cafeteria; I’d been sitting alone with something in front of me I’d only half-eaten before I got bored with it. Andy must have seen me and walked over before noticing I was preoccupied.
“Where did you hear that from? Did someone say something?”
Sandra had a lot of friends, and a lot of them liked to gossip. Even if she’d told a few of them and not posted something on social media, it would spread, and it would be annoying to deal with.
Not that I could blame her. We were about to fuck, and I practically shoved her out of my room because I was ‘busy’ with something. Maybe she’s been going around telling people I’m a kinky bastard.
Rumors were the biggest annoyance there was. I knew a lot of people talked about me, but I paid zero attention to it. What did it matter to me, what people I didn’t even know were saying about me? I only cared if they said it to my face.
“I did hear something,” Andy said with a shrug. “Just that something happened. Did you two break up?”
“Not exactly,” I muttered. “It’s complicated. I got to go.”
I didn’t want to talk, and he would probably keep asking, so I cleared out quickly. I checked my phone, but there was still nothing, and I hesitated before deciding not to send another text.
