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“Anything for you, baby girl. Promise me you’re still not mad at me?” I want to be upset with him for once again choosing work over me. He promised me his full attention the last weekend I was home, and like so many other times, he broke it.
“I told you. I forgive you. And it’s not like you won’t make it up to me with the credit card you gave me.”
He pulls away. “That’s for emergencies, Hazel.”
I laugh. “I know, Dad. I’m kidding.” Violet walks in, and my dad steps away.
“Hey, Dad’s done. He’s gonna take off. Wanna go check out the quad and get some dinner?” She nods and smiles back. “Cool. Sounds great. Nice meeting you, Mr. Winters.”
“Please, call me Heath,” Dad says, politely shaking her hand.
A few short beats pass before Violet nervously pulls away and addresses me. “Yep. Sounds good. Great. Nice meeting you. I’ll just be down the hall.” And then hurries out of our room.
“She seems nice, right?”
Dad clears his throat. “Yeah.” He grabs me back in his arms. “Going to miss you, kiddo.”
“Dad, I’ll be home before you know it. You probably won’t even notice I’m gone.” I feel bad the second the comment leaves my lips.
“Hazel,” he pulls me away from his chest, “I’m going to notice every second the house is no longer filled with your laughter and beautiful smile. It’s going to be extremely lonely. I may even make Gabriel move in with me to keep me company.”
The mention of Gabriel sends a tremor of anger down to my toes. The way he left me, bound and bare, overheated and aching. It took me a few minutes before I realized he wasn’t coming back. He didn’t walk into the house for any reason other than to abandon me. When I came to my senses, anger tore through my core, and the tears began to fall. How could he have left me like that? I was embarrassed and ashamed. He didn’t want me. He didn’t even care enough to tell me. To let me down gently. Anything would have been less humiliating. “Hey, I’m kidding. He and I wouldn’t last a day. He’s too damn controlling.”
“Oh, and you’re not?”
Dad laughs. “Exactly. Listen, promise me you’ll behave. Study and focus on school. You’re not here to party and meet boys.”
I roll my eyes. “Dad, it’s college. Those things all go hand in hand.”
“Not for you. If I hear anything fishy, I’m slashing throats and pulling you out of school. Understand?”
Geez, maybe my dad does have bigger control issues than Gabriel. A man I once lusted over. A man I now despise. “Fine. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Good. I have to get going so I don’t hit traffic. Anything you need, call me. Both of you.” He kisses me goodbye, and we step into the hallway. He and Violet share an awkward goodbye, and I laugh, knowing a lot of girls think my dad is hot.
“Ready?” I say to my new roomie.
“Yep. Let’s do it.”“This is awesome, isn’t it?” I pull Violet up the steps to our first college party and through the sea of drunk college students. It’s been a long week. Classes are more challenging than I had expected, and I swear every instructor is out to get us with the amount of homework and exams they give. I thought there would be more time to goof off, but Violet and I have spent all our time at the library studying and zero time enjoying the carefree college life. So tonight, both dressed to impress, we get to see what college is really about. And there’s nothing that can ruin how excited I am to finally get drunk and hopefully laid.
Once inside, I push through the crowd to grab a couple of drinks. I spot the keg, grab us two beers, and hand one to Violet. I swallow a huge gulp, almost choking it back up. “Gross. Guess we better get used to keg beer for the next four years.” I wipe at my mouth, scanning the room, hoping to find hard liquor. My eyes light up when I spot a counter in the kitchen littered with bottle after bottle. “Bingo!” I snatch Violet’s hand and drag her to the jackpot.
“I’m not really a big drinker,” she starts, but I shoo her off.
“That’s why you’re here. To become one.” I laugh and take two cups, pouring a double shot of tequila in each. Handing her one, I bang her cup. “Cheers to a fun night.” I throw my head back and drain my cup. The cheap liquor burns my throat. Definitely not the top-shelf stuff I’m used to. Either way, it does the job. I already feel the stress of the week evaporating. We dance and refill our drinks to the point that I’m feeling a million times better and lighter on my feet.
