Page 30 of Out of Place

To be fair, my dress was very low cut, but still.

“Are you and your mom close?” he asks.

“Um, I wouldn’t say that. Not anymore, at least.” We used to do things together all the time, but it was always things she wanted to do where I had to be the perfect daughter. I couldn’t have a hair out of place. It got to be too much for me. It seemed I could never meet her expectations of me. I lashed out and rebelled. Started looking for attention from random guys. I got caught up in the party lifestyle and didn’t look back.

“Why not?”

I scoff. “You know who my mother is, right? She’s perfect. A beauty queen. I’m her opposite. Far from perfect. A disappointment.”

He frowns. His fingertips trail down my cheek, and I lean into his touch without thinking. “You’re the furthest thing from a disappointment, sweetheart.”

I used to hate when he called me that, but now, with his voice low and husky, it sends a flutter straight to my core.

I narrow my eyes at him. “You don’t even know me.”

“I’m trying to change that. There’s a party tomorrow night, down by the lake. Come with me.”

The word party piques my interest even though I know it won’t be anything like the parties back home. Anything would be better than nothing, though. But still. . . something seems suspicious.

“Why would I go with you?” I ask

“Why wouldn’t you?” he counters.

“You haven’t exactly been welcoming.”

He tilts his head to study me. “I think you’re confusing me with someone else. I drove you home that one day and have shown you the ropes. And I’m giving you driving lessons. I would’ve thrown you a welcome party, but I didn’t know you were coming until you showed up here.”

I look away. He’s right. He’s the only one who’s been nice to me.

“Come on. It’ll be fun. I’ll pick you up around five. Wear your bathing suit.”

“Fine,” I say with a forced huff, not wanting to show him how excited I am to go to a party. Hopefully, there will be enough people there that I won’t have to talk to Camden at all since he’s the one who seems to have it out for me.

* * *

Dottie is hesitant to allow me to go to the party, but when I tell her Landon is picking me up and bringing me home, she relents.

I call Serena while I’m getting ready. I’ve hardly had a chance to talk to her since I’ve been here. I’m so tired by the end of each day that I fall asleep instead of calling her. I’m a shitty friend, but she doesn’t hold it against me.

Hearing her voice reminds me of home and how much I miss it. I admit I don’t miss the hangovers, but I miss the city and the people and my life.

“I can’t believe you’re going to a real cowboy party,” Serena squeals into the phone.

“I don’t know if I would call it a cowboy party. It sounds like some people just hanging out at a lake.”

“Uh, yeah, but I bet one of them will be wearing a cowboy hat, which makes it a cowboy party.” I don’t know if I agree with that logic, but ok. “I’m so jealous. I bet they’re all hot as fuck.”

Landon’s face immediately pops into my head, but I quickly shake it away. “They’re alright, I guess.”

“I wonder if your new boyfriend will be there.” She laughs, and I groan. I never should’ve told her about Dawson, and I never should’ve agreed to go out with him. He’s been blowing up my phone ever since. I tried to be nice about it, but I finally had to tell him I wasn’t interested in seeing him again.

“I hope not. He’s so boring,” I whine.

“Still, I’m proud of you for going on an actual date. And you didn’t even let him fuck you afterward. That’s a big improvement. Put it on your ‘how I’m maturing’ list for Mom and Dad. That should be a step in the right direction for your inheritance, right?”

It’s almost embarrassing that keeping my legs closed is an actual improvement for me. I enjoy sex. Who doesn’t? When sex started to get boring, I tried doing it with a lot of different men, but they all fell flat.

Maybe I’m the problem. Maybe I’m asking for too much. But I don’t think so. I shouldn’t have to settle, right?