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“Maybe she does deserve more,” Lawrence says. “I’ve been trying so hard to get her involved in the business, so she can have money and a good life...then she will attract a good husband. Don’t get me wrong, she’s beautiful. She can have anyone she wants. But a good man with plenty of money can keep her afloat...but for that, I have to work hard first.”
“Did you ever think she might be able to fend for herself?”
“Every girl needs her Daddy. And a man to help her out, later in life,” he says nonchalantly. He grins at me. “Like you, for example. You’re going to make some woman a very happy lady one day. You’ve got it all, pal. Hey, where are you going?”
I’m walking away now. I’ve heard enough. If I stay a second longer, I’m going to end him for good. He’s so oblivious to his own flaws that he’s becoming someone that no one could ever like. How has he become the jeopardizing factor in my relationship with Zooey? I have to find her and tell her that he’s not worth shit. I have to make her mine.
Zooey
I don’t think I have ever felt worse in my life. I don’t know what I’m still doing at this dumb party when all it has brought me is a horrible rollercoaster of emotions. Walking away from Wes was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and I’m not even certain it was worth it. I still haven’t spoken to my father all evening, Poppy is too busy with some guy in the corner, and Wes hasn’t even bothered to chase me down, so what is the point?
This whole experience is miserable. I don’t want to speak to anyone. I just want to go home. I know I can leave by morning and never come back, but even morning feels too far away. I’m sick of being made to feel this awful, and removing myself from the scenario is the only way to escape my own emotions.
A few times since I left the hot tub, guys have come up to me, trying to chat me up, but I haven’t taken the bait at all. I’m not interested in anyone, but Wes. Now that Poppy has moved on from the couple she met on the first night, I’m questioning how she even manages to hop from person to person. It’s not a concept that has ever appealed to me. It’s partly what drew me to Wes, since he didn’t seem like that type of guy either. Wes is literally the only man I’ve ever been remotely interested in, and now that he is slipping through my fingers, I’m beginning to question why I even bothered with this in the first place. Maybe some people just aren’t meant to fall in love, to have a good life, to live happily ever after. Maybe I’m one of those people. I must have done something really shitty in a past life, though, because I can’t think of a single reason why I would deserve such devastating heartache.
I sigh as I see another man approaching me from across the room. It’s the guy that Poppy was hanging out with earlier. I think his name might be David. He’s not bad looking, but he’s got nothing on Wes, and I’m certain he’s about to attempt to chat me up. He’s swaying on his feet, drunker than most people. I slowly escape to the patio and around the side of the house to where the hot tub is. Unfortunately, he sees what I’m doing and follows me, forcing me to turn and give him a smile.
“Hi...it’s David, right?”
“Dave,” he corrects me. I nod to him awkwardly.
“Dave. Can I help you with something?” I ask, trying to keep the coldness from my voice. He grins at me, leaning on the wall to support his shaking body.
“That depends,” he says. “Perhaps you might be a little more exciting than your friend Poppy. I heard you’re single? Although I’ve seen you hanging out with the big man’s best friend...you’re Lawrence’s daughter, right? Seems a little risky for you to be chasing his pal.”
I frown. I was happy to be polite to this guy, but now that he’s brought Wes into the equation, I’m far from pleased.
“That’s none of your business really. And yes, I’m single, but it doesn’t mean that I’m interested in speaking to you. So perhaps you should try someone else.”
Dave laughs, shaking his head at me. “Oh, Zooey…I don’t think so. It’s you I want.”
He moves toward me, grabbing my waist with his clumsy hands.I might be desperate for love, I might be desperate to belong to someone, but a man like Dave can never give me what I want, no matter how many times he tries to push himself on me. I yell out as I push him away, watching him stumble in surprise. His features go dark, and I see the real him. The one who is so fragile that he can be harmed deeply by a girl’s rejection. The type of man who gets suddenly aggressive after not getting what he wants. He practically snarls at me.
