AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Because some perceived threat to your designation as the smartest kid in class wasn’t enough to bring about the kind of vitriol you used to hurl my way.”
“Shows how much you know,” she said with a snort. “It was imperative that I remain the number one student in class, and you messed it all up.”
“If you’d told me that back then, I would have gladly flunked all my finals for you,” Drew said.
She looked at him over her shoulder, a huge smile spread across her face. “You’re lying.”
“Not at all,” he said. “Especially if I could have gotten something in return for my sacrifice.”
She smacked his arm. “I would not have given youthat.” She paused. “Okay, so it’s possible I would have.”
Drew burst out laughing. “Being valedictorian was not that serious, London.”
“Actually, it was,” she said. Her voice no longer held any of the previous amusement.
Drew gently nudged her, encouraging her to turn around. She did, flipping onto her back and staring up at him.
“Why?” he asked.
“I told you that too. Because it was the only way to get my dad to acknowledge I even existed.” Her sad smile broke his heart. “I’ve spent way too much of my life desperately seeking my dad’s approval. I’ve come to the realization that I’ll never get it, and, even better, that I don’t need it. But back then?” She huffed out a laugh that didn’t hold an ounce of humor. “Pleasing my dad meant everything. It makes me physically ill to think of how much I clamored for any little drop of attention I could get from him, any indication that he was proud of me.”
“London, you were an A student. How could your dadnotbe proud of you?”
She turned over fully and brought her elbow up so that she could rest her head in her upturned palm. Drew tried not to notice what that did to her breasts.
“I’ll give you an example of what it was like to grow up as Kenneth Kelley’s daughter,” she said. “When you graduate from medical school and start your first year of residency, there’s a ceremony that takes place called the White Coat Ceremony. It’s exactly what it sounds like, an event where med students are officially given their white coats, signifying that they’ve completed the required coursework to become medical professionals. It’s not as big a deal as graduation, of course, but it’s still pretty special.
“A number of my fellow med school classmates were from out of state, and their families made the trip to Austin to attend the ceremony, some coming from as far as Seattle and even British Columbia.” She looked at him. “Want to know where my dad was the day of my White Coat Ceremony?”
Drew nodded, but part of him really didn’t want to know.
“My little brother’s baseball game,” she said.
He frowned. “Your little brother had to be pretty young, right?
“Miles was four years old. This was Tee Ball, just a regular game.”
“Damn, London.”
“Before Miles was born, Kenneth was just your typical uninvolved parent. He figured that as long as he provided financially, his obligations were covered. However, once he finally got the son he’d always wanted…” She shook her head. “The only thing I regret is trying as hard as I did for as long as I did to have some kind of relationship with him.
“The only reason I have one now is because my mom encouraged it, and because of my younger siblings. Still, it’s superficial, at best. My days of trying to be anything to him are long over.”
“Andhe’sthe reason you hated me?” Drew asked. “Meaning, if you’d come to this conclusion back when we were in high school, there’s a possibility you wouldn’t have treated me like a pariah?”
“Sorry.” She shrugged. “Kenneth really does ruin everything.”
“He doesn’t deserve you as a daughter,” Drew said. He leaned over and captured her mouth in a deep kiss. “What’s his dream car?” he asked.
London pulled back. “What?”
“Your dad? What’s his dream car?”
“I have absolutely no idea. Why does that matter?”
“Because I want to buy one for you just to fuck with him. Can you imagine how jealous he would be to see you riding around in a Bentley or a Maybach?”
She burst out laughing. “No, thanks. Throwing money around to show off is exactly the kind of thing my dad does,” she said. “That being said, your idea is next-level petty and I love it.”
