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“What the fuck is wrong with you, Aria? Get your shit together and get the fuck away from us.”
“Oh, don’t you worry, Brady. I’ve got my shit together” She smiles over at Darby like he’s a prize. “I know where I stand and where you stand. One of us refuses to let anybody close, because he doesn’t have the first clue how to be in a relationship or how to love someone back.
“Poor little rich boy with mommy and daddy issues. It’s old now, Brady. Time to grow up. Let me tell you; one of us should be watching our back, and it’s not me. Have fun riding his dick tonight, princess. Just remember you are one of many. Bye-ee.” She shakes her fingers in a mocking wave, then Aria walks away, pulling Darby behind.
Meanwhile, I am so angry that I want to hit something, but I have no one to be pissed at but myself, for hooking up with that train wreck in the first place. Turning around, I look at Nat, not sure what I’m expecting. “Jesus. Natalie. I don’t even know what to say.”
She reaches for my hand and intertwines our fingers. “It’s not your fault that Aria is a nasty person. Let’s get out of here before she comes back.” She’s not looking at me, and I don’t blame her. Walking back to the car in silence, I hate that a stupid decision I made last year just ruined this night, almost as much as I hate the idea that that bitch Aria may be right.
I don’t have issues, I just don’t have any clue if my parents love each other for more than what they can do for each other.
I always told myself I wouldn’t settle for that kind of relationship.
When I finally let myself have one, it was going to be with someone special.
Someone worth it.
The problem is, Natalie’s worth everything, and she deserves so much more than me.
34
Natalie
Nothing like a jilted ex to ruin an evening.
Well, try to ruin an evening, and maybe an ex?
I don’t even know what the hell happened back there. Tonight was perfect. Everything about it was perfect, until it just wasn’t. The inside of the SUV is quiet. The radio is off, but in stark contrast to the ride up to the festival, where we couldn’t stop talking, neither of us has spoken a word since we started driving home.
I have a feeling that if I don’t come up with a way to salvage this night in the next few minutes, our first date is going to be our only date, and I refuse to accept that.
When we pull up to the stop sign at the end of my street, I decide enough is enough.
Turning in my seat, I study Brady’s clenched jaw.
He looks like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s tense, and gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles are white. It’s more than evident that my night is about to be over if I don’t do something now.
“Brady, are you taking me home?” I’m hoping that he can hear the disappointment in my voice, but he doesn’t acknowledge it if he does.
“That was my plan.”
“You know you don’t have to, right? What happened back there wasn’t your fault.”
“It kinda was. Aria thinks I screwed her over last year, and this was her way of screwing with me. I don’t want that touching you. That’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair, QB, is you deciding what’s best for me. I get enough of that from everyone else in my life. I was hoping you wouldn’t be another person that puts me in that box. I don’t want to go home yet, Brady. I’m not ready for the night to end yet.”
He doesn’t answer me but drives past my house, taking the first right then left. “Oh, my God. Is this street named Kroydon Hill Lane? Like Kroydon Hills Prep and the town of Kroydon Hills?”
“Yeah, it is. My mom is a Kroydon. Her family founded the town. Our house is at the top of the hill. It’s the original Kroydon Manor house.”
“Wait. So, am I like dating a local celebrity?”
He finally cracks a smile at that. “Says the daughter of a Super Bowl-winning, pro football coach.”
“At least it lightened you up a little, QB.” I try smiling at him, but he doesn’t look at me. We make our way up a winding, tree-lined driveway to a gorgeous nineteenth-century farmhouse. It appears to have been impeccably restored. It’s done in old flagstone in greys and creams. You can tell that additions have been added over the years, but they blend into the original house beautifully.
It has to be 6,000 square feet. The floor to ceiling windows all have black shutters. Both the four-car detached garage as well as the driveway are done in similar stone. “Wow. Brady. Your home is amazing. It looks like it should be in Architectural Digest or something.”
