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“We are going to Bristol’s house,” Cassie said. “I didn’t lie to my dad about that.”
“It’s none of my business.” The last place I wanted to be was between Jude and his daughter. I also had no desire to get caught up in Bristol’s strange obsession with her friend’s dad. Rich people were odd.
“Have a good night.” Cassie hugged me. “I’m sure my dad will be home one night this week. Being with him can be lonely, but you’ll find other things to do while you’re waiting for him.”
If Jude wasn’t home, I didn’t have to worry about fulfilling my end of the bargain. Not that I hadn’t thought about giving Jude what he wanted, especially after that kiss in the hotel room the other night. Actually, I didn’t think of much else.
“Don’t stay up too late waiting for Jude,” Bristol said. “I’m sure he’s busy occupying all those rich and desperate women who go to his club.”
“Ignore her,” Cassie said. “She doesn’t know anything about my dad.”
I waved as they made their way down the hall and to the main staircase. I hoped Cassie knew what she was doing. Jude did not seem like a man who liked being lied to or defied. The little I knew about Bristol made me uneasy. And if Josh was any good for Cassie, why would she hide it from her dad?
Whatever.I had enough of my own problems. I didn’t need any teenage drama. I never even got to be a teenager when I was a teenager. Why would now be any different? I had to figure out how to navigate my own situation, and figure out where I fit in to all of this.
Sasha came barreling down the hallway and dropped her raggedy pink pig at my feet.
“Is that your baby?” I knelt down next to her, placed the water bottle on the floor, and then rubbed her chin. “You’re a sweet girl.”
I giggled when she licked my face with her long, hot tongue. I had always wanted a dog when I was a kid, but we bounced around so much that having a pet wasn’t possible. The deadbeat could barely afford to feed me, so a dog was out of the question.
She knocked me onto the floor and jumped on top of me. “Whoa, girl.” I laughed when she pushed her nose against my cheek. “Do you want to come with me tonight?”
She continued to lick me.
“You can lay with me until Daddy comes home.” I sat up and scooted her off me as she looked around. “Oops, I guess I shouldn’t have said his name. He’ll be home later. Do you miss him?” I got off the floor and brushed her hair off my sleep pants.
She wagged her tail, got upon her hind legs, and gently scratched at me.
“I think I miss him too.”
I had only known him for a few days, and I didn’t know much about him at all, but I’d never been so interested in anyone before. Yesterday, I found myself sketching his face in one of my notebooks. I didn’t often draw people, but there was something about him that called to me. I liked drawing him.
Sasha bolted down the hallway toward the room with the double doors: Jude’s room. I hadn’t been in there yet, but it was only a matter of time before that changed. The dog spun around and sped in my direction, circling me before taking off down the hall again. She did this two more times, and then began to whine as she slowly walked to Jude’s bedroom and scratched on the door.
“He’s not home.” I motioned for her to come back to me. “You can come in my room and stay with me.” I pointed inside my bedroom. “Come on, girl. I’ll keep you company.”
She continued to whine and claw at the door. She was so determined to get into that room.
“Sasha.” I walked to her. “You’re going to ruin the door.”
She didn’t listen to me as she continued her quest to get inside Jude’s bedroom.
“Okay.” I pet her head, and then reached for the doorknob. “I’ll let you in.”
If I let her in, she would probably just jump on the bed and fall asleep while she waited for Jude. I turned the knob and pushed open the door. Once inside, Sasha ran around the room, sliding on the hardwood floors.
There was a lamp on in the corner of the room, so I followed her inside to make sure she settled down.
“Wow.” I glanced around the large space. His room was bigger than I could have imagined. It had to be half the size of the downstairs floor plan. “This is nuts.”
I looked down at my feet, but Sasha had disappeared. Upon entering the room, there was a sitting area with a giant flat-screen television that hung over a stone fireplace. Beyond the half-wall was the entrance to the sleeping area where the TV could be viewed from the bed.
Sasha made herself at home in the middle of the king-size bed. Across the room were doors that led to a balcony that overlooked the backyard. The skylight above the bed allowed the moon and the stars to shine into the room, giving it a magical glow.
The light gray throw pillows were neatly piled across the top edge of the bed, complimenting the charcoal comforter and the black satin sheets. Maybe they were silk? I was no expert on anything expensive, but it looked like the most comfortable bed I’d ever seen.
“You like it, don’t you, girl?” I climbed in next to her. “I’ll stay with you for a few minutes, but then I have to get back to my drawing.”
