Blind Side Of Love (6 page)

“Dad, it’s just a phase. He’ll snap out of it.” I tried my best to reassure him.

“I sure hope so.” He sighed. “So, what’s going on with my princess? I feel like I haven’t talked to you in ages.”

“Well, I feel like I’m working a fulltime job with this charity. Mrs. Barrett is keeping me busy being her gopher. I was really hoping that she would have enough faith in me to help her run the whole thing.”

“Well, give it some time. Everybody has to start somewhere. I’m sure she’ll see what a great worker you are and eventually hand the reigns over to you.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, I hope so.”

“So have you and Krista been making up for lost time? You’re never home anymore.”

I didn’t want to lie to him and tell him ‘yes’ when the truth was, Krista and I hadn’t hung out in well over two weeks. But I didn’t feel like getting the evil eye and a lecture about all of the time that I had been spending with Drew either. Since I wanted to continue the enjoyable morning that we had been having, I just nodded in agreement. The waitress had just brought us our food when I instantly lost my appetite upon seeing Ashton and his father entering the restaurant. I was hoping that they wouldn’t notice us, but as luck would have it....

"Jeff, does Gail know about this beautiful girl that you're having breakfast with this

morning?" Dr. Barrett joked as he approached our table with Ashton right behind him, looking completely hung over.

I gave an uneasy smile. "How are you doing, Becca?" Dr. Barrett asked, leaning down and giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm well, thank you," I replied, lifting my head for one brief moment before staring back at the table, not wanting to make eye contact with Ashton.

"Are you guys here for breakfast?" my father asked.

"Yes, we’re grabbing a bite to eat before our nine o'clock tee time."

"Well, grab a seat," my father said.

My stomach instantly began to churn as Ashton and his dad took the two empty seats at our table. "Becca just got done ripping me apart on the tennis court," my father said, taking a sip of his coffee. "Becca, eat your eggs," my dad demanded, as I moved my potatoes around on the plate.

"I'm not that hungry." I stared out the window at the golf course as my dad and Dr. Barrett began to talk about work.

"So Becca!" I was in such a trance that Dr. Barrett's voice made me jump.

I turned my head from the window and looked in his direction. "Yes?"

"Lynn tells me you are a tremendous help with this new charity," Dr. Barrett said.

"Yes, it's really—"

"Becca was just saying she wants to get involved more in the operation of the whole thing. I told her to give it time. Everyone's got to start somewhere." My dad took over as usual, never letting me speak for myself.

"Oh Becca, sorry about that. My wife can be a little bit of a control freak," Dr. Barrett said.

"Geez, Becca, you really are a busy girl, aren't you? How do you find time for it all?" Ashton asked, finally breaking his silence.

I was expressionless as I glared into his eyes, wanting to knock that obnoxious smirk right off his face. "It's called applying yourself, Son; you should try it sometime," Dr. Barrett said.

"Well, you certainly are
applying yourself
to Drew. I hardly ever get to hang out with my buddy anymore." He raised his eyebrow at me and smiled, and I instantly felt my father's eyes burning into me. I pursed my lips and shook my head at him.

"Who's Drew? That boy from the benefit?" my father asked. I nodded. "I didn't know that the two of you were seeing each other."

I shook my head. "It's really not a big deal."

"Oh, and I apologize for interrupting your romantic dinner last night," Ashton added, making the situation even worse.

My father stared at me a little longer before clearing his throat and completely changing the topic of conversation to golf. I managed to get two forkfuls of cold eggs down my throat while they were talking before pushing my plate away and excusing myself to use the ladies room. As I walked off, I could feel Ashton's perverted eyes burning into my back.

The text that had come through from Drew as I was finishing up and washing my hands lifted my mood a bit.

Drew
:
Good morning, gorgeous.

A smile instantly spread across my face.

Me:
THANK YOU and good morning to you, too.

As I was walking out the door, his reply came through.

Drew:
I trained you well. You're becoming a pro at accepting those compliments
.

I was giggling as I read his message, walking right into Ashton who was headed into the men's room. He gripped the bottom of my elbow and I instantly pulled away.

"Better tell lover boy no texting and walking," he smirked. I didn't respond as usual and began to walk off. The less conversation that I had with him the better. "Hey Becca, I was hoping that you would allow me to be your first, but if you'd rather have Drew break you in, I'm cool with that, too."

I stopped dead in my tracks and turned around to face him. "Not if you were the last guy on Earth. You make my skin crawl, Ashton Barrett."

"Well, I'm sure Daddy's skin would be crawling, too, if he knew what his sweet little innocent princess was doing last night."

"God, I hate you!" I said before walking away.

"Get in line with most of the women in my life, Becca. They all hate me, but they all keep coming back for more!" he shouted.

My father was just signing the credit card receipt when I walked back to the table. I didn't even bother sitting back down, hoping that he would get the hint that I wanted to leave. Not that the car ride home was going to be any more enjoyable. I knew I was going to be lectured about Drew, big time.

I was so happy when my father finally stood up. I said my goodbyes to Dr. Barrett, hoping to get out of there before Ashton returned. "Dad, I'll wait for you at the car," I said when he and Dr. Barrett started up a whole new conversation about their surgery schedule for the week.

"Okay, I'll be right there," he replied, tossing his car keys at me.

I was almost out the door when I heard Ashton shout, “See ya, Becca! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" I walked as fast as I could out to the car and flopped myself into the passenger's seat. I pulled my phone from my purse and texted Drew back

Me:
You're a very good teacher and you’re pretty cute, too
.

I smiled as I hit the send button.

Drew:
Thank you and I know on both statements......see, Becca, that's how it's done.

I wiped away the grin that was plastered across my face and put my phone away when I saw my dad approaching the car.

"Are you feeling okay? You didn't eat much." my dad asked as he got into the car.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just lost my appetite, I guess."

He backed out of the parking spot and waited until we were on the main road before the interrogation began. "So, what's going on with this Drew kid?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, apparently you've been spending a lot of time with him. I would just like to know a little more about him."

"He's just a really nice guy."

"A really nice guy who is probably only after one thing."

"Geez, Dad, really?"

"Becca, come on; you’re a beautiful girl. Guys your age only have one thing on their mind."

"Well, he's not like most guys my age."

"Oh Becca, don't let him fool you, they're all the same. I was that age at one time, you know?” I sighed heavily and looked out the window, hoping that he was done with his rant. “Your mother has talked to you about birth control, hasn’t she?"

"Oh Dad, I am NOT having this conversation with you!"

“Becca, why are you getting so embarrassed? Not that I want to think that you are doing such things, but if you are ever faced with that I want to know that you are protected and won’t be ruining your life by getting pregnant.”

“Dad, I am twenty one years old and a senior in college. I think I know all about birth control and the birds and the bees by now.” He was looking at me questionably. “And no, I’m not saying that I
have
done those things that require birth control….oh my God, I just cannot talk about this to you.”

“Becca, I’m a doctor and it’s a fact of life. You really don’t need to get embarrassed discussing these things.”

“Fine, if you must know….I’ve been on the pill since I was seventeen.” He raised his eyebrow in alarm. “Mom and the doctor decided that would be the best route for me to take, to help with some problems I was having with…..well, you know the thing that comes after a sentence.” I felt my face instantly turn red, but if it would get him off the subject and put his mind at ease then it was all worth it.

He sighed in relief and concentrated deeply on the road before speaking again. “So when can I pencil you in for our next tennis match?”

              That little bit of humiliation worked like a charm; he had gone completely off topic. I knew I may have won this battle with him, but something told me that the war was just beginning.

After much convincing, I had let Drew talk me into going to a party on the beach. I really didn't want to attend, mainly because I knew exactly who would be there. But I put my desire to hang out with Drew over my hatred for Ashton. Plus, I knew Krista would be there as well and since she had been on me about not spending any time together since I came home, I figured this would be a good opportunity. Even though I knew she would more than likely get drunk off her ass and end up leaving with whatever guy was paying her the most attention. She and I were complete opposites and sometimes….actually a lot of times, I found myself wondering how our friendship had lasted since kindergarten. We arrived at the party and for the first time ever I didn't feel like a total outcast as long as I had Drew's hand in mine. 

"Hey Dickwad, Becca allowed you to come out tonight?" Ashton shouted.

"Just ignore him," Drew said.

"Always do!" I smiled.

"Here you go!" Ashton said to Drew as he filled up a plastic cup from the keg of beer.

"What about you, Becca? Are we going to be daring and walk on the wild side tonight?" Ashton asked. I rolled my eyes and didn't respond. "Do you always have to be such an uppity bitch?"

Drew was just about to intervene before I cut him off. "I'm only an uppity bitch to people I hate, so if the shoe fits...."

"Damn, you got told!" one of his friends that was standing alongside of him shouted.

His signature obnoxious smirk was now replaced by an angry glare. I stared right back, not backing down to him.  "Told you about all the women that hate me the other day, Becca. It's actually an honor."

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that," I muttered under my breath.

"There's my girly girl," Krista said, planting a huge kiss on my cheek. I could tell that she already had a little too much to drink.

"You mind doing that again, but on the lips this time and throw in a little tongue while you're at it?" Ashton asked.

"You are such a pervert, Ashton." Krista giggled as she playfully slapped him on the arm.

“You want to find out how big of one I can be?” He raised his eyebrow at her.

She smiled and raised her eyebrow back. “Just, maybe I might.”

Oh God no, Krista! Are you insane?
Now I was going to have to play babysitter to her all night and make sure that she didn’t leave the party with Ashton and do something that she would thoroughly regret in the morning. Her eyes focused on Drew. “So are you the guy that’s been hogging up my BFF since she has gotten home?”

“Guilty.” Drew grinned. “But it’s her fault.”

“Hey, how’s it my fault?” I asked.

“Because if you weren’t so damn gorgeous, I wouldn’t want to spend all this time with you.”

“Awwwww…..that is so sweet,” Krista said, holding her hand over her heart. She wrapped her arm around me. “She
is
absolutely gorgeous. She’s my beautiful bestest friend in the whole wide world, so you better be good to her….or else.” Krista giggled.