Chapter 3 #2
“It’s a blind date. And all of his friends vouched for him.
” Friends that they had literally just met.
“And everyone seems like nice guys. Don’t worry, we’re all going to be together and have dinner.
You don’t even have to drink since I know you’re going to have to drive home tonight.
Just have fun. You deserve to have fun. This is your whole birthday weekend.
We have to go back to school and finals and all that horrible stuff later. But Bradley’s here now.”
Bradley. Well, I wasn’t going to let his name give me pause.
Just because he had a douchey name, according to my brothers, didn’t mean he was going to be a douche.
After all, between my brothers and the Ashfords, we had ridiculous names.
I was used to names that weren’t exactly of the social club set.
“Where are we going, and what time do I need to be there?”
I listened as she explained everything, knowing I was going with the punches and doing what they wanted yet again.
However, maybe spending the night after my twenty-first birthday at my brother’s home alone while reading a book wasn’t exactly the way to spend it.
I was in college. I was supposed to have fun. And I would.
I’d be sober tonight because I was driving, and I wasn’t an idiot. And I’d go dancing. Or whatever this cinco date was.
I only had fifteen minutes to get ready, and thankfully, my hair was already done.
I’d put it back up in a bun when I’d gotten in the shower, so now I let the long dark blonde strands fall down my back in somewhat curls.
I plugged in the curling iron, set it to as high as it could go, and quickly redid my makeup.
It took me eight minutes to do my makeup, lotion up, and reshave my legs, not because I was planning on getting some tonight.
No thank you very much. But because I was going to wear that little black dress.
Instead of the strappy high heels, I went with wedges because I didn’t know exactly where we would end up, but I was going to have fun.
The four Ls would all be there, so it wasn’t like I was going to be alone with some guy.
And I needed to get over whatever crush I had on Callum.
He was never going to see me as anything but little Felicity. And I needed to get over him.
With two minutes to spare, I got into my car and headed out to the park near the resort less than an hour away. There was a little restaurant there that had music and dancing, and I was excited now. I had left a note for Rune, and I wasn’t going to be a little old lady.
I turned up the music, sang along, and finally felt as if maybe this birthday weekend wasn’t so fuddy-duddy, as Atlas would say.
I pulled into the parking lot and was grateful I’d found a spot since this place seemed to be the center of attention for the night.
“You’re here!” Laurelin said as she threw up her hands. Then she practically jumped on top of me, and I was grateful that I could catch her without breaking an ankle.
“Hey there. Have you had any water?”
“I’m making sure she drinks water,” a tall man with a deep voice said behind her. “I’m Chad.”
“I’m Hansen,” another man said.
They all introduced themselves, and I knew I was never going to be able to figure out who was who.
Each of them had the exact same color hair, haircut, and country club set.
One of them had a dimple in his chin, and the other had darker eyes, but frankly, they all looked as if they could just step off an influencer’s photograph page and call it a day.
“Felicity, this is Bradley,” Laura said as she fluttered her eyelashes.
“Bradley’s about to go to law school, and he’s a Pisces.”
“Gemini, actually,” Bradley said with a laugh. He looked at me then, his blue eyes bright, and blond hair that curled right at the edges since it looked like it was a little too long.
I swallowed hard and tried not to feel too awkward, though I knew it was most likely a lost cause. “It’s nice to meet you too. I am sorry if you guys were waiting on me.”
“No, we were just having fun. Let’s go dancing.” Laura winked at me and gave me a hug. “I’m sober. I’m making sure that the girls aren’t having too much fun. But we’re glad you’re here. It’s your birthday weekend.”
“I’m glad I’m here too.” I squeezed her hand and then let Bradley lead me to the dance floor.
The music buzzed through my system, as did the Red Bull that I drank.
I was grateful that nobody was pushing alcohol on me because I just wanted to have fun tonight.
Bradley was nice, a good dancer, and when I needed water, he led me to the station.
I wasn’t about to let him give me an open container.
My parents and brothers had taught me better than that.
He leaned down, his breath warm on my neck, and I shifted away slightly, needing space. “So, what are you going to school for?”
“Business and accounting. Honestly, I’m really good with numbers, and I’ve been working with the town bookkeeper and accountant whenever I come to visit my hometown. I like it.”
“That’s all you want to do?”
I did not like his tone, but maybe some people didn’t get it. Not everybody needed to be an astronaut or doctor or lawyer. “I like it. And some months will be harder than others, but it has weekends off. Meaning I can have a life outside of work.”
“Well, that’s a good ambition, then. I don’t know if my dad ever found that balance with being a lawyer and all. But I enjoy school so far. I’m excited for law school in the fall.”
“I almost looked into law school, but I think I like my path more for me. I don’t think I have it in me.”
“Not everybody does.”
I gritted my teeth and told myself that he didn’t mean that as a push at me. I was just oversensitive.
When the couples began to break from each other, taking walks near the small lake, Bradley lifted his chin and gestured towards the path.
“You want to take a walk? It’s lit. You’ll be safe.”
I blinked at him, taking a look around to confirm what he’d said. “Okay. Since the others will be around too. I am a little warm.”
“Then don’t worry, I’ve got you, Felicity.”
We walked down the path some more, and when he took my hand, I didn’t pull away.
After a couple of those false steps and conversation, he asked genuine questions and seemed to like hearing about Ashford Creek.
I didn’t mention my brother’s name since he had said he was a hockey fan, but when I mentioned the town, his eyes widened.
“Wait, I know that name. Isn’t Callum Ashford from there? The tight end that only made it two years before some dumb ass broke his femur? That break was so bad it still makes the rounds when the talk about shit injuries.”
I winced. “Yes, he’s from there. A family friend, actually.”
“No shit? He was amazing. Probably could have made more than a few bucks if he stayed in. But bad break and all. Literally.”
“He’s doing good for himself now, though.”
“Yeah. But whatever he does now probably pales in comparison to being an NFL star. Just imagine it.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Or could. That part of Callum’s life seemed so far off in the past, it didn’t even seem like the same Callum I knew.
When we made our way to a bench underneath a large tree, he gestured towards it. “Want to take a seat? Get to know one another?”
My hair stood on the back of my neck, and I shook my head. “Maybe we should be getting back. We’re a little far.”
“Oh, Felicity. Just take a seat. You’ll be safe.”
He kept saying that, but I felt anything but safe.
So when he tugged on my wrist, I pulled back. “No. I want to go back.”
“Just a small town girl, after all? What the fuck, Felicity? You’re walking out with me all alone and aren’t going to let me touch you? Stupid bitch.”
And then he pushed towards me, gripping the end of my skirt. I punched out, my fist connecting with his nose.
“Bitch!”
I turned to run, and he tugged on my hair.
When he pulled me back to him, I stomped on his inset with my shoes, and he grunted before I elbowed him in the gut.
Between my brothers and Miss Congeniality, I’d learned a few things.
And yet, as my pulse raced and bile filled my throat, it didn’t feel like enough.
I ran then, my heels digging into the dirt. And then I left them behind, knowing I could run faster barefoot.
“Felicity!” he screamed.
But I kept going, except I had no idea where I was. This path didn’t look familiar, and I couldn’t see the others. Pulse racing, I ran off the path, through a copse of trees, and sat behind a bush, pulling out my phone.
I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, I could barely press my thumb against the screen, trying to dial.
And as soon as he answered, I let out a choking sob.
“Callum. I need you.”