Rule #33 There’s nothing worse than talking to your dad about your crush.
Amelia
“Hey, kiddo.” My dad taps on my bedroom door, and I lift my head from the mattress to greet him.
“Hey,” I reply, feeling half asleep. After barely getting any sleep last night with Matis, I want to do nothing else today but lie in bed and binge-watch reality TV.
When my dad walks in and sits on the corner of the bed, I get the feeling he wants to talk so I lower the volume.
“Your mom said you were a little snappy earlier when she mentioned the club in London. I’m sorry for not bringing it up to you first.”
My skin starts to crawl with frustration.
It’s certifiably weird how my parents are acting with this new club.
The way they baby me in situations of change is not entirely unfounded.
I have thrown many a fit in the past over small instances of unexpected change, but being reminded of that does not make me feel any better. Besides, it’s been years.
And why must they be so fucking accommodating? Just tell me to get over it like a normal parent would.
“Must you two share everything?” I mutter with an eye roll.
“When it comes to you and your brother, yes.”
“I already told Mom it doesn’t bother me. I mean, I doubt he’ll take it anyway.” My tone is short and laced with irritation, which makes me feel bad because my dad doesn’t deserve that. It’s not his fault I lash out at the smallest inconvenience.
My dad stares at me for a moment, nodding with contemplation. “He told me he met someone.”
My muscles turn rigid as I tense. With my eyes glued unfocused on the screen, I mumble, “Yeah. What about it?”
I can’t bear to look at my dad to see the suspicion in his eyes. If I do, it’ll give everything away.
“I’m not blind, Melly.”
Suddenly, my throat is thick, and I can’t swallow. My blood has turned so hot I can feel it radiating from my cheeks.
So this is how this is going to go down? Right here? He’s just going to bring it up like it’s nothing? This is good, right? He’ll acknowledge that we’ve been seeing each other, and then we can move on with our lives.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, my voice cracking on the words.
“I know you’ve had a crush on him.”
Suddenly, I can’t keep my eyes from his face. Flashing toward him, I stare at my dad in surprise as I try to make sense of what he’s saying.
“A crush?”
“Don’t be so embarrassed. You’ve always been close to Matis, and I can understand why. He has always taken good care of you. But now that you’re helping him find a partner, I just want to make sure you’re okay with all of it.”
“A crush,” I repeat, and my dad chuckles before patting my legs over the covers.
“I have a good eye for these sorts of things,” he says proudly, and I want to laugh.
“Dad, I do not have a crush on Matis.”
Then, as if he wants to make a point, he turns toward my door. “Don’t think we haven’t noticed your little keepsake.”
My gaze follows his as it lands on the hooks hanging behind my door. Purses and belts hang from them, one red plaid scarf draped among them.
“Oh my God, stop,” I whine, burying my face in my pillow.
My dad knows. Which means my mom knows. And now I realize…Matis must know too. He surely saw that scarf—his scarf—hanging there while he was here this morning.
“I’m sorry. I’ll stop,” he mutters, rubbing his hand over his jaw.
The air between us grows incredibly tense and awkward, so I sit up to try and stifle it. “Dad, I promise you that I’m good with Matis dating and going to London if he chooses. I appreciate you and Mom checking on me, but I’m fine. I’m focusing on my project anyway.”
This does the trick to ease the worry lines on his forehead. With a sigh, he pats my leg again. Then, standing, he glances around my room with a sort of wistful, nostalgic look in his eyes.
“I keep forgetting you’re not my little girl anymore, Amelia.”
My throat starts to sting as I stare at him, so I move to stand and put myself in his arms, wrapping myself around him for a hug. He wraps me up in a familiar, comforting embrace.
“I’ll always be your little girl, Dad.”
It hits me in this moment just how hard it’s going to be when he really does learn the news. Will he look at me differently? Will he stop seeing his little girl? Will it change us forever?
His lips gently graze the top of my head, and I blink away the tears starting to moisten my eyes. When we both pull away, he clears his throat.
“Don’t forget about Archer’s birthday dinner at the restaurant tonight,” he says, apparently noticing my loungewear outfit choice.
With a wince, I clap a hand to my forehead. “I completely forgot.”
“You’ve been very distracted lately,” he says, ruffling my hair. “Your mother and I are taking the car over in an hour if you want to join.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, not loving the thought of having to get dressed and go out. But if I don’t show, my brother and my best friend will have my head.
As soon as my dad leaves, I quickly get dressed in a maxi skirt and a tube top. Then I throw a knitted shawl over in case we sit on the patio again. While I put on my makeup, I snap a shot for my Instagram story, looking at the mirror and feeling cute.
And with that, I grab my purse and head out the door.
We’re sitting out on the patio, and our party takes up the entire thing. Because of the timing when we sat down, Matis ended up on the other side of the table, nearly as far away from me as he can get. He’s by my dad and some of Archer’s family.
I’m on the opposite end between Phoenix and Elizabeth. Every once in a while, I peek down at the other end and make eye contact with him. When he grins subtly over his wineglass, I get a flurry of butterflies in my belly and end up squirming in my seat.
“How’s the project going?” Phoenix asks with interest as she picks up her naan, dipping it in the hummus sampler in front of us.
Honestly, I’m falling behind. Dating my dream guy is incredibly distracting and has taken precedence over the project, but I can’t tell her that. So I shrug.
“It’s going well. I think I’ll be all set for a show next month. Do you think we have time for that?”
Phoenix nods emphatically. “Of course. We’ll make it work.”
“Yeah, we’re here to support you,” Elizabeth adds with her chin up and a glass of red wine balanced in her delicate fingers.
This still feels surreal. Why had I never expected these two to have my back before?
They’re both so…dedicated and confident.
They set their minds to whatever they want to accomplish, and they get it done.
Elizabeth was a prima ballerina at, like, age fifteen, and now she dances in shows across Paris, acting like it’s nothing.
Not to mention I’ve seen her perform at the club. It’s rare, but she still does it. Usually either on the pole or the birdcage or even just a plain chair, and she’s so captivating I’m not even sure she’s human. I don’t think she has a timid bone in her body.
And Phoenix is so brilliant and stoic, it makes me feel as if I could never fully open up to her. She’s been glued to Jack’s side since she came to Paris to work at the club when Matis owned it. I guess when my brother drew the line in the sand between him and Jack, I took Julian’s side.
But I’ve never had a problem with Phoenix. I just never really saw her as a friend.
Phoenix leans forward again, resting her elbows on the table. “A little birdie told me a rumor.”
I stiffen in my seat before my eyes glance over to Matis at the other end of the table.
“Oh yeah?”
“Your dad bought a new place in London.”
The air leaves my chest in a whooshing sigh.
“I think I know who that little birdie was,” I reply, hearing Jack laugh at something a few chairs down from me at that very moment.
“Any idea who might run it?” Phoenix asks, taking another slow sip from her glass.
I freeze again, glancing at her while my heart starts to pick up speed. It’s stupid of me to get immediately territorial for him, but I want to scream at her. Matis! That is Matis’s club, and he’s going to run it. Do not take this away from him.
When really…that’s the last thing I want. Phoenix taking the job would be the perfect solution for me.
But would it be the perfect solution for him?
I clear my throat. “I assume he’ll offer it to Matis first,” I mumble, trying to remain casual.
Phoenix nods. “I figured as much.”
“Does anyone know how to retire around here?” Elizabeth chimes in in a cool, emotionless tone.
“Well, I don’t know if Matis will take it,” I whisper, leaning closer so he doesn’t hear his name. Peering back, I notice his gaze trail over to me, that sexy smirk on his face again.
Luckily no one seems to notice as Phoenix continues. “Well, if he doesn’t…I’m going to put my name in for it.”
“You’d be great at running your own club,” Elizabeth adds. Her expression is still steel-tight, but she serves praise and compliments nonetheless.
“Thank you,” Phoenix replies with a smile. Her copper freckles nearly glisten through her makeup, and I hardly noticed before just how pretty she is. She’s always so serious and closed off. But when she smiles, she really shines.
Just then, one of the waiters brings a cake out for Archer, and everyone sings “Happy Birthday” to him. Matis’s eyes are still glued to mine across the table, and I have to bite my lip to keep from grinning like a fool.
Then his eyes dash over to the door of the restaurant. It takes me a moment to gather what he’s doing, but when I figure it out, I cover my mouth with my hand.
And just as everyone finishes singing, I excuse myself to the bathroom.