“So, listen, Annabelle, I really need you to do a favor for me.”
“Sure, Daddy.”
Crap. Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed so quickly.
“I’m having a little dinner tonight, and I want you to come by and meet Roxie.”
Crap. Crap. Crap.
“Gee, Daddy, I don’t know,” I say, trying to back track.
“You agreed,” he reminds me.
Daddy and Roxie have been an item for all of three months. Oh, and they’re already engaged.
And their wedding date is set…it’s really soon.
“Annabelle,” he says rather sternly. “You’ve been avoiding meeting Roxie. It’s getting ridiculous. The wedding is only a few months away.”
“Daddy, I know, it’s just-”
“You’re hurting my feelings, she’s very special to me and I want you two to finally meet,” he admits.
I cave.
“Alright, Daddy. I’ll be there.”
I hiccup a little too loudly.
“Annabelle, have you been drinking? What time is it?”
“Umm, I maybe had a glass or two of wine.”
I can practically hear my dad roll his eyes over the phone.
“I’ll send a car for you at five. Be ready.”
Oh, hooray.
“And Annabelle, wear something other than your rocker jeans.”
Ouch. That hurt. I’ve been practically living in my rocker jeans.
The ones that Sid gave me.
If I’m honest with myself I still love him.
Bastard.
Chapter Two
Annie
Ten of five rolls around, and I am dressed and blow-dried to perfection. My dad will be beyond happy. My hair is soft and wavy, thanks to the diffuser on my blow dryer and Elle’s handiwork with a large barrel curling iron.
I’m wearing acceptable makeup, meaning no heavy black eyeliner, and I even put on my old favorite Berry Kiss lip-gloss. To complete my girly ensemble, I’m wearing a teal and white tunic dress, with matching white sandals.
“You look beautiful!” Elle says happily. She bites her lip, unsure if she should continue.
“Go ahead, and say it.”
“Well, I haven’t seen you look this good, since you know.” Elle’s voice trails off and I hear everything she doesn’t say. Since you and Sid ended things. Since he ripped your fucking heart out.
I suddenly feel much older than twenty-four.
World-weary.
How at twenty-four can I feel so jaded against men? Against life?
I hiccup again.
“How much wine did you drink?” Elle asks, narrowing her eyes.
I shrug. “Not enough to help me get through this dinner.”
I hear a horn beep and look outside to see a sleek black limo.
Holy hell, my dad is embarrassing.
He can’t just send a town car; he has to send a freaking limo.
Sometimes he can be so ostentatious.
Elle bursts out laughing. “Is he happy with you or mad at you?”
“I have no idea,” I sigh, giving her a quick hug and heading out the door.
Sometimes I really can’t understand my father. I wonder if he sent this ridiculous limo to try to please me - or to embarrass me for taking so long to meet Roxie.
Either way, I get the point.
The driver rushes out of the vehicle when he sees me coming, opens the door, and gives me a little bow.
Oh, please.
I grimace and climb into the limo.
I immediately decide that I need a drink. Perhaps I will find my much-needed vodka in the back of this limo.
I search through every shelf and drawer, but only find Cokes and water.
I push the button to send down the partition between the driver and I.
“Excuse me, but is there any alcohol back here?”
I see the driver grin sheepishly in the rearview mirror.
“I’m sorry, Miss, but Mr. Winterford made it clear not to have any alcohol in the limousine.”
Of course he did.
I snatch a Coke, and pull the tab back a little too hard.
Driving my beat up car around a bit longer seems a lot more appealing than going to this dinner tonight.
I settle back to enjoy the ride to my father’s home. We take a beautiful scenic route, and I look out my window at all the tall palms and lush homes we pass.
All too soon, we are rolling up the steep driveway to my father’s mansion. I didn’t grow up in this home, but it feels like my home now, even though it's far more room than anyone could ever need.
My dad’s jewelry business didn’t start taking off until I was fifteen, and by the time I was eighteen he had become a multimillionaire. That was the same year he dumped my mom and began dating trophy women half his age. My mom recovered quickly, she got a hefty piece of dad’s new fortune, and relocated to the East Coast. I don’t blame her for wanting to distance herself. My mom likes to play the victim, but I know she wasn’t an angel during their marriage either.