"Wes, he's your father. He might have left you but he's still your dad. If he has the money to pay for your education than he should. Honestly, it's the least he could do."
"I know," he replied, "I'm just used to doing things on my own."
"How are you paying for school now?" I questioned him, curious.
"I have a few scholarships but after my mother died I had to take out a few loans to cover the rest of the cost."
"Wes! Let your father help you. You don't want to be stuck in debt for the next fifty years." I scolded him.
"Well I don't really have a choice," Wes laughed lightly. "Roy already called the school and paid for everything, including paying off my student loans. He knew I'd be uncomfortable taking his money so he just went ahead and took care of it."
I couldn't help but smile, glad to know that Wes had someone taking care of him. Roy might not have been the best father but he was clearly trying to make up for it.
"You shouldn't have to do everything alone anymore, Wes." I told him softly. "Let your dad help you."
Wes glanced over at me from the road and grinned his boyish grin, "I love you, Princess Broken."
I laughed and swatted his arm.
TWENTY-TWO
"I'm so excited for all of us to go out tonight!" Elle exclaimed, skipping into the kitchen of our apartment with a clay mask on her face. Wes and I had gotten back to campus a few hours earlier and he dropped me off so that I could do some work before we went out.
"Elle, stop being so dramatic, it hasn't been that long since we've gone out together," I smiled and rolled my eyes at my best friend.
"Yeah, but we never get to do girly things together anymore," Savanna said walking in behind Elle and taking a seat beside me on the kitchen stool. "You're always with Wes or doing homework … like now."
"You know what they say about all work and no play," Elle teased, wagging her finger in my face.
"I would hardly consider being with Wes ‘work,'" I told them, smacking Elle's finger away from me.
"Well we," Elle motioned her hand between her and Savanna, "know that it sure as hell isn't play."
Savanna giggled and cried out, "Just sleep with him already! The poor guy must be in so much pain."
"You know what they say about minding your own business," I teased, wagging my finger in Elle's face, mocking her.
She stuck her tongue out at me as I walked past them to my bedroom. We were off to a late start at getting ready. Wes and Colin were picking us up in an hour and I hadn't even decided what to wear on my first night out since before thanksgiving break. I wanted to look good for Wes. Wes had been around enough to see me in sweats without any makeup on during the last two weeks so I figured I should put in a decent amount of effort tonight to remind him that I wasn't always so frumpy. I decided on my little black dress that had quarter length sleeves and showed the top of my cleavage modestly. The dress dipped low in the back, showing off a lot of skin, the fabric resting at the small of my back. I did a smoky eye but kept the rest of my makeup light, and piled my hair into a high ponytail, leaving wispy tendrils to frame around my face. I slipped on a pair of hot pink pump to complete the look and appraised myself in the mirror, proud of myself.
When I walked out to the living room Savanna was already dressed to go, her outfit similar to mine. She donned a navy blue jersey dress with nude heels, her makeup exaggerated, and her pale blonde hair streaming down her back. Elle walked in behind me and started making catcalls.
"I see you ladies are dressed to impress tonight!" she exclaimed as she sauntered into the room. Elle was dressed in flattering black skinny jeans and a tight yellow t-shirt that displayed her cleavage, a black silk scarf tied around her neck. She didn't appear to have much makeup on except for mascara, blush, and lip gloss, and she also had her hair styled into a high ponytail, except her dark brown locks were completely swept from her face.
Before Savanna or I could respond and complement her looks there was a knock on the door before it was pushed open and Colin strolled in with Wes close behind him. Both men were dressed casually in nice jeans and t-shirts. I sucked in a breath when I saw Wes. I still wasn't used to how attractive he is. He had on a fitted black t-shirt with a white ball cap placed backwards on his head, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Wow, Brookelyn … you look amazing," Wes told me as he made his way over to me, a crooked smile playing on his lips. He grabbed both sides of my face and pulled me in a long, deep kiss.
"Get a room!" Savanna shouted from beside us. Wes pulled away and chuckled.
"Sorry, Savanna." I rolled my eyes.
"Will Reese be joining us tonight?" Savanna asked obviously.
"He might show up for a bit after work." Wes replied with a smirk.
"Not happening Sav! I will cock-block the shit out of that. You need a nice momma's boy!" Elle exclaimed and we laughed at her statement.
"Whatever, let's go. I need a drink … or four." Savanna stated as she headed for the door.
Elle and Colin followed her out and Wes took a hold of my hand as we walked. We got to Colin's car and Wes pulled the back door open for me as I slid in, Elle hopping into the front beside Colin.
"Whoa!" I looked over my shoulder at Wes as he climbed in beside me, Savanna on my other side. "Brooke, where's the rest of your dress?!"
"You don't like it?" I stuck out my bottom lip and he leaned over to kiss it.
"Of course I like it. You look amazing. But unfortunately I won't be the only one thinking so." He told me in a whisper.
"You're the only one I want to think so," I whispered back and smiled up at him.
"Ugh! I'm going to vomit. Please drive faster Colin," Savanna whined and Wes and I chuckled. I snuggled closer to Wes and sighed contentedly.
"Don't worry, Savanna. We'll find you a good boy."
~~~~
Jade, Elle and I were standing in the kitchen sipping on some red fruity concoction that the fraternity had made and poured into numerous punch bowls throughout the house. I couldn't tell what was in it but it was delicious. Despite not being able to taste any alcohol I knew that it had to be strong so I tried to pace myself. The boys were in the other room helping set up tables and cups for beruit and flip cup. Savanna was seated at the kitchen table deep in conversation with Ollie. He was a good guy despite his predilection to marijuana and I would rather Savanna get back with him over a guy like Cam any day.
I was chatting and giggling with the girls when I looked over to the living room to find that Jackie chick talking to Wes. She was dressed in barely anything, as usual, and was pressing herself up against him as she spoke. I narrowed my eyes at the scene, and the fact that Wes wasn't pushing her away from him, but rather laughing at whatever she was saying. Elle and Jade followed my gaze.
"She's such a skank," Elle huffed out while Jade just rolled her eyes.
"Whatever," I mumbled and chugged the rest of my drink before walking back over to the punch bowl and filling it to the brim. I brought the cup back up to my mouth and drank half of it.
"Slow down, chickie!" Elle teased, playfully nudging me with her hip.
"Don't let it get to you, Brooke. She's been after him since freshman year," Jade told me, finishing her own drink and refilling it.
My body was starting to feel lighter and my cheeks were in the early stages of numbness as I downed the rest of my drink, joining Jade at the punch bowl.
"He's not even moving away. He's just letting her rub her tits all over him and laughing. What the fuck!" I exclaimed as Jade and I reclaimed our spots beside Elle. She had her eyes fixed on Jackie and Wes, her gaze narrowed and her protective best friend instincts surfacing.
"He's about to be on my shit list," she said, turning to Jade. "Has he ever had sex with her?"
Jade pursed her lips but didn't say anything. It was all the answer that Elle and I needed. Elle huffed, disgusted, and I was too angry to form words. I knew I couldn't control whom Wes had slept with before we were together but he shouldn't be allowing one of his former conquests to rub up on him. I looked back over to where Wes stood, Jackie no longer touching him but still too close for comfort. Luke said something from beside them and Jackie clapped excitedly, grabbing Wes by the arm and dragging him to the edge of the long Ping-Pong table. He was grinning as Colin and Luke took the other side and tossed one of the balls over to Wes. Wes and Luke held up their arms, each holding a beer in their other hand, and tossed the balls towards their cups at the same time. Luke missed but Wes made his shot, causing Jackie to clap some more like a freaking seal. She said something to Wes and he threw his head back with a laugh as the two of them began the game of beruit against Colin and Luke.