12-I overdid the young man

I press my lips together in anger, feeling a sudden urge to scream, even as I try to restrain myself and just finish torturing my red hair.

Same hair and same dress, I don't want to have a thread out of place and show myself to Jack like that night, so I go down heavy with the makeup, hiding the color of my long, curved lashes with a mascara given by Meredith, then highlighting the strange color of my eyes with a thick thread of black pencil, which makes me look more aggressive than I already seem.

I pull a lock of hair behind my ear and grab my lower lip between my teeth, rummaging in the top drawer for a lipstick that is redder than my hair.

I take a deep breath when I hear the door slamming outside my room, a sign that Ethan is already back.

Ever since my father stepped out of the house, I've been thinking of a sensible talk to that man.

He already figured out why I kissed him, but the way he left made my stomach feel tight, making me realize it would be better to tell my dad the truth without putting him in the way.

The most difficult part of the speech that I have prepared is certainly the one in which I thank him for not having said anything, because I do not want to lower myself in front of him and his pride.

Among other things, I was not the only one to take advantage of the situation: he kissed me back in front of my father, and he even allowed himself to put his hand through my hair, even if the mere memory makes me feel gooses and I seem to feel the same sensation as his fingers caressing my head.

At the sound of another message that arrives on my phone I curse Jack mentally: I know I'm late and I have no intention of reading any of the messages he sends me.

I just close the drawer and hurry to put on the tight, stuffy dress, which bothers me just to see it, but before I leave the room I take a quick glance at my phone screen, pausing in my footsteps when I read the name of my father.

If only he knew that Jack showed up he would kill me without thinking twice, but if I told him he would kill Jack without thinking twice ... and then he would kill me.

I frown when I read his message, immediately starting to doubt that he sent it:

* I overdid the young man. *

Already the fact that he acknowledges he was wrong makes me believe that this cannot be my father, but when I read the content my feet start shaking and I understand that he was the one who sent it to me:

* This weekend you're both invited to dinner ... I owe him an apologize . *

I open my mouth to his words, then reach a hand through my hair, only now realizing the trouble I have done, but when my eyes land on the clock on the screen, I hurry out of my room after grabbing a small black and shiny clutch, closing my bedroom door behind me.

I take a deep breath and throw a quick glance at my friend, who as soon as she crosses my eyes dilates her pupils, forcing me to frown.

It's not the first time I've gone out of this house made up and dressed like this and I don't understand what's so surprising:

"Valerie?" - I move my eyes to Ian, realizing that he's looking at me amazed, too.

I raise my hand in mid-air and roll my eyes, then lower my head: maybe my dress is shorter than two years ago, but it's not so flashy.

It covers me until mid-thigh, but I'm also short enough not to draw men's attention to my legs, although I change my mind when Ethan lifts his eyes from his plate with a confused expression, before he even brings his fork to his mouth:

"Stop it." - I complain in a cold tone, turning to Meredith, but out of the corner of my eye I try to catch Ethan's reaction.

When his gaze lands on my figure I can swear I saw him hold his breath, while his pupils become clearer than they already are when he lowers his gaze along my bare legs, making me almost regret not leaving the house by my bedroom window.

The way his eyes scan my fair, uncovered skin makes me feel uncomfortable, but he doesn't stop and resumes x-raying me, running up my legs, but before he can cross my eyes, I hasten to bring my attention back to Meredith:

"Are you going out?" - she asks in a shrill voice, while I wait for Ethan to start acting like an asshole, in order to blame me for sucking in this way, but I am almost disappointed when I see him lower his head again and avoid my presence with the usual annoyed and proud expression at the same time.

I hasten to nod to my friend, following the movements of the man sitting beside her: he begins to eat quietly, pretending that I don't exist, and I don't understand why, but his arrogant attitude bothers me terribly.

Maybe my dad has bothered him to the point that he doesn't even want to talk to me now, but he has to, as now I'm forced to introduce him to my father... this weekend.

"With whom?" - I return to look at Meredith, immediately throwing a dirty look at her. My father is enough for me as a spy, there is no need for her to try to take care of me too, even though I really need her support tonight.

When I notice that Ian is on the verge of speaking, I don't give him time to do so, turning my back on all three and not deigning to answer Meredith.

My father would be able to bribe or intimidate her as he has done in the past, only to let her escape what he doesn't know about me.

But I don't want to lie to her either, so I decide to get out before some bullshit comes out of my mouth.

I let out a sigh of relief as the light warm breeze starts to ruffle my hair, fortunately still straight.

I slam the door when I finally reach my car, throwing the clutch bag on the passenger seat in frustration, then starting the car engine with one hand and holding the phone in my fingers with the other:

"Ethan is not free this weekend!" - I exclaim as soon as I hear that my father answers the call, as I walk away from the courtyard of my room.

"Who is Ethan?" - I grit my teeth when his viper answers, so I hurry to shut the phone in her face, without worrying about offending her, since she's used to it by now.

She was probably in the company of one of her lovers, having fun on the same bed she shares with my father and in the same house I grew up in.

After a heartbreaking couple of minutes, I can finally get to my destination without having an accident due to the frustration I'm feeling right now. The perfect way to start the night with that asshole who ruined my life.

I make a disgusted face when I see his figure standing, leaning against a column and with a cigarette between his rough fingers.

I stop the car a few meters away from him, already hearing the music in the distance, while my heart rises in my throat when I think about how to escape from Jack's provocations tonight.

I'm not going to let him touch me with his dirty hands, but I can't risk making him mad either.

As soon as I look up from the wheel and find the courage to look him in the eye, his expression becomes more and more mischievous as he shows a satisfied smile, making me regret being here right now.

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