Chapter 27
Melissa
lan has been trying to make it up to me. To get me to forgive him for his stupid attitude the other night.
Even though I’d have preferred for him to be away, I still need him, just like I need his father.
I locked the door behind me and walked to where his car was parked. I told him not to bother coming up and so he remained in the car.
“Hey,” I say as I hopped in Ian’s car and shut the door.
He was wearing a pair of black jeans, a black shirt, and a denim long–sleeved jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, as well as a suspicious look on his face.
“Mels.”
“What’s the issue?” I asked him when the look on his face turned into a scowl.
“You are going with that?” he asked in a dark, unamused tone.
“Going in what?” I asked and he gave me a look I don’t appreciate.
He was complaining about the short dress I was on. I wasn’t going to let him show me how much of a control freak he could be. Not now, not ever.
“I can see that you’re trying to be a controlling asshole at the moment, so I’m going to give you a good five seconds to change that attitude before I have your ass here.”
“I’m not trying to be a controlling asshole. I just think this dress is really short, and if we go somewhere in public, we will have people stare so bad.”
“And you have a problem with me getting stared at?”
“Shouldn’t I?”
I scoffed at his nerves. This same cheat who was fucking my best friend.
“No. If people want to stare at my ass, that’s their prerogative. But this dress is comfortable, very pretty, and worth every cent that I work for,” I said nonchalantly.
His brow arched like he was surprised.
“Now, unless you have something reasonable to say, I think we should just skip this and act like we never had this conversation and move forward.”
He gripped the steering wheel tightly, the veins in the back of his hand bulging. “Sure, we can forget it.”
His head tilted back and pressed against the headrest and a small tugged on my lips. It felt good to know he was burning from the thoughts of other people staring at me.
Now I wonder what he’d feel when I succeed in getting his father too.
We got to the library and he put the car in the drive. I reached for the door and climbed out.
“Are you really going to ignore me this whole time?” Ian asked as he pulled me to the side.
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15:24 Fri, Nov 29
Chapter 27
“Holy shit, lan. I’m not ignoring you.”
“Really? It sure as hell feels like it. You barely talked to me in the car.”
45%
5
“Because there’s nothing to talk about. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to grab those books and begin my research.”
“Are we just going to ignore the fact that you have been ignoring me and the other day- you came home all dressed and it was almost 10 pm? And now, you’re acting so nonchalant. Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Yes, but I’ll tell you now. You are a pain in my ass.”
I walked away and got inside the library because he chose to wait for me in the car. Well, thank goodness cause have no idea how I would have tolerated his ass around me.
I grabbed a few books, without even considering checking how beneficial they’d be, and just turned back to the front desk.
“I’ll take these,” I told the bookstore owner. “Do you think I can also get a book on Real Estate?”
“Oh, sure. We have pretty good books.” He turned to a shelf. “That way.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Now, can anyone explain why on earth I was more concerned about reading books about Real Estate?
Oh shit, Melissa.
When I finished, I handed some bucks to him and struggled with a bag filled with books.
“Let me help you with that,” Ian said the moment he saw me. I gave a nod and allowed him to take the bag.
He opened the back and dropped the bag inside. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
I didn’t want to spend another moment arguing with him so I shoved out my headphones from my bag but he stopped me. “So–how’s it been going?” He asked. “Working at my father’s company.”
Ourgh, working with Marcus.
“Good. It’s been quite a ride, from knowing nothing to actually having a good grab about real estate. I even bought some books,” I said and noticed I sounded too excited talking about Marcus. “Just to keep improving.”
“Oh. But I thought the books were for your project.”
“That’s right. My discipline is Business, remember?”
“Yeah, I know. How’s the project coming along?”
“Not so bad. Actually, I have started working on it. I’m still doing major research and by the time I’m done, I’ll turn it in.”
“And then you’ll be a graduate.”
That made me smile. The word graduate seemed like a big deal when I was in high school.
I kept fighting so hard to be here and now, in less than a month it’s going to be achieved.
“I guess so.”
15:24 FM, NO
Chapter 27
“And England? Do you still want to relocate?”
Of course, I shared that plan with him. I told him how I badly wanted to live in England, far away from home and far away from all the traumatizing memories but a second thought about it and it dawned on me that I may just want something else.
“I haven’t decided yet,” I blurted knowing fully well that I was no longer considering it.
We got back to my house and when the car came to a halt, I smiled at him. “Thanks for the ride.”
He looked like he wanted to say something – -to say a whole lot but he was stopping himself.
“Melissa, wait,” he finally said. I turned, waiting for him to tell me why I should wait.
“We’ve been distant lately. Can I at least take you to dinner?”
