Page 57 of Life of the Party

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “I guess we’ll see in the morning.”

“You know, when Marcy was your age—”

“Dad.” I stopped him before he could remind me, again, of Marcy’s perfection. She’d been the valedictorian of her class when she graduated—gorgeous, popular, athletic. I was young then and chubby still, wishing I could be as smart and perfect as my wonderful big sister so my mom would cry with pride when I crossed the stage too. How things changed. “Spare me, Dad, please? I don’t want to hear it.”

“Fine.” He sighed. “I just think she set a pretty good example for you, you know. It wouldn’t hurt to learn a little from her.”

“Yeah, okay. The next time I want to get engaged to a total dick, I’ll give her a call.”

“Mackenzie.”

“What.”

“Why are you…?” He looked at me like he was completely baffled. “What makes you so angry all the time?”

“I’m not angry all the time. I just don’t want to hear that shit.”

“Watch your mouth. And don’t take that tone with me.”

“Whatever, sorry.” I rolled my eyes. “Can I go now? I have alotof studying to do.”

My dad didn’t answer, just nodded his head and waved me off with a rigid motion of his hand. I’d huffed past him then, up the stairs to my room to call Charlie.

“Did you see Brad today?” She was wondering.

“Yeah.” I frowned. “He wouldn’t look at me. He has two huge black eyes; maybe he couldn’t see. He got theshitkicked out of him.” I laughed, a shudder running through me. I hadn’t forgotten the total violation of his attack. I wondered if I ever would.

“Serves him right. Stupid bastard.”

“No doubt.”

“I’m just so glad the guys were with me. It was Grey’s idea, you know, to go out there. He was so pissed at me for letting you go early before you could talk.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I feel really bad about it, actually. I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize Brad would turn out to be such an asshole, I mean, he looked so sweet.”

“Of course, Charlie. Come on, there’s no way you could’ve known. I didn’t even know. He was sweet. He seemed totally harmless. This was not your fault at all.”

“Yeah, well, I still feel bad.”

“Don’t.”

Charlie sighed. “Anyway…I knew Grey liked you all along. He just needed a push in the right direction, I guess, hey?”

“Yeah.” I sighed happily. “Oh, hold on a sec.” A sudden knock interrupted our conversation. The door opened a crack and my dad’s head poked through.

“Off the phone,” he demanded. “You’re supposed to be studying.”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay.”

“I mean it. Off.”

“Okay, just let me say goodbye.”

“You have two minutes.”

“Okay!” I yelled. The door shut and I growled in frustration. “Charlie?”

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