Page 117 of All Too Well
“You know you’re so going to owe me for this,” I tell Ainsley as we’re sitting at the bar.
Rose’s team lost the competition by three points, and while the girls were sad, all my daughter could do was ask about visiting the ship and how happy it would make her.
Amazing that at six she’s already figured out the things to say to get me to cave.
Not that I’ve ever had much resistance with her.
“Owe you?” Ainsley asks with a laugh. “For what?”
“How about making me stay in this fucking town another night? Or worse, having us stay at your damn house.”
That is really the one I could kill her for. Her suggestion was that we all stay at her home, save money on the hotel, and let the Admiral babysit so we could go out for some fun.
My idea of fun was getting a hotel and gagging her while I fucked her brains out.
Apparently we didn’t have the same ideas.
“Well, your dad is gone for the weekend, so I didn’t think there was a reason to deny Rose.” She grins before taking a sip. “Plus, I have reasons.”
“And they are?”
Ainsley leans forward. “You can sneak into my room tonight and find out.”
“That was happening regardless,” I inform her. “I’ve imagined that scenario a few times.”
“Me too.”
She drains her drink and orders another. “How did last night go? Did you guys have fun after you dropped me off?”
“We did.”
“Good. I wish I could’ve said goodbye to Caspian this morning. I hoped he was going to come by, but I understand why he won’t.”
Yeah, this would be a good time to tell her about the conversation I had with him.
“So, speaking of Caspian and understanding ...” I take a deep pull from my beer, hoping for some liquid courage. “I told him ... sort of.”
Her eyes widen. “About us?”
“Sort of.”
“Sort of how? Sort of like you told him we were sleeping together or that you took me to a magical pond because you’re a weirdo?”
“Neither of those, but I’m sure he’s assuming we’ve slept together now.” I shrug. Honestly, who can tell with this group?
Ainsley sinks back in her seat. “You told him?Why?Why would you say anything? Now we have to tell him why it didn’t work out. He’s going to punch you, you know this?”
“I do. He informed me of the same, but it was more that if I hurt you, not if this didn’t work out. Which, again, I didn’t tell him we were together, just that I had feelings for you. To which he told me you’re in love with me.” I wink.
“He didwhat?” Her increase in volume causes a bunch of heads to turn. Ainsley doesn’t care, though. She soldiers on,slamming her hand on the bar. “I am not in love with you. I think you’re hot. I like what we’re doing. I’m going to kill him. I’m going to dismember him and leave him in pieces in the woods. I bet the bear would like that, little snack-sized bites. Ugh. I hate him.”
I wait her out because even if I did try to speak right now, she’d cut me off.
“Do you know what my life was like with him and my dad? It was hell. I couldn’t date. Who the hell wanted to be with the Admiral’s daughter? No one. Then, to top it off, Caspian scared the shit out of any guy who came near me.”
I lift the beer bottle up toward the bartender. I have a feeling I’m going to be here a while as she rants.
“I can imagine.”
