Page 45 of The Girlfriend Card
“I can’t stay here,” I declared matter-of-factly. “I’m leaving with Dakota.”
“Don’t go after him, Ottavia,” he warned.
“You don’t run my life!”
“Oh, really? Are yousureabout that?” He taunted, yelling after me.
Whatever,I thought, picking up my pace.
I ran out of the house just in time to see Dakota settle into his car, his hand reaching for the door.
“Hey, Dakota!” I yelled as I ran down the front steps. “Wait for me! I’m coming!”
I was worried he wouldn’t hear me, or worse,pretendhe couldn’t hear me. But to my relief, the hockey player heard me just before he shut the door, and climbed out. Leaning against his car with his hands buried in his pockets, he patiently waited for me, watching as I hurriedly descended the stairs.
Dakota was undeniably an attractive man—especiallywhen wearing a suit, as I’d learned when he picked me up tonight—but it wasn’t until that moment I truly realized the depth of his beauty. It was a tragic sort, with a flicker of pain in his eyes, his shoulders slumped, his spirit dejected. Yet it was this vulnerability that made him the most strikingly handsome man I’d ever laid my eyes on.
I threw myself into his arms, hoping and wishing I could comfort him.
“I’m so sorry about that,” I whispered. “My dad is a complete asshole.”
“Aw. Hey. Don’t be sorry.” I was hoping he’d squeeze me tight, but he only gave me a half-hearted hug. “Nothing he said was wrong.”
Hearing him say that nearly shattered my heart. “Don’t say that.”
“Nah … it’s true. I really fucked up this time.” Dakota pulled away from me, and nudged my shoulder with his fist, as if wewere old pals. I sensed him trying to distance himself from me. I understood why, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.
“But hey. Thanks for pretending to be Jane,” he said, forcing a smile to mask the pain in his eyes. “You really stuck it out. You didn’t have to do that, you know. You could’ve thrown me under the bus. I would’ve understood.”
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t do that. I said I’d help you. Besides, this mess isn’t just your fault. I played a part in it, too.”
“I don’t know about that. But hey. Thanks again. I really appreciate it.” He reached out and shook my hand, but his grip felt cool and listless. “I should probably get going. I don’t want to cause any more problems for you with your dad. So … bye.”
“Bye?” I couldn’t believe he was going to leave without me. As awful as that scene was, I felt like we had so much to talk about now.
But Dakota forced his eyes away from me, climbed into his car, and pulled the door shut. The engine came to life with a growl, filling the air with its sporty rumble. I stood there, a mix of emotions swirling inside me—stunned, angry, hurt. We had so much to talk about, to learn about each other! Was hereallygoing to let my dad scare him off?
No!
A surge of righteous indignation filled me, and before Dakota could drive off, I jumped in front of his car to keep him from leaving. Rounding the car, I defiantly climbed into the passenger side.
“Take me back to the city,” I demanded.
“Ottavia. I can’t.”
“You can’t just leave me here. I don’t want to stay here.”
He sighed. “You heard the man. I can’t be with you anymore.”
“Be with me anymore?” I giggled. “Please tell me you don’t actually think we’re dating now, Dakota. I mean, sure, we were convincing … but we weren’tthatconvincing.”
Dakota didn’t laugh, but I could detect the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. “You know what I mean. Besides, your dad doesn’t know we’re not actually dating.”
“So what?”
“So … it’d probably be best if you stayed here.” He shrugged. “You heard what he said.”
I folded my arms and pouted. “I don’tcarewhat he said.”
