Page 5 of Prudence
It was a couple weeks into summer when my friend Aidan announced he was having a big party at his house to celebrate his birthday. Aidan’s parties could get a little wild, but I decided this would be my last try with Milly. I’d invite her to the party, and if she said no, then that would be it. I’d leave her alone for good.
But then the unexpected happened, and only a couple minutes after I texted her, I received a reply.
Milly: Okay, that sounds like fun. What time should I meet you there?
My heart raced. I couldn’t believe it. It took immense effort not to go overboard with my response as I forced myself to remain cool.
Derek: I can pick you up at your house around eight?
Milly: Great, see you then :-)
I hopped in the shower immediately, and when I got out, my best friend, Rhys, was in my room playing on the game console.He was staying with us for a couple weeks over the summer. My dad had been the one to offer for him to stay, and the official story was that his house was undergoing renovations; however, I had a feeling the real reason was that there was something going on with his parents. Rhys’ father was a bit of a dickhead and could be very domineering with him, kicking him out of the house for the most minor offense.
“Hey,” I said, heading for my closet to find something to wear.
“Hey,” Rhys echoed, his attention fixed on the screen.
I selected my best black shirt and dark navy jeans. Rhys arched an eyebrow when he saw me set them down on the bed.
“Getting dressed up for the party?”
I lifted my chin. “Milly’s coming.”
Rhys chuckled low. “Ah, that explains it.” He was one of the few people I’d confided in about my crush on Milly, so he knew her coming to the party was a big deal.
“You’re one to talk. You can barely keep your eyes off Charli whenever the two of you are in the same room.”
My cousin from America, Charli, had come to stay with us for the summer. From the moment Rhys had laid eyes on her, I could tell he was smitten. I had a feeling Charli might like him back, but I was worried that once she headed home at the end of the summer, she’d leave Rhys heartbroken. He was my best friend, but he’d never been with a girl before. He also had a soft, open heart, and I didn’t want him to get hurt. Hell, maybe I should be heeding my own advice because how I felt for Milly was unlike how I’d felt for any girl. I wasn’t inexperienced like Rhys, but I felt just as in danger of getting my heart broken, especially considering how amped up I was to bring her to the party tonight.
“Charli’s not interested in the likes of me,” Rhys responded dismissively before focusing back on the game.
I didn’t bother contradicting him even though he was dead wrong. It was better for the lad if he kept believing she wasn’t into him. Less trouble in the long run. “I need to go pick Milly up from her house, but Tristan will be leaving to head over to Aidan’s in a little while.”
“Cool, I’ll go with him,” Rhys said, and I went to get dressed.
By the time I parked outside Milly’s house, I feared I’d put on too much cologne and hastily tried rubbing some off with a couple napkins from the glovebox while also lowering the driver’s side window to air the space out. Once I was satisfied the car didn’t smell like the Giorgio Armani counter in some fancy department store, I climbed out and walked up to the front door before lifting the knocker. A moment later, the door swung open, revealing a girl who was the spitting image of Milly, except she was several years younger with much shorter hair.
She took me in from top to toe with a mischievous smile on her face and then folded her arms.
“And you are?”
“Hi. I’m Derek Balfe. I’m here to pick up your sister.”
The girl’s eyes bugged. “Milly? Really?”
I grinned. “Yes, really.”
At this, she turned and bolted up the stairs. “Milly! There’s a hot boy at the door for you!” My grin transformed into a smirk. At least I’d passed her little sister’s inspection.
“Jane! No shouting please!” came a male voice, ironically shouting, too, before Milly’s dad, Ryan O’Shea, appeared at the door. He was walking with crutches, a large cast covering most of his left leg. Milly had mentioned that he’d fallen off a ladder while trying to clear the gutters on their roof and broke his femur while also suffering a fractured tibia. When he was being treated at the hospital, he’d contracted MRSA, further lengthening his recovery time. It meant he was out of work, and given he was self-employed, it had put financial strain on thefamily. Milly’s mam, who worked at the local florist, had to take on a second job waiting tables at night.
It was one of the reasons I really wanted Milly to come to the party tonight. She’d spent most of her summer so far taking care of her sisters and father, and she deserved a night off. Her dad looked to be around the same age as mine, in his late forties or early fifties, with greyish dark brown hair and blue eyes like his daughters. When he clapped his gaze on me, his thick, bushy brows immediately drew together in suspicion.
“And you are?”
I almost chuckled at how he addressed me the exact same way Jane had, only with a much more suspicious tone.
“Derek Balfe, sir,” I said, holding out my hand. “I’m here for Milly.”
