Page 185 of 7+Us Makes Nine

“He wasn’t happy?! He threw a tantrum that day! He didn’t talk to me for days! I think he thought maybe I wanted to do it because Carter did, but I wanted it for myself, not for him. Anyway I almost gave up on college I wanted, when he came to me and said I had the right to do whatever I wanted with my life. He just advised me to always be honest and work for people, not myself.

Your father is a smart man.

Yes. Smart and good. Too good for this world, in my opinion. He always liked you. Not sure how

’d he feel now that you’re with me though.

Well I guess he’ll find out soon enough.

Still thinking about how you’re going to tell Carter.

Yeah. It’s going to end with a drink in my face, or a fist. Either way I’m not looking forward to it.

You’re a good guy though, and he respects you.

What makes you say that?

Because you’re honest and you’re not a politician for money or power. You actually want to help our country.

Wow. You sound better than my own PR team. Maybe I can hire you to work for me as my publicist.

I erupted into laughter.

I don’t think that would be such a good idea.

Why not? You’re beautiful, smart, charming, capable… Do you want me to continue?

Aww you’re flattering me. Thanks. But seriously, we’d have a conflict of interest in that case.

True. And how about your mother? Does she still teach? Lord she hated having me in class.

I don’t think she hated you.

Spoiled little rich kid? Yeah she wasn’t a fan. I’m glad to know at least ¾ of your family likes me.

For now.

LOL- She wasn’t the only teacher who wasn’t a fan. I could take the heat.

Impossible! There was actually more than one woman who wasn’t smitten with the gorgeous Merritt Dawson?!

Who would’ve thought, right? Well, she was one of my ‘anti-fans’.

One of? So there were more?

Of course there were more. All of them females. Most of them were those who wanted something serious with me and didn’t understand the meaning of a ‘one-night stand’. So some of them spew lies about me in the media as a part of their petty revenge.

I’m sorry to hear that. I guess that’s the risk of being popular. There can be people who can harm you like that.

Yeah. I got used to it, but it was difficult in the beginning… So that is why I wasn’t sure about being with you. I don’t want you to experience the same things I did.

It’s so sweet of you that you want to protect me, Merritt, but I’m a big girl. I can handle it.

That’s good to hear, but honestly, you can’t understand how horrible that is until it hits you. I just want you to know that it’s not a walk in the park.

Then I better get my Rambo mode activated.

Rambo mode?

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