Page 416 of Hell Hath No Fury
“I had no idea you felt so strongly about the Richfields.”
“I’m not the only one. I don’t know a single person in town who doesn’t feel this way. They might never say it to their faces, but the Richfield dynasty should have died with old man Harvey.”
The minute I say those words, shame that I was capable of saying such a thing strikes me down.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean that,” I mumble, lowering my eyes from my disappointed father.
Shit.
I went too far.
No matter how I feel about the Richfields, those girls didn’t deserve to lose their dad so young. I actually liked Harvey. More than liked. He was like family to me. He and my dad used to go out fishing all the time before he got sick. Colleen and I always tagged along, competing with each other about who would catch the most fish. Anytime I won, she would push me over into the river and then splash right on in afterward me.
She used to be fun.
Shit.
I even considered her a friend.
I remember that much.
Before her dad died, she was carefree and knew how to have a good time and spending any of mine with her was the highlight of my week. But that was before she turned into Josephine’s mini-me. Cold and untouchable. Who could ever call a cold-hearted girl like that a friend much less want to hang out with her?
“Are you done?” my father asks after a while.
“Yeah, sorry,” I mumble, still feeling the weight of shame from my callous words.
“Good,” he states evenly, pressing a consoling hand on my shoulder. “No matter your feelings for the Richfields, they are still our neighbors. Our friends. People we have welcomed into our home, time and time again. Not to mention that your mother has been Josephine’s friend for as long as I can remember, and she is very fond of her and her girls.”
“Is that why you’re pimping me out to them?”
My father thins his lips, while I scold myself for always saying the first thing that pops into my head.
“No. In fact, it was your mother’s idea that you boys take the girls on this supposed date.”
My forehead wrinkles in confusion.
“Does Mom think I can’t get a date to some stupid-ass dance?”
“No. She knows full well you have many girls lining up for your attention. She also knows that there is only one that really has it, though. Is she wrong?”
When I don’t say anything on the contrary, my father lets out a deep exhale.
“Angela is a very sweet girl, but she’s made it clear that she only thinks of you as a friend. I’ll go as far as saying that she might even consider you to be more like a brother.”
I don’t deny it.
I’ve started to think that maybe that’s how I feel about her too.
“Think of the Richfield girls as a good distraction. I know that there is no love lost for you regarding them, but they are sweet girls when you get to know them.”
Sweet.
Right.
I keep my thoughts to myself and just offer him a nod in reply. Somehow my very intuitive mother found out that I had a little misplaced crush on my best friend, and this is her way of trying to mend what she thinks is a broken heart. I can’t be angry at her for that. Mom is just trying to protect me, like she’s always done.
“Fine. I’ll go. You win.”
