Page 31 of Very Bad Things

“That has to be the hottest thing I have ever heard.” She takes a sip of her ice water. “Hot damn. Very bad things?” She giggles. “I’m going to make Ryan say that to me.”

“Yeah, it was shocking to say the least.”

“So he kissed you, told you that, and then what?”

“He left.”

“You let him leave?” Her eyebrows shoot upward. “Girl, I would have climbed that man like a tree. No way he’d get out of my death grip.”

“I was stunned and honestly this is where I’m left confused. Did he say that to tease me or does he seriously not want to cross that line?”

“He clearly wants to. He’s trying to tease you, seduce you. But that’s actually so much hotter than just hooking up. That’s the thing about older men—they don’t feel this need to just bed you and bail like the twenty-somethings our own age do. It’s an art to them at this point, especially the rich ones.”

“And you know this how?”

“You remember Mr. Daniels when we were in college—that rich guy who always came into the coffee shop I worked at?”

“Oh right, Trent Daniels’ dad. Yeah, I remember him.” I laugh, recalling that when Trent, one of ourfriend of a friendacquaintances found out that Xana went out with his dad, he almost lost his shit. “I thought you only hooked up with him like once?”

“It was a few times, but the point is, he wined and dined me. He took his time flirting, took me dancing and out to fancy dinners. It was so much nicer than being tossed a beer at a frat party with a ‘you wanna, like, see my room or whatever?’ line and then getting berated if I said no.”

“So why didn’t it become something more with Mr. Daniels?”

“Well, that’s the great thing about older rich men like him and Mr. Vaughn. They aren’t looking for long term because they don’t need it. It’s like Leo DiCaprio; he can have a new girl any night of the week so why settle down?”

“Sounds kind of icky actually.” I scrunch up my face, thinking about Weston turning around and doing this to the next younger woman who crosses his path.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean that Mr. Vaughn is doing that. I’m just saying in general. I mean, neither of us saw him being a man-whore in any of the paparazzi photos we found online. Seems like he’s actually kept a low profile since his wife passed away.”

My stomach churns a little thinking about the headline I saw of him with themystery blonde.I guess she isn’t a mystery anymore since he told me who she was. What I didn’t mention to him was that the paper stated that they were seenagain, so clearly this isn’t the first time they’ve gone out… business related or not.

“The question is, do you want anything to happen?”

“I do but I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Actually, I know it’s not. I’m pretty sure the school would not appreciate me sleeping with one of my students’ parents.”

“How would they even know?” I give her a look and she quickly realizes how. “Paparazzi… right. You know, even if you go with him as only a paid babysitter and nothing happens between you, people will assume it did anyway if pictures of you on his yacht are released.”

“Okay, it’s official, I’m not going.” I toss my napkin on the table. “Guess I can return the swimsuits then.”

“Wait, hold up. Is there potential for this to be something more? The school can’t tell you to not fall in love with a single parent who is available and pursuing you. Plus, you won’t be Daisy’s teacher forever. If you guys could keep it low-key for the rest of the school year, it’s worth it.”

“He just kissed me, Xana; he didn’t propose. Like you said, I think he’s just looking to get laid. Besides, I’m not so sure I’m ready to jump back into something yet.”

She gives me a look of pity. “I thought you were ready to move on and explore things with other people?”

“Explore, yes, but jumping into another relationship right away ju—”

“Right away? Daph, it’s been two years.”

I fiddle with my fork, my shoulders dropping as I exhale. “I felt something.”

“What do you mean?”

“In the way he kissed me, held me, looked at me. It made me feel—I’ve never felt that way before and it scared me.”

“Is it fear or guilt?”

“Both. I think I feel bad that I’m interested in someone else. That I can’t help but compare how he makes me feel to how Carson made me feel. What I had with Carson was completely different. It was emotional, but I’d be lying to myself if I said that Carson could ignite this passion and fire inside me with a single touch or kiss like Weston has. It’s all so new. Do you have that with Ryan?”

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