Chapter 16
*Victoria*
I should go get Aaron right now so that he can witness Grace like this. I should help get her kicked out of their lives forever so that she doesn't have the chance to hurt Sophie, or Aaron. But what would that say about me? Sophie deserves to know and love and her real mother, not some stand in. And whether I like it or not, she's going to have to be around Aaron. If she's caught, it's all over for her.
I left Grace and Connor in the kitchen while I went to ask to borrow Aaron's car. He was now in the hall, working his way towards the kitchen.
"I know it was my friends who trashed the house, but does that really mean I have to clean it myself?" he asked when he saw me.
"I made some coffee for Connor." I explained. "I was going to help after, but then I remembered I needed something from the store."
"I could take a break and take you." he offered, setting the nearly full garbage bag on the floor.
"No, no, that's okay. If I could just borrow your car, that would be great."
He furrowed his brows and I began to feel nervous that he could see the lie written all over my face.
"Feminine products." I blurted, feeling the immediate blush come to my face.
"Oh, uh..." Aaron suddenly looked nervous. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys.
He handed them to me, and after a quick thank you, I left. I helped Grace to her feet and out the door. She hissed in pain as the sun hit her face, probably making her hang over much worse.
Once she was in the passenger seat, I walked around and climbed into the drivers seat. I set the GPS on my phone for Moorhead Prep.
"My head is killing me." she mumbled, resting her head against the seat.
"That's what happens when you drink too much." I responded, as I pulled out of the driveway. "Take two aspirin and get some sleep when you get back to campus."
"You're taking me back?"
"Yes. You can thank me later."
After about twenty minutes, I pulled in front of the gates to Moorhead Prep. Through the gates I could see a large, open grassy area. A large, four story building was in the distance. It seemed to have an east and west wing.
The fence surrounding the school seemed to stretch for acres and acres. I can only imagine how rich you have to be just to be considered for this school.
"Grace, we're here." I said, noticing she'd fallen back to sleep in the short time. When she didn't respond, I gave her a gentle shake.
"What?" she finally mumbled.
"You're at Moorhead Prep."
She stretched as she looked out the window at the closed gates, and then she looked at me.
"Victoria." she said in realization. "You brought me back?" I nodded. "What were you doing at the party? You hardly seem the type who'd be into that sort of thing."
"I could say the same about you, but I'd be wrong. Besides, the house belongs to Aaron's dad."
"That was Aaron's party?"
"Not exactly. His friends threw it for him. Anyway, it's time for you to go. I need to get back to Aaron."
"You didn't have to do this." she continued. "Why did you?"
"Because if Aaron knew you were there last night, he wouldn't want you seeing Sophie anymore and I won't deprive her of you. Besides, I don't enjoy seeing people in pain."
Grace slowly climbed out of the car and headed towards the gate. She pushed it and it opened. She squeezed through the small gap before closing the gate behind her. She gave me a small wave before staggering towards the large building.
***
I returned to the beach house and went inside to find Aaron cleaning the living room. Surprisingly, Connor was no longer sitting at the kitchen counter. I figured he'd be there with his head down all day.
"You're back." Aaron smiled.
"Yes I am, so you can stop cleaning and let me do the rest."
I walked over to him and grabbed the bag. He protested for a moment before finally handing it over.
"Go check on Connor. He doesn't seem to be doing so well."
I finished cleaning while Aaron went upstairs to check on Connor. I picked up a few red cups, a shirt, and pieces of food. This is one reason I don't like parties. People trash your house and then leave for you to clean it up. Once I was finished cleaning the rest of the house, I tied the full bag and took it outside to the trash.
When I went inside I found Aaron sitting on the couch with his phone to his ear. I smiled as I walked over and sat beside him.
"Why should I?" Aaron said to whoever was on the other end. "It's been your choice to stay away for so long, not mine."
I wonder who he's talking to? Whoever it is, he's obviously upset with them. I hope it's not Grace, after I tried to keep her out of trouble.
"Yeah I guess. See you tonight."
Aaron hung up the phone and tossed it on the coffee table in front of us. He heaved a sigh as he ran his hand through his hair.
"What's happening tonight?" I asked, making comforting circular motions on his back. He looked at me and small smile.
"Would you mind making a stop on the way back home?" he asked.
"Not at all. What are you planning?"
"My dad happens to be doing business close by and wants me to come to dinner with him. Apparently he has a fiancée and wants to introduce her."
"That's great isn't it? Your dad is finally settling down and obviously wants you to be involved in his new life."
"Yeah, we'll see how long that'll last."
I wish Aaron got along with his father, I really do. I hate seeing this pent up anger that comes out whenever his father is mentioned. Aaron has enough things going on. He doesn't need negative thoughts about his father getting in the way too.
Aaron suddenly wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in. We leaned back on the couch and I rest my head on his shoulder.
"As long as you're there, tonight can't go wrong."
"I love you." I said.
"I love you more." he answered, kissing the top of my head.
"Impossible." I said with a smile.
***
I frowned at my reflection in the floor length mirror. If I'd known about this dinner, I would have packed something less casual and sloppy, and something more sophisticated. Instead I'm stuck with dark skinny jeans, a purple off the shoulders sweater, and a pair of brown wedge booties.
"You look beautiful like always." Aaron said, leaning against the bedroom door frame.
As usual he looks amazing in a simple pair of dark jeans and a gray long-sleeve. His hair is naturally messy, but someone looks styled. He literally wakes up and looks perfect. I on the other hand have to work to look close to attractive.
"It's just a causal dinner. Besides, he isn't exactly someone you need to impress."
"Of course I have to impress him." I sighed with frustration. "He's your father."
"Only on paper."
I looked at Aaron through the mirror and saw a frown clear on his face. He's really not okay with this dinner. He hates his father that much.
"Why did you agree to go to this dinner if you dislike your father so much?" I asked.
"Because he promised to help my mom out with our debt. And he says it's the least I could do since he allowed me to throw a party here."
"But you didn't throw that party." I furrowed my brows.
"I haven't seen my dad in a while. He still thinks I'm that a**hole who sleeps around and throws parties every chance I get."
Does that mean his father doesn't know about Sophie, or does he think she was put up for adoption? How long has his father been out of his life?
"But none of that matters." he said, crossing the room to me. He pressed his chest against my back as he wrapped his arms around my waist. He trailed kisses from my jaw line, down to my exposed collarbone. "You're the only thing that matters to me right now."
"Is it even possible to love you as much as I do?" I asked, enjoying the feel of his lips against my skin.
"I hope so, because I feel the same way." he placed a kiss on my cheek. "Come on, it's time to go."
Aaron carried my bags downstairs for me, then loaded them into the back of the car. I looked at the beach house for probably the last time until Aaron's father allows him to use it again.
Although our weekend getaway didn't turn out exactly how we wanted, I still enjoyed my time with Aaron. I truly love him with all my heart and the fact that I can express that makes everything better.
***
Aaron parked in front of a large medium sized restaurant. Through the window I could see people dressed both causally and proper.
"Well, I feel a little better about my clothes." I said, giving a small smile.
"Good. There's no need to be self-conscious."
We got out of the car and Aaron held my hand as we went inside. A young woman approached us with a large smile. She wore dark eye shadow and her red lipstick looked strikingly bright with her black uniform.
"Seat for two?" she asked, never looking in my direction.
"Actually, we're meeting someone." Aaron answered. "Phil Evans."
"Follow me." she gestured.
Aaron and I followed her through the small pathways between the dining tables. I became more and more anxious with every step we took closer to Aaron's father, Phil.
"Here you are." the woman said, smiling at Aaron. "Enjoy your night."
As she walked away, I looked at the man and woman sitting at the table. The man, ruggedly handsome, wore a dark grey suit and blue tie. His eyes were blue just like Aaron's, and had dark brown hair with a few streaks of grey. He seemed to be somewhere in his late thirties or very early forties. The woman looked young, very young. Almost like she was in her early twenties. She was stick thin and wore a tight fitting, strapless white dress. Her long blonde hair fell in light curls and went perfectly with her dark blue eyes.
"Aaron!" Mr. Evans exclaimed, standing and extending his hand to shake Aaron's. Aaron stared at his father's hand and didn't make a move to shake it.
It's strange that Mr. Evans would shake his son's hand as if he was a client of some type. Aaron should have been greeted with a hug.
"Please, sit." Mr. Evans said, retracting his hand and returning to his seat.
Aaron and I took our seats across from Mr. Evans and his fiancée. Aaron took my hand under the table and I could feel his tension.
"Aaron, I'd like for you to meet my fiancée, Allison." Mr. Evans introduced with a large smile on his face.
"It's so great to finally meet you." Allison said with a smile. "Your father has told me so many great things about you."
"That's funny." Aaron let out a humorless laugh. "Because he doesn't know a thing about me. I only talked to him today after a few months."
Mr. Evans frowned and cleared his throat. This dinner has only just started and already it's not going so well.
"May I ask your name?" Mr. Evans asked me.
"I'm Victoria, Aaron's girlfriend." I extended my hand across the table and he shook it with a firm grip. "It's nice to meet you."
"Same. I didn't know Aaron had girlfriends. He always seemed more like a five girls kind of guy."
"I could say the same about you, but obviously you've changed too." Aaron said.
I released Aaron's hand and cleared my throat. He looked at me with furrowed brows.
"Aaron, can I talk to alone for a minute?" I asked.
"Of course." he said, standing up.
I followed Aaron to a mostly empty part of the restaurant. He looked at me expectantly as he waited for me to speak.
"What's going on with you?" I asked him. "Everything thing that your father says, you pick it apart and make it into something negative. You have to at least try to make this dinner work."
"He tries to make it seem like he deserves the father of the year award, when he's a deadbeat. I didn't want to come here, but he said he would help. But now that I think about it, he probably won't go through with that, like he does everything else.
"You don't know that." I took his hands in mine. "He wanted to introduce you to his fiancée, who seems very excited to meet you, and you're being rude. Just please try to be nice, no matter what lies your father tells."
"You just don't know him like I do."
"It seems to me like you don't know him at all."
He sighed and rest his forehead against mine. His warm breath brushing against my face.
"I love you." he said. "I guess since you asked me to, I'll try."
"Thank you." I said, giving him a light kiss. "Now let's get back so we can order. I'm starved."
*Aaron*
I picked at my food as my father told the story of how he and Allison met. He explained how she was the new secretary and he instantly fell in love with her. He probably just thought she was hot. And he probably only proposed because she's good in bed. My father doesn't care about personality, just what you bring to the table. I'll be surprised if he actually goes through with the marriage.
"So how did the two of you meet?" my father asked, and Victoria told him the story of how we ran into each other in the hallways. How I asked her out, and things escalated from there.
"So it just happened?" Allison asked. "Just like that?"
"Well, who could say no to a guy like Aaron?" Victoria said with a smile, shrugging. "I love him. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
She took my hand in hers and smiled at me. I couldn't help smiling back. I leaned in and gave her a light kiss.
"Awe, young love." Allison said with a sigh. "Those were the days. Will there be a ring soon? A promise ring of course."
"No way." I quickly said. "I don't think we're ready for a commitment like that just yet. We've only just gotten to the 'I love you' stage. But I can't exactly say it's completely out of the question. We'll get there one day."
I love Victoria with all my heart. At the moment I can't picture my life without her. I wouldn't mind marrying her someday in the future.
"Besides, I don't think she's ready to be a mom." My father added. "She seems like a bright young lady. She has her whole life ahead of her. No need to be held back by that much responsibility." Allison furrowed her brows. "Oh right, I didn't tell you. Aaron has a daughter. Her name is Sarah and she's two."
"Actually, her name is Sophia and she's three, but you already knew that because of all the time we spend together right?" Phil looked down in shame. "I tried to give this dinner a chance at Victoria's request, but I can't. The fact that you can't even remember your own granddaughter's name, pisses me off. I mean how hard is it to come and visit at least once, to get to know her? How hard is it to pay your family, whether it's broken or not, a visit every now and then? You couldn't even make sure mom and I were able to support ourselves. You up and left with some big breast bimbo because you couldn't handle having the responsibility of being a father or husband on your shoulders. I want you to know that I will never become you. I will be there for Sophia, no matter what. And when I do get married, my wife will know just how much I love her, because I'll tell her that everyday." the words spilled out of my mouth like a sickness. All of the anger I have pent up about him, just came out. I tried to be nice, but just looking at his face pisses me off. He's a deadbeat and that's all he'll be to me. "Let's go Victoria, it's getting late."
"It was nice meeting you." Victoria said in a low voice, before standing and following me out of the restaurant.
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Hey guys! So I thought I'd introduce you guys to Phil, Aaron's dad. Tell me your thoughts on him. And also tell me your thoughts on this entire chapter. I hope this one was a little more interesting than the last.
Please check out my new story 'Chosen'. It would really mean a lot to me. :)
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