I had an overflowing laundry basket in my hands and I leaned against the wall to catch my breath. “I’m not sure why. Has lots of friends and seems pretty nice. What’s there to be worried about?”
“Success is measured in different ways, Heaven. It’s a man’s world—don’t worry about the little things.”
I dropped the basket on the floor with a loud thump. “Excuse me?”
“I said it’s a man’s world—you just need to find your role in it. I knew the minute I saw how beautiful you’d become that you’d be a good asset to my mission at the church. God blesses us in many ways.”
“Dad,” I said, trying to keep my cool, “women aren’t considered an asset and it most certainly isn’t only a man’s world. I know you’ve been,” I swallow back my rage, “away and that you grew up in a pretty conservative environment, but women can do anything a man can do, you know that, right?”
“Sure, honey,” he said unconvincingly. “Who knew you’d t
urn into such a spit-ball? When I left you were so quiet and meek. Your mother told me you struggled and I wasn’t sure if you’d get out of that frame of mind, but I can see that you’re different now. I like it. I bet Noah will like it, too.”
I fought back a groan and picked up my basket, relieved Amber walked through the door so I could go through.
“Look Daddy, I’m going to do laundry. I should go.”
“Okay sweetheart, you take care of yourself. I’ll be in touch.”
I hung up the phone and muttered a few choice words under my breath.
“Your dad?” she asked.
“How did you know?”
“You get this little wrinkle between your eyes when he calls.”
I mounted the basket on my hip and rubbed the spot with my finger. “Great, now he’ll give me wrinkles as well as a complex.”
“A complex about what?”
Oh hell no would I tell Amber about my father’s ideas about women, she’d lose her shit and confront him. We’d both have to drop out of school. See? Strings. “Never mind.”
She frowned but let it go. “What’s this? You’ve got a big night doing laundry, huh?”
“Actually, I have a date. A laundry date.”
“Oh yeah? With who?”
I smiled. “Hayden.”
“Hayden does laundry? I’d pay to see that.”
“Right? I don’t think he’s actually bringing laundry. He asked me to pose for his drawing class and this is the only free time I have.”
She smirked. “He wants to draw you? That’s pretty sexy.”
It was sexy. I’d seen Hayden’s work before—even drawings of me—but watching him do it? A chill ran down my spine. “Yep. Sexy.”
Amber opened the door to the community laundry facility in the basement of our building. “Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I frowned. “In the laundry room?”
She smiled wickedly. “You never know.”
18
Hayden