The Freshman (College Years 1)

One wrong move and I could see her ass. That skirt is fuckin’ short.

I like it.

“Tony! There you are.” I turn to find my father striding toward me, a grim expression on his face. “Let’s go sit down.”

I follow him, grateful he’s not trying to introduce me to anyone else. He’s too determined to find our table. I don’t even understand how anyone actually knows where they’re supposed to be seated in this place, but I’m sure it’s some country club secret I’m not privy to.

Whatever. This isn’t my scene. And it probably never will be.

Once we find our table, I settle into the chair to the right of my Dad’s. Helena appears soon after us, her cheeks flushed, clutching a full glass of wine. I’d guess she’s had a few of those already, and Dad sends her a disapproving look. She ignores him, plopping into her seat and flipping her hair over her shoulder before she sets the glass down on the table.

“I saw you speaking to Lauri.” The irritation in my father’s voice is obvious.

Anger flashes in Helena’s eyes. “I can still be friends with her. It’s not my fault her boyfriend got the Kaminsky deal.”

Guess she’s not one to back down.

Dad glares. “I told you not to associate with their family.”

“You cannot control who I talk to, Anthony. I’m not a child,” Helena huffs, sounding exactly like a little kid. “Lauri is my friend. Can’t really say that about any of the other women in this room, so I’m going to keep talking to her whenever I can get the chance.”

“I don’t trust her boyfriend.”

“You shouldn’t.” Helena smiles. “I’m sure he’d love to get me alone and drill me about all of your secrets.”

It’s the way she says get me alone and drill me that has me raising my brows. Helena notices too. “Don’t give me that look. I saw you openly flirting with Hayden Channing,” she tosses out.

Dad whirls on me, anger flaring in his gaze. “You know Hayden?”

“I just met her at the dealership earlier—” I start, but he thrusts his finger in my face, his furious gaze meeting mine.

“Do not talk to her. You’re not allowed to even look at her, do you hear me?”

I lean back to get away from his shaking finger. “What’s the big deal? I don’t even know her.”

“Keep it that way.” Dad growls, reaching for his drink and slamming it back until there’s nothing left in the glass but ice.

I watch him, remaining quiet, wondering what the hell the Channing family did to him to make him so angry. Helena won’t even look up from her phone. Dad suddenly stands and leaves the table, and I watch him make his way toward the nearest bar.

“Don’t mind him.”

I glance over at Helena. “He’s pissed.”

“He’s always angry lately.” She shrugs.

“What did Channing do to him?”

“According to your father, Brian Channing has stolen three deals from him, all within the last couple of months.” Helena rolls her eyes. “I think he might be exaggerating though.”

“Bad blood then?”

“Terrible blood. I’ve been friends with Brian Channing’s girlfriend for a long time. Longer than I’ve been married to your father.” She gestures at me with her wineglass in hand. “You met her. She’s my friend, Lauri.”

Wait a minute. Lauri, the platinum blonde, is with Hayden’s dad? That’s her father’s girlfriend she was telling me about at the dealership?

“Got it.” I try not to react, but this is wild.

I’m connected to Range Rover Hayden and I didn’t even know it.