The Trouble With Love: An Age Gap Romance (The Forbidden Love 1)

I sit up, pulling the blanket over my chest. “You’re in the city? As in Manhattan?”

“Yes, a very last-minute thing in which your father so graciously begged me to come. Luckily, Adriana took the girls for the night.”

A small laugh escapes my lips, reminiscing about my parents arguing over trivial matters because Dad would mention something last minute. It was comical watching Dad begging Mom because he doesn’t want to attend certain events alone.

“Typical Dad. New outfit?”

“Of course, Ava chose it at Saks online, and I picked it up this afternoon. I was going to call you earlier but only arrived around lunch and on a red-eye tomorrow.”

“You sure live an exciting life. Flying in and out for a night. Meanwhile, I’m here doing absolutely nothing.”

“If it’s any consolation, the weather is awful. I’d rather be in bed than out tonight. Luckily, I have Will and his date to keep me company if your father wanders off as usual.”

I swallow the lump inside my throat. “Oh, that’s nice he has a date. Will, the playboy, strikes again.”

“Lucky you aren’t on speaker.” Mom chuckles softly as the noise around her heightens.

“Lucky,” I grit as anger seeps through me.

“So, you’re taking it easy tonight?”

“Actually, no.” I hop out of bed and straight to my closet. I yank each dress aside, looking for my gray turtleneck knitted mini dress which hugs my curves. “Liesel invited me to a party. Just a bunch of guys we know. I wasn’t going to go, but why the hell not? I’m nineteen and shouldn’t be in bed on a Friday night, right?”

“Sounds like fun. The number of college parties your Uncle Rocky dragged me to… I lost count. I’ll say they were fun and took my mind off things when I needed some social interaction.”

“I think it’s time I date.” I rush, locating the dress while grabbing my knee-high boots to go with it. “I realize I’ve never dated before. There was Austin, and well, that’s it. I’m too young to get serious, right?”

“Everyone is different, but dating isn’t a bad thing,” Mom says without judgment. “Just have fun and stay safe.”

I hear her muffle the speaker until she says something I can’t decipher. “Your father has suddenly decided to stop paying attention to an email he’s typing on his phone.”

“Not surprised,” I retort, wondering if Will is listening at all to this conve

rsation. Then again, why would he? He has some other pussy in the limo with him. “Tell my dear old daddy that I love him and not to worry. I don’t plan to make him a grandpa anytime soon.”

“If I repeat that, he’ll shoot the messenger, being me,” Mom confesses, followed by a small giggle. I suspect she’s had wine or champagne, either one making her tipsy at this moment. “We’re just about there, honey. Have fun tonight and let me know which college guy I can expect to call my son-in-law soon.” There’s more muffling until Mom yells out, “Would you just relax?”

“Thanks, Mom. Have fun, too.”

I hang up the call, grabbing my gray knit dress and a black one too, barging into Liesel’s room. She’s standing in front of the mirror, dressed in a black-laced bodysuit and high-waisted jeans. Liesel’s figure is amazing, and this outfit is a showstopper.

“The gray or black?”

Liesel’s eyes perk up. “Oh yes, girl! The gray. What made you change your mind?”

“I realized I need to live life. I’m young, right? This is the prime of my life.”

‘Uh-huh… and Mr. Nothing is doing what tonight?”

“Out on a date with some woman,” I confess with a slight growl.

“Oh, well, then.” Liesel sits me down, pulling my hair out of its messy bun. “We need to make you look irresistible. Mr. Nothing is going to wish he called you back.”

The music is blaring through the house, shoulders bumped together with barely any space for us to walk through. Liesel grabs my hand as we zig-zag through the crowd toward the kitchen, where apparently, the keg and other assorted drinks are served.

I couldn’t have painted the picture any better, your typical college party, which I had seen numerous times in movies on the brink of cops breaking it up at the moment. What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not like we will all go to jail.

I wave hello to a few classmates, ignoring a bunch of men eyeing me from where they congregated near the billiard table.