If not...I probably deserved it.
Chapter 11
Chloe
I slept horribly, but by the time the sun came up, I'd come to the conclusion that I was being ridiculous. I was judging Finn based on a life that I knew nothing about. The fact that Brian had been so open let me into the reasons why Finn was like he was, but the fact still remained that it was irrelevant. He wasn't my problem, and I was soon to be headed home.
Funny how that resolution faded as my phone buzzed and I scrambled to get it, thinking that somehow he'd gotten my number.
Cindy: Just wanted to let you know I'm on a flight back home. Last night was wicked fun. Thanks for the hookup. Hope we can do it again soon. Love ya!
Me: Anytime. Be safe. Love you, too.
I tossed the phone toward the other end of the bed and picked up my pillow, groaning into it loudly. Why did this matter? I had a million other things to worry about besides some local playboy who wasn't even going to be a memory in a month. My father was breathing down my neck to talk about my designs and I had a few, but nothing really worth showing him yet. My main sketch pad was missing and something told me that I had left it in the top of the closet back in the dorm room. I checked with Jessie, but she hadn't gotten back to me to verify if my worries were valid.
"Chloe?" my father's voice sounded outside my door as he knocked softly.
"I'm up." I tugged the covers up to my chin and looked up as he stuck his head in the room.
"I'm going to whip up some pancakes. Let's talk about your designs this morning, okay?"
"Yeah. Alright." I rolled over and curled up. "Can you put chocolate chips in mine?"
"And pecans?"
"Yeah. Like Momma used to do." I closed my eyes. Nothing was working out, and of course, this was the very moment my father would choose to be nice. It was going to be short lived, seeing that he was far more interested in his money than me, but it was too much even for the short stint that it would last.
"Of course. Hurry up. I have a lunch date." He closed the door and I rolled out of the bed, hitting the floor in a crouch.
A lunch date. Sex with a chick at lunch on a Sunday? He was going straight to hell.
I chuckled at the audacity of my thoughts and got up, changing into a long cream-colored sweater and a pair of black tights. After tying my hair in a messy bun, I walked down the hall and made a beeline for the coffee pot.
"I'm not sure you're going to want to talk without me having my large sketch pad. It's got my main dress and shirt designs in it." I poured the cup and turned to look up at him.
"Are you okay? Your eyes are puffy. Were you crying last night?" Concern swept across his face, but it left as quickly as it appeared.
"No. Went out drinking." I moved to the table and sat down, focusing only on the warmth my coffee provided. "Where's Parker?"
"He has a gamer day on Sundays with some of the boys from school. I drop him off at eight and he comes home around six. It's good for him to get out of the house." My father looked up from his cooking and seemed to be analyzing me.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just noticing how much you look like a woman. Like your mother."
"I'm twenty-four, Dad. I grew up while you weren't looking."
His jaw clenched and I realized how my words sounded.
"I didn't mean it like that." I stood up and he lifted his hand.
"It's fine. Get your work and let's talk." He pursed his lips and I knew the conversation was over.
I walked to the room with my head hung down, pissed at myself for starting off the morning with him on a bad note. I needed him in a good mood for the discussion we had coming up and now he was going to be anything but.
The sketch pad was open on a small circular table beside the bed. I'd been working on something in the wee hours of the morning when I couldn't stop thinking about Finn. I snatched it up and walked back to the kitchen with trepidation rolling over me in great waves.
"I really don't feel good about this." I sat down and opened the pad.