Page 23 of Her Possessive Daddies

Had dinner yet? There's this great Thai place downtown…

My fingers graze the keyboard. Why would someone like him want to have dinner with me? He probably takes beautiful, sophisticated women to fancy restaurants all the time. Women who know which fork to use first and don't stumble over wine pronunciations.

The screen of my phone reflects my image - messy curls escaping my half-hearted bun, minimal makeup from this morning's application, wrinkled sweater that's seen better days. Nothing special.

Another text comes through:Their Pad Thai is legendary. Almost as intriguing as your theory about Jung's collective unconscious.

I snort despite myself. That had been a rambling midnight text about my psych studies, and he'd actually engaged in the conversation instead of ghosting me.

Still, my thumb hovers uncertainly over the reply button. What could a successful businessman possibly see in a student bartender who can't even make a decent mixed drink?

Can't tonight. Still seeing you on Saturday?

Absolutely!

It’s hard to concentrate on the drive home; I wish I’d accepted the dinner invitation, but I don’t want to seem too eager. Never encountered a guy like him before, and I want to play this right. I can’t wait to show Tess what we’ve been firing back and forth all day.

The sound of laughter and music hits me before I even open our apartment door. Tessa's got her party playlist blasting - heavy on Taylor Swift with a dash of throwback 2000s hits.

"Look who finally showed up!" Tessa bounces over, red solo cup in hand. "We're playing Never Have I Ever!"

Our living room has transformed into party central. Sarah and Jamie from our old dorm sprawl across our secondhand couch, while Mike and his boyfriend Derek occupy our mismatched armchairs.

"Here." Tessa shoves a drink in my hand. "It's vodka cranberry. Catch up, bestie."

I receive another text. I try to hide my smile but fail miserably.

"Ooh, is that silver fox?" Tessa peers over my shoulder.

"Silver fox?" Jamie perks up. "I need the deets!"

The vodka cranberry goes down easy. Too easy. Two drinks in and I'm showing them Corey's profile picture on social media.

“Holy shit," Sarah whistles. "That's not a silver fox, that's a whole silver wolf."

"Never have I ever," Derek raises his cup with a wicked grin, "wanted to climb an older man like a tree."

I drink. So does Mike, making Derek gasp in mock offense.

"Never have I ever," Tessa announces, "turned down a dinner date because I was too scared."

"That's targeting!" I protest, but drink anyway.

Corey's sent a photo of his dinner - takeout from that Thai place, eaten alone at his desk.

Wish you were here to share it.

The warmth spreading through my body isn't just from the vodka anymore.

"Earth to Abbie!" Mike waves his hand in front of my face. "Your turn."

"Never have I ever..." I pause, the alcohol making me braver. "Never have I ever wanted someone this much this fast."

Everyone drinks. Tessa wraps an arm around my shoulders and squeezes.

"Get it, girl," she whispers in my ear. "You deserve something good."

Hours later, the front door clicks shut behind our last guest, and I stare at the chaos of our living room. Red solo cups perch precariously on every surface, and someone's left a half-eaten pizza on our coffee table.

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