Page 85 of Unforgettable
“Who let you in?”
He angled his head, almost rolling his green eyes. “I’m a senator—”
“Save it, Dad. I’ve heard the senator speech about how powerful the title is to get what you want.” And he always got what he wanted.
He sat forward. “I’ve seen the picture of you mauling the James boy.”
Laughing, I shrugged. “Shouldn’t you be campaigning? The election is three weeks away. And you’re still down in the polls.”
He visibly cringed. “I’ll win the election. Polls don’t mean squat.”
That might have been true, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t push his buttons like he was pushing mine.
I ducked into my room, threw my purse on the bed, and removed my sandals. If I was going to spar with my father, I wanted to be comfortable. I had a feeling he and I were in for a long one. Then I sat down in a small, comfy chair that Vicki and I had arranged in a corner next to the TV.
Father hadn’t moved, but he was reading something on his phone. Then he proceeded to type on his phone.
It figured that he would ignore me.
I tapped my bare foot on the floor. “Why are you here?” I asked to get his attention… or maybe to get him to leave.
His gaze bounced to mine. “I have the town car waiting to take you home.”
I gripped the arms of the chair. “I’m not going home. I haven’t violated any of your three rules.”
He pursed his lips. “You have. You’ve brought media attention by being in the news. And you’re dating the James boy.”
Ding. Ding. Ding. There it is.
“How do you know I’m dating Ryker?” I was ready to fly across the room and let my right hook loose.Save it for the Simses.
“Isn’t that what the picture is telling everyone?” he asked evenly. He had a great way of deflecting, although it wasn’t too far-fetched to think that the picture implied we were dating. The girls downstairs had thought the same thing.
“Regardless, who I date isn’t going to ruin your campaign. And let’s lay our cards out, Father. You’re trying to steer him away from me so the Sims sisters have their chance with the future NFL star.”
His face pinched. “Who are the Sims sisters?”
“Now who’s lying, Dad? Lorna Sims is your mistress.” He’d never shared her name with me that day when I confronted him after I’d found them glued to each other. “That will ruin your campaign.”
His nostrils flared as his cheeks flamed red. “I told you to be careful with your threats.”
“And I told you that I haven’t done anything that violates your stupid rules.”
“The university paper says otherwise.”
“Again, Ryker and me isn’t negative press.”
He glared at me as his mind spun with his next move.
Bring it,I wanted to shout, but Vicki breezed in. “Senator Hale.” Her giddiness did nothing to cut the thick cord of tension hanging in the air. “I’ve been dying to meet you. I’m a political science major, and I hope to work in DC one day.”
I used the distraction to regain my thoughts and let a sigh bleed out.
My father grinned as though she were his daughter and not me. “See, Haven? We still have people who like politics. Maybe you can learn something from your roommate.”
The bastard didn’t even have the nerve to say her name.
Vicki’s giddy attitude died. “I need to talk to our RA about fixing something. I’ll be back later.”
