Page 69 of Rich Girl
“Fuck,” Alex mutters under his breath. “He thinks he’s in love now.”
My heart takes off a little faster at hearing that. There is no doubt that I am in love with Hayden. That is a huge problem given the situation we are in. While she loves playing house with me now, it is more than obvious that this is not the type of life she normally leads. She will want to go back home and do all socialite things. I’ll be a fond but distant memory.
“Fuck,” I mutter, too, right before taking a sip of beer.
“Leave him the fuck alone,” Cal chimes in from the other side of me. “He’s an adult. He’ll figure shit out on his own.”
I nod in thanks. It’s doubtful though that I’ll be able to get out of this mess on my own.
“Besides,” he continues. “The girl is putting down roots.”
“What fucking roots?” Alex snaps at him.
Cal starts listing all the things he thinks would qualify Hayden for a permanent stay.
“Well, she’s been in town for a month now. She hasn’t mentioned leaving. She has a job. Evie says she’s been getting decent at it.”
“Decent how?” Alex intervenes.
“Like she’s developing actual skills for that shit,” Cal explains. “When she started weeks ago, she had to google everything.”
Alex snorts “How hard is it to put some flowers in a vase? What is she, brain dead?”
That last comment grabs my attention.
“Hayden is very smart,” I point at him. “Don’t talk about her like that.”
“Or what?” he smirks at me.
“Or I’m gonna kick your ass, and you know I can,” I warn him. “You got no skills either, so you shouldn’t talk shit about others.”
Cal brings his fist up for us to bump. “Good one, dude.”
Just then, Hayden and Evie start heading toward us. I am mesmerized by the graceful way she walks, especially in the high shoes that I just don’t understand. Using the air compressor in my shop, I cleaned them for her last night. She got all teary eyed by the time I gave them back to her.
“They look amazing, Ray,” she whispered right before kissing me senseless.
Now she is the most elegant woman at this party, surpassing even Evie’s mother, who is always dressed like she’s going to a garden party with the Queen.
“Cal, I want you to dance with me,” Evie calls out to him. “My mom’s going to take some pictures of us. Come on.”
Without any protest, Cal puts his beer down and rushes to her, ready to do anything she’d ask of him.
“Pussy,” Alex coughs into his fist.
Rolling my eyes at him, I pat my leg for Hayden to sit in my lap when she gets close enough. Instead, she chooses to sit demurely on the chair that Cal just vacated.
“Are you having a good time?” I make sure to ask her.
“Yes, very.” She grins at me, and I can tell that she is happy. This is more her scene. She thought I was taking her to some backyard party in town, but instead, I brought her to the Hamptons. That’s only because Evie and Cal’s parents have a house here and invited us all to this shindig.
There’s a moment of awkward silence as I watch her while she’s watching the people on the dance floor. I am just about to stand up and ask her to dance, when Alex clears his throat next to me.
“So, Helen,” he starts.
“Hayden,” I correct him, knowing full well that the asshole called her by the wrong name on purpose.
“Yes, Hayden.” He gives her a sheepish grin, but it’s all an act. “Sorry about that.”
