Read Online He Belongs With Me by Sarah Darlington - Free Book Online
Authors: Sarah Darlington
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letting out a dramatic sigh. Then I proceeded to fill her in on all the juicy details. Leo's hateful but true words at the gala. Seeing my ex-stepbrother again. Running Leo over with the golf cart. Sleeping in his Great-Grandma Bunny's bed. I even included the part where I stood like a lunatic drooling over Leo's perfect ass this morning.
“You like Leo!” she concluded.
“Were you even listening? I despise Leo.”
“Yeah, but you also admitted to liking how he looks naked and you're here now. Plus, you just told me you didn't hate hate him, whatever that means. So, I'm pretty sure a small part of you might like him.”
“That's ridiculous. I came to New York because I wanted to see you.”
“Alrighty then,” she said, letting it go. That's one thing I loved about her. Steph knew when not to push me. “I have to be at work tonight by six. I'm all yours until then. I got a job serving drinks on the weekends at this place in Brooklyn called the Alligator Lounge. If you're up for it later, then you could come with me to work tonight and hang out. The place is pretty cool; I know you'll like it. And then I'm free tomorrow.”
“I wish you didn't have to work at all.” I gave her my best pouty face. “But sure, I'll go with you to work later.”
“What are we going to do until then?”
“The better question is...what are we not going to do?”
After taking a quick shower, Steph and I took a taxi over to Greenwich Village. Still wearing yesterday's black dress, I desperately needed some retail therapy. I bought three outfits, one for each day that we’ll be in New York. I also gave the pink stilettos a new home in a trashcan before opting for a pair of comfy ballet flats. Leaving as fast as we did, I hadn't had time to grab a toothbrush or anything else so basic necessities were a must too.
Typically, I never spent money. While at school, I worked at an off-campus restaurant called Macado's. Between there and working for Dad every summer since age sixteen, I had a decent chunk of money in a special bank account. I saved constantly because I was dead serious about my Arizona escape plan. After I finished college, I figured I'd need enough money to buy a car, rent an apartment, and get myself on my feet once I got away. Dad and Maggie knew nothing of my personal bank account or my plan to leave them. But I wanted my freedom—I wanted it more than anything.
Steph didn't understand my obsession about leaving. When I first told her, she thought maybe I had serious family problems. But I'd had a good childhood and deep down I knew Dad and Maggie loved me. It's just...I didn't want their life. I hated the country club, the snooty club members, the endless parties, and even the smell of freshly cut grass. My plan wasn't to run away—just to get away. I saw the difference and I hoped my family would too when I finally got up the courage to leave them.
After Steph and I finished shopping, buyer's remorse started to settle in my stomach. I’d spent a lot more money than I ever did, but I forced the guilty feeling aside. Splurging every now and then was okay, I told myself. Nothing like the money Maggie could drop on one dress.
As we left Greenwich Village, Steph and I passed a trendy hair salon that was calling my name. Maggie hadn't been too far off when she said the color in my hair looked like Kool-Aid. The pink was only chalk and had disappeared with my shower. So while Steph grabbed us some takeout for lunch, I decided to go bold and spend a little more of my savings. I chose lavender and let the stylist go nuts. I thought it looked doggone good on me and was worth every penny. If Dad shit funny for week because of it, then that was just an added bonus. When Steph returned and saw my new hair, she squealed with delight, complimenting me on my color choice.
“Thanks. I like New York because I can walk down the street and no one cares what color my hair is. When I go back to hick-town USA, people are going to
“You like Leo!” she concluded.
“Were you even listening? I despise Leo.”
“Yeah, but you also admitted to liking how he looks naked and you're here now. Plus, you just told me you didn't hate hate him, whatever that means. So, I'm pretty sure a small part of you might like him.”
“That's ridiculous. I came to New York because I wanted to see you.”
“Alrighty then,” she said, letting it go. That's one thing I loved about her. Steph knew when not to push me. “I have to be at work tonight by six. I'm all yours until then. I got a job serving drinks on the weekends at this place in Brooklyn called the Alligator Lounge. If you're up for it later, then you could come with me to work tonight and hang out. The place is pretty cool; I know you'll like it. And then I'm free tomorrow.”
“I wish you didn't have to work at all.” I gave her my best pouty face. “But sure, I'll go with you to work later.”
“What are we going to do until then?”
“The better question is...what are we not going to do?”
After taking a quick shower, Steph and I took a taxi over to Greenwich Village. Still wearing yesterday's black dress, I desperately needed some retail therapy. I bought three outfits, one for each day that we’ll be in New York. I also gave the pink stilettos a new home in a trashcan before opting for a pair of comfy ballet flats. Leaving as fast as we did, I hadn't had time to grab a toothbrush or anything else so basic necessities were a must too.
Typically, I never spent money. While at school, I worked at an off-campus restaurant called Macado's. Between there and working for Dad every summer since age sixteen, I had a decent chunk of money in a special bank account. I saved constantly because I was dead serious about my Arizona escape plan. After I finished college, I figured I'd need enough money to buy a car, rent an apartment, and get myself on my feet once I got away. Dad and Maggie knew nothing of my personal bank account or my plan to leave them. But I wanted my freedom—I wanted it more than anything.
Steph didn't understand my obsession about leaving. When I first told her, she thought maybe I had serious family problems. But I'd had a good childhood and deep down I knew Dad and Maggie loved me. It's just...I didn't want their life. I hated the country club, the snooty club members, the endless parties, and even the smell of freshly cut grass. My plan wasn't to run away—just to get away. I saw the difference and I hoped my family would too when I finally got up the courage to leave them.
After Steph and I finished shopping, buyer's remorse started to settle in my stomach. I’d spent a lot more money than I ever did, but I forced the guilty feeling aside. Splurging every now and then was okay, I told myself. Nothing like the money Maggie could drop on one dress.
As we left Greenwich Village, Steph and I passed a trendy hair salon that was calling my name. Maggie hadn't been too far off when she said the color in my hair looked like Kool-Aid. The pink was only chalk and had disappeared with my shower. So while Steph grabbed us some takeout for lunch, I decided to go bold and spend a little more of my savings. I chose lavender and let the stylist go nuts. I thought it looked doggone good on me and was worth every penny. If Dad shit funny for week because of it, then that was just an added bonus. When Steph returned and saw my new hair, she squealed with delight, complimenting me on my color choice.
“Thanks. I like New York because I can walk down the street and no one cares what color my hair is. When I go back to hick-town USA, people are going to
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