Danica POV The next morning, Maci text me giving me the day off and when I relayed that message to Dmitry, he said he was taking me out for dinner. We had eaten dinner together almost every night for a little over a week now. Though I knew tonight would be no different, I still felt the flutter of butterflies in my stomach. I’d never been out with a guy before. Not a dinner date. I tried to clear my head of the thoughts forming. This was not a date. Just dinner with my new friend. I rode my bike home for the first time in a few days. Dmitry met me at the coffee shop after closing. I pedaled faster when passing my old home. Ricks home. The auto garage door was down, which was unusual for four in the afternoon. But no matter. I kept pedaling. I didn’t want to risk seeing my father walking down the driveway. I made a mental note to find another way home. Even if it took me an extra thirty minutes, I didn’t care. Anything not to see that man again. When I got home, I decided to clea
Danica POVDmitry took me to a bar. Well not an actual bar. It was more like a souped up Chilis with loud music.Yes, there was a bar with two bartenders. And there was an eating area with servers. But there was also a very dancefloor. Never seen a Chilis with a dancefloor and dim lighting.The music shifted from early Rock Bands to Rap groups, all early 2000’s era.A few people danced, but mostly it people gathered at the surrounding tables and just talked loudly.When he said Bar, I thought I would be the youngest person there. But from the few black and red uniforms around place, I could tell there were some students from the boarding school not far from town. This made me nervous. If the boarding school kids were here, my fellow classmates were not far behind.We took a seat at a well lit table and waited for a waiter to greet us. We didn’t have to wait long. Soon after we took our seat, a bouncy young woman came toward us. With her head focused on her notepad, she said. “What
Danica POVOur food arrived by the time I finished telling him about the rest of my week. I’d been patiently pushing through the conversation with every aching grumble.My stomach began attacking me the moment I smelled burgers walking through the door. The veggie pizza looked amazing. Mushrooms, Spinach, bell peppers, and diced tomatoes all piled into one meal was exactly what I needed.I felt like a big kid stuffing my face with cheesy slice. Dmitry also took a slice, but he wasn’t as eager to stuff his face. He slowly ate his slice while watching me.I smiled noticing my audience. “What?”“It’s not often I get to see someone enjoy pizza half as much as you are now.”I chuckled with a stuffed face, while nodding my head. Before I can admit to loving pizza so much, the sound of obnoxious evaded my good night.A group of kids from my school started to walk past our table. I suddenly regrated not taking Dmitry’s seat. He was sitting with his back facing the oncoming traffic.My eyes dr
Danica POVAs soon as they left, Dmitry turned his focus to me, but he didn’t say a word. His eyes just buried themselves deep inside my soul. Like they always did when he looked at me.I took a small bite of pizza and waited for the questions to roll in. He’d seen me before with my classmate Angel. He knew firsthand how irritatingly cruel she could be. But her accusing me of stealing was somehow different from her drawing attention to my personal decisions in life.“Are you okay?”I looked down, not ready to make eye contact with him. “They’re just…”He cut me off. “Bullies…I get it.”I shook my head. “Highschool is …”“Almost over…I know.” He finished my sentence again.I know what he wants to say. He wants to repeat the question I failed to answer. I just wanted to make sure when I said the words, I actually meant it. “I’m okay.”Still curious about Lucas’s actions, I turned to face the direction they walked toward. The group settled in a corner. It didn’t take long to find the boy
Danica POVSometimes I felt like Dmitry was reading my mind. By the time I returned to the table, just as flustered as when I left, he already had our food wrapped in a doggy bag.He didn’t have to hear the words letting him know I was ready to go. He just knew.Back in the car he patiently waited for me to answer the question he just asked, “What did that girl mean by what she said?”I was almost grateful he didn’t ask me why I took so long I the restroom. No way was I ready to replay what just happened. Lucas, the one person in our school who knows everyone, knows my father is not a good man. He could tell everyone. He could hold it over my head. But instead, he just held my secret like it was his.I shook my head. “I’m not a tease. I’ve never teased anyone in my life. It’s just what they say because I refuse to date a guy at school. You would think she would be happy that I don’t want him. But instead, she takes offense that turned him down.”“Ah. Let me guess. He wants you. She wa
Danica POVFriday is everyone’s favorite day. And for the first time in a very long time, it is mine too. So many things to be grateful for today.Grateful that I only have one last day in this week for school. Grateful that after school I have a job to go to. Grateful that when this day is over, I don’t have to go to my home. I get to go to Dmitry’s home. Also grateful that it was so close to the end of the school year that no one cared when I decided to skip school.I thought a lot about what Dmitry said to me last night. He was right. I had created a bubble and lived in it day and night. I made myself an outcast on purpose to protect myself from the shame of my father. And today was one day I didn’t see myself dealing with it.I needed a ‘Me Day’ and Dmitry had the perfect house to do so. Filled with all my favorite snacks, unlimited movies, and a gigantic pool. Which I planned to take full advantage of.Dmitry bought me a pretty white swimsuit when he stocked my bedroom closet in
Dmitry POVI looked down at my phone just in time to see her turning in circles. Her middle finger was lifted just above her head, and I knew without a doubt that she was telling me to fuck off.She was wearing the swimsuit my assistant picked out. Caroline thought she was picking it out for one of my girls. Probably thought it was for Nancy. I gave her the measurements and told her have some stuff sent to my house.I wasn’t sure what all she liked, but this was one of the items I knew she would hate. It was low in the front giving anyone who dared look a front row seat to her cleavage.The clearing of a throat from across the conference table dragged me from the video. An impatient Zane was eager to finish our conversation, though he would never come out and say that.Zane was my right-hand man. When I needed something down, he handled it without question. He was smart and resourceful. And even though I paid him out of my own pocket, he took care of things for both my families busine
Danica POV Work was a little harder today. Mainly because Maci decided to test me. She left me alone in the store for two hours. I was cashier, busser, and barista. It was scary and exciting at same time. Plus it took my mind off the my project meeting with Lucas. He arrived fifteen minutes early and just watched me. I wasn’t sure if he was bored or just curious. Either way I hated every second of it. When I finally sat down, I handed him my typed paper. “Here is your autobiography.” He gave a half smile. “Wish I could have given you the same.” I lowered my head. “I know. And I want to say that I sorry.” His eyes scrunched together. “Dani, you don’t have to…” Sympathy filled his voice and I just couldn’t take it. Not from him. “No. I do. I mean I want to apologize. I could have given you a bullshit story about my life. Something fake. Something you can easily write. But I think in the back of my mind, that’s not what I wanted.” He stared at me. I’m sure that’s not what he expec