The house was busy with caterers and decorators. Dad's already impeccable house looked even more polished and festive with all the garland and bright red bows everywhere.
The smell of ham coming from the kitchen made my stomach growl as I looked myself over in the full length mirror on the closet door. My dress was silver and sparkled when I moved. I dressed up my usual high-puff by adding two criss-crossing braids in the middle, decorating them with silver cuffs. I was applying red lipstick when Marley came into my room to collect the rest of the dresses.
"You look beautiful," she said, flashing a gap toothed smile. "Your dad said you needed me to drop something off for you in Bellcreek?"
"Oh, right." I grabbed the gift wrapped box from my desk containing the jewelry box for Allison. "Are you sure it's not out of your way?"
She waved it off. "Of course not. I have to drive through Bellcreek to get to my parents' house."
"Well, thank you, Marley," I said graciously.
"Don't mention it," she insisted. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas."
Once I was alone again I added the finishing touches to my lookâearrings, heels, a silver necklace Dad gave me earlier with a charm of my initial. Taylor had one too. He insisted we wear them tonight.
He insisted that I do a lot of things. He wanted me to make conversation with his guests, to mention college and studying business (something I wasn't entirely sure I was interested in). Obviously there was someone that'd be at the party that he wanted to impress.
I found out who about an hour after the party officially started. Dad dragged me away from a woman showing me pictures of her new kittens to meet one of his clients. The man had cropped black hair that grayed on the sides and tanned skin. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. Not until he introduced himself. Ivan Grice. As in Nick Grice's father.
That was confirmed when his three kids appeared beside him. Farrah went from shocked to uninterested in a split second when she saw me. Nick smiled like we were in on some inside joke. Their younger brother, Zac, was too invested in a game on his phone to pay any attention.
Eight billion people in the world and my dad had to do be doing business with the Grice family.
"Raising two kids on your own can't be easy," Mr. Grice commented after we all exchanged greetings.
"It's a challenge," Dad said, bouncing Taylor in his arms. "But I manage."
On the outside my smile remained, but inside I was screaming. What the hell? He'd been raising us on his own for all of two days. Was that why he wanted us here? To play the part of the loving family?
"Oh, don't I know it." Mr. Grice chuckled, slapping Nick on the back. "This one here is responsible for ninety percent of my grey hair."
Nick mimicked his Dad, slapping him on the back and grinning. "And he's the reason for mine." Their laughter seemed forced, like the whole bit had been scripted.
"Well, Bryon, why don't we leave the young people to themselves while you tell me exactly how you cheated me out of a win last week."
Dad handed Taylor off to me like she was a dirty towel he was through with. "Cheated? You were the one hiding cards up your sleeve." The conversation between Mr. Grice and my dad faded as they got lost in the crowd of fancy dresses and suits.
"Where's the bathroom?" Zac asked, not bothering to look up from his phone.
I snapped out of the haze of fake Dad left me in. "Uh, right at the end of the hall." My pointing was useless since he didn't spare me a glance. Still, Zac managed to maneuver through the crowd with his eyes on his game and not bump into anyone or anything. The kid had talent.
"First time being used for one of daddy's business deals?" Farrah asked, smirking.
"That happens a lot?" I asked, switching Taylor to my other hip.
"Yeah, but the pay is great." Nick grinned, twirling keys to a Lexus around his finger. That was a hug upgrade from the Toyota hatchback he had been driving.
"What'd you get for playing the dutiful daughter?" Farrah sipped on a glass of champagne that had mysteriously appeared in her hand.
I touched the necklace that laid on my chest, fingertips grazing the diamond encrusted J. "Just this."
"Cute," Farrah said, squinting at it. "I'm pretty sure it from my dad's exclusive line."
"Your dad's a jeweler?" I was caught somewhere between amazed and annoyed. Of course, That's why he wanted us to wear them. Who knew my dad was such a kiss ass?
Farrah nodded, downing the rest of her champagne before discarding the glass on the tray of a waiter passing by. "I suggest you give your dad a list of demands for next time."
Next time? There wasn't going to be a next time. Was I really so blinded by all the material stuff he gave me to realize who he really was? How could I not know that he put himself first at all times? That he was so... manipulative?
"Is there a room in this house not full old people?" Farrah complained. "All this Bengay and jazz music is giving me a head ache."
We went upstairs to a sitting area equipped with a tv and snack bar. Dad usually used the room to watch Basketball and yell at the players as if they could hear him. Taylor had toys in the corner, which she immediately went to play with when I sat her down.
Being in a room with Nick and Farrah made me uneasy. They were the only people under forty at the party, though. Nick made things worse by sitting entirely too close to me on the sofa even though there were plenty of other seats.
Farrah gave me a dirty look as if I invited him to sit there as she helped herself to a water from the mini-fridge. "Wow. First Deshaun and now Nolan. Is there anyone you won't cheat on?"
I cut my eyes at her, my patience were already short after finding out my dad was using me to bag a client. She was pushing it. "Is there anyone's business you won't your insert yourself in to?"
Nick nudged my side. "Ignore her. Did you really quit your job?"
"First, get off my lap." He wasn't actually in my lap, but a couple of inches over and he would've been. When he scooted down, leaving a cushion between us, I continued, "Yes, I quit. Only because I had to."
"Here I was thinking it was because of me." He smirked. Then he glanced over at his sister who was currently flipping through a book with Taylor before scooting back over to me. Whispering he said, "The store won't be the same without you."
I leaned forward, grabbing the tv remote from the coffee table and flicking on the flat screen. "You'll get over it."
"Damn, I thought we were friends."
"Listen, friend, Nolan told me how you always wanted what he had."
Once again he was entirely too close, his musky cologne filling my nose. "What can I say? He has good taste." He said, staring at my lips while he licked his own.
"So do I," I countered. Then I droppedâmore like threwâthe remote down in his lap, causing him to whimper in pain.
Popping up from the couch, I had the sudden need to get away from the Grice Twins. I grabbed Taylor and left our guest in the room alone. First, I went into my dad's office to grab my cell from the drawer. Then I locked myself and Taylor in her nursery.
Powering on my phone, I ignored the messages and voicemails from my mom and called Nolan. He answered right away, sounding like whatever he was doing he was having the time of his life. Even over the phone his smile was infectious.
I could hear Allison demanding a rematch in the background. They must've been playing Uno!.
"I was starting to think your mom actually murdered you."
"Worse," I said, sitting on the floor with Taylor. "She sent me to stay with my dad."
He inhales sharply, wincing on my behalf. "Sounds fun."
"Oh, totally," I said, heavy with sarcasm. "The best part is that he's throwing a party right now and guess who showed up?"
"Hmm, Santa Claus?"
"Wrong Nick."
He was silent for a moment. I imagined him putting two and two together. "Grice? What the hell is he doing there?"
"Flirting with me, mostly."
"Of course he is." Was it possible to hear an eye roll?
"I think I made it clear I wasn't interested," I assured him. "By throwing a remote at his junk."
He laughed. I loved his laugh. "He probably thought you were flirting back."
"If that's the case I have a couple more remotes for him."
"Good."
We were both quiet for a while. Well, on the outside at least. My brain was going crazy fantasizing about how much better the conversation would've been in person. Where I could touch him, kiss him. God, I really wanted to kiss him.
"I miss you."
I froze, unsure if that was my mind playing tricks on me or if Nolan had actually said the words.
He must've interpreted my stunned silence as something else. After a few seconds he quickly added, "I should've kept that to myself."
"No!" I cleared my throat and tried to sound less desperate. "It's just...I didn't expect that from the broody, glaring Nolan Chambers."
"Yeah, don't go telling anyone about it," he warned. "I have a reputation to protect."
"Don't worry, I'll just keep it in the confines of my diary," I teased. Then added, "I miss you, too."
Nolan and I talked and talked. Just like we did while in the back if the minivan. Even though we talked for hours, it didn't feel like enough. I could've talked to him all night if Taylor didn't need food, or if my phone had a longer battery life.
As I toted Taylor downstairs in search of the delicious ham I smelled earlier I ran into my dad. He was all smiles, walking with a bounce in his step. He must've landed the account.
"Jade, we did it!" He exclaimed, planting a kiss on both mine and Taylor's cheeks. "Tomorrow we're celebrating. We'll do anything you want."
Anything? I hoped he remembered that tomorrow when I asked him to take me home.