Disturbed (Disturbed #1) (2 page)

             
With a crack in my voice, I yell out his name. "Blaise!"

             
He turns on his heels to face me, grinning wide. "Liv." The way he says my name... oh my!

             
It takes a second for me to speak again, fighting against the hurdles in my stomach.

             
"You need my number," I tell him.
              He nods his head while reaching down in his pocket. When he peeks up at me from his screen, I yell out each digit. Instead of repeating his to me, he instead slides his phone in his pocket and walks away. No more words are said, and I actually feel my heart contract, not liking that thought.

             
Then I remember... I'll be on a date with that man tomorrow night.

             
All feels right in the world.

             
And I'm not even sure why.

             
Once I get inside, I spot Clarissa getting another drink while talking to a rather attractive guy. Sliding through the crowd, I get to her and push against her shoulder. "That was fast," is her response without even looking in my direction.

             
"Shut up." I grab a cup and start pouring a drink beside her. The man she was flirting with grins down at her, wanting to take her away from me without using his words.

             
Clarissa tilts her head in my direction, getting his hint as well. "I'll catch up to you later." With her signature wink, she leaves me behind as I did her only a little while ago. Wanting more of Blaise, and not having him, I take a few sips of my newly mixed drink and search for more friends to dance with.

             
In what was supposed to be the ultimate party of the season, ends up with me wanting the night to hurry up and end so tomorrow can begin and I can find myself lost in the amazing blue eyes of Blaise.

"I know dad,"
I reply over the phone.

             
I quit my high school job at the beginning of the summer, wanting to enjoy the last summer before I'm required to be responsible and not have any more summers. My childhood has officially come to an end, and I wanted to absorb every last minute of it. Now I'm being pressured into starting a job... any job... before school starts.

             
"Of course you know, doesn't mean you're doing anything about it."

             
I roll my eyes, only because I know he can't see me. "I'll put in applications tomorrow."

             
"What is wrong with today?"

             
"I'm going with Clarissa and her dad today. We're going car shopping, then out to lunch, and I have plans later today."

             
I can hear the sigh in his voice before he speaks. "After lunch and before later plans, go online and fill out something. I'm paying for your tuition and supplies, the least you can do is pay for your own gas and food."

             
"Fine," I drag out the word. "I'll let you know what I find. I'll call you tomorrow, love you."

             
"Love you, too, kiddo."

             
When the lines go silent, I go outside and wait on the front porch until Clarissa's dad pulls into the driveway to pick me up.

             
Skimming through the dealership parking lot, I realize how bad I really do need a job. These cars are amazing, but there is no way I'll ever have a new vehicle without a savings account and some credit. It actually makes me excited to go job hunting online when I get home.

             
"What do you think about this one?"

             
I look to the baby blue Toyota Corolla Clarissa picks out. I'm not a fan of the color, but since it suites her so perfectly I tell her how much I love it. I can tell my opinion doesn't exactly count anyways, because she is already opening the driver's seat door and sliding in behind the wheel.

             
Her hands glide around the wheel as she gets a feel for it. I slide into the passenger seat and look at all the trinkets on the dashboard. It’s fully loaded, with a damn screen the size of my tablet in the center of it all.

             
The salesman starts explaining about a camera, Bluetooth set up for her phone, and all this other junk I wouldn't know about since I'm not a very tech-savvy person. She falls more in love with the car with every word he says. Clarissa's dad becomes just as in-depth with the conversation, and I know without a doubt this is her new car.

             
I don't come from money, but we're not poor. We were always upper-middle class. We had money for the things we needed, and a few things we wanted, getting by just fine. It was things like this you never saw- just going to a dealership and purchasing the first thing any of us fell in love with.
              After all, I drive a Honda Civic from the late nineties.

             
Clarissa's family had everything they needed, wanted, and so much more. I always envied that about her, even though I'm proud to know that my family taught me the value of a dollar. I know what will help me in the future. Doesn't mean I'm not jealous of this new car and a various list of other things.

             
Once Clarissa and I climb out the vehicle, and her dad checks things over, we head inside for the paperwork. Sitting back in the leather chair offered by the salesman, I pull my phone out to play a game, just to see a text from an unknown number.

             
Address?

             
I text it back:
Who is this?

             
It takes all of three minute to get a response: Your dads address. I'll pick you up there at 545.

             
I can't help but grin immensely, even with the insane amount of flips my stomach does. My nerves are out of control, not just because of the date tonight, but of Blaise meeting my dad. No, of my dad meeting Blaise. What is he going to think? Is he going to be okay with this? He doesn't like the thought of me on dates, so I usually don't tell him. It’s one of the few things I hide from him.

             
I text my dad’s address, even with the nauseas feeling inside of me. He replies with a simple,
K,
and leaves it at that.

             
That’s it?

             
I find annoyance in that, only because I wanted this conversation to go on for a while. There is no way I'm going to continue a conversation when it’s obvious he wanted to just get to the point and be done with it.

             
Once all the paperwork is done, after almost an hour of sitting here feeling anxious, we're able to slide into her new vehicle. Her dad instructs Clarissa on a few things, mainly on when to get the oil changed and what kind of gas to use, then he leaves us be as he makes his way to his own vehicle. She immediately sets Pandora on her phone, which goes through the speakers of her Toyota. The bass bumps while we drive out of the parking lot, heading toward our favorite luncheon joint.

Water spraying down
my body, cooling it under its touch, feels euphoric. I don't want to shut off the water, but I know I don't have much time to get ready for tonight. The thumping in the pipes comes to a halt as I turn the knob to off. Reaching around for a towel, I slowly dry myself off in the shower, day dreaming about what Blaise has in store for tonight.

             
Knots in my stomach reform, pulling in all directions while I think about a slow, torturous kiss from his lips. It would make everything about the night magical. My own fairytale ending... except... it’s just the beginning.

             
The beginning of what though?

             
I'm anxious to find out this answer.

             
My body fills out my tight black jeans and white tank top perfectly. I slide a loose gold blouse on over my tank top before looking into the mirror. My body is a little curvier than most woman my age, but not so much so that anyone would ever consider me fat. Even though I know it draws a lot of attention from the guys, I'm still not a fan of it. I get jealous of Clarissa's twig figure, mostly for the sake she can wear absolutely anything and it looks good.
              It’s not something I can help much though, being part Latino.

             
I stare into the eyes of the woman looking back at me. A younger version of my mother. A woman I didn't get a chance to know personally. She passed away when I was six, so although I have a handful of memories with her... they're just that... faint memories. From the stories I'm told and the little things I remember, she was a gorgeous woman, inside and out.
              Taryn, being four years my senior, has many more memories of her. I've often yearned to switch places with her, even for a day, to absorb those memories.

             
It doesn't take long to be fully prepared for Blaise's arrival. In fact, I almost wish it had taken me longer to get ready, just for the sake I wouldn't have to be this anxious mess I am right now.

             
I run down the steps and into the living room, where dad sits, beer in hand, watching
ESPN.
I groan while flopping down on the couch next to him.

             
"When's the boyfriend going to get here?"

             
I push away his hand when he slaps it down on my knee and give him a glare that could cut ice.

             
"Not my boyfriend," I answer.

             
He doesn't look my way as lift his lips into a smirk, seconds before taking a sip of his beer.

             
Dad goes to open his mouth, with another sarcastic statement I'm sure, when he is cut off with the ring of the doorbell. I hop from the seat and nearly book it to the door, heart pounding. Slowly opening the door, I'm pleasantly presented with the deliciousness that is Blaise Cole.

             
Taking a step towards me, he hands me an arrangement of sunflowers. I can't help but a sweet look of adoration for the sweet gesture. "Thank you," I tell him. "They're absolutely beautiful."

             
"Beautiful flowers for a beautiful girl."

             
The curl of his lip sends my heart soaring. I haven't met a more perfect gentlemen before.

             
The clearing of a throat reminds me that my dad is behind me, waiting to be introduced to Blaise. The man who insisted on meeting my dad before a simple date. I may still be young, being only eighteen, but I've never had a guy so persistent in doing things correctly.

             
"Dad," I turn to face him, "this is Blaise. Blaise Cole." Turning towards Blaise, I spring my hand out to point to my father. "Blaise, this is my dad, Ridge."

             
I watch them exchange a firm and professional-like handshake. "Thank you for allowing me to take your daughter out on a date, Mr. Donovan."

             
I'm pretty sure my jaw just dropped.

             
"Ridge," my dad says. "She doesn't have a curfew, seeing as she is now an adult, but I expect her to be home at a reasonable time." As Blaise starts to nod his head, my dad embarrassingly adds in, "untouched."

             
The firmness of his voice is embarrassing. Well, actually, this entire exchange is.

             
"Dad," I hiss out.

             
Of course he does nothing but shrug his shoulders before crossing his arms.

             
We get the hint...
be good.
After giving my dad a reassuring kiss to the cheek and a hug, proving that I'm still his little girl, I walk out the door behind Blaise to his black SUV.

             
Although I shouldn't be surprised, I still am as Blaise opens the door. He even helps me climb up until I'm seated securely into the grey leather seat. Things like this aren't supposed to happen to girls like me. I'm in complete awe.