Exclusive Romance: Daddy’s Friends

 

Chapter 1

 

I walk out the back door of my home. It is the beginning of June in the suburbs of New York, but bright Christmas lights wrap around the trees and decorate the front porch of my large home. A giant white tent full of round tables underneath it breaks the several acre yard. The bright blue pool shimmers in the light. It is a good thing the water slide has been fixed, because it is a hot and humid evening.

I stand facing the immaculate backyard. Everything is decorated above and beyond the normal college graduation party. I didn't think most people even celebrated graduating with a degree. I thought it is more of a casual dinner with the family, but that is Mark for you. My father loves to put on a good show. It’s always about the show. I adjust the royal blue short dress I am wearing. I love this dress. The way it hugs my curves and lifts my breasts, giving the idea there is more there. My platinum blonde hair is swept up in a large updo I learned how to do. I look my best.

The back door slides open, and I hear Mark’s heavy footsteps come up behind me. The tinkling of his ice swishing around in his scotch, lets me know it's him. It's only seven in the evening, but he’s already on his second drink. He stands next to me, taking a long sip. I hear his lips slurp against the glass and my skins crawls. I hate when he does that right in my ear. It is so obnoxious.

One of the caterers scurries by holding a large silver platter of orderves. Fancy little bread things with cheese covering them and some sort of fish. I don’t know. I didn’t pick them out. If it were up to me, it would probably be shrimp or some sort of pizza.

“Looks good,” Mark says, staring out into the yard.

We don’t look at each other. I’ve seen enough of those tired brown eyes and thin lips. He scratches the front of his silver hair.

“It does...thanks,” I say, half-heartedly.

I had been away at college for so long that being home with him becomes almost double the difficulty. We have never gotten along well. I squeeze my hands around the railing and let out a long sigh.

We stand in silence for a short period. There finally comes a warm breeze that is relaxing. I close my eyes and listen to the ice swishing in his glass, as he slurps away.

I glance over and see the sweat on his forehead, but he looks good. I will give him that. Being one of the top heart surgeons in New York, he has always maintained his health.

“What time is everyone coming?” I ask.

“Dinner is to be served at seven thirty.”

“What about Christian and Ryan?”

We look at each other then. My dad shakes his head and takes another long drink. The noise from sucking the drink makes me want to slap the glass right out of his hands.

“I think they are arriving a little later.”

“But do you know when?” There is a light strain in my voice as I ask. Christian and Ryan are the only two people I care about seeing tonight. They might be Mark’s best friends, but to me they are everything. They have been there for me even when my own father hasn’t - no matter what.

“I don’t know, Jasmina. They didn’t say.”

He looks back at the tent and grabs an oyster of a platter passing by us.

“You know I haven’t seen them since my first day of college?”

He nods.

“They’re excited to see you too.” He cracks open the shell of the seafood and throws it back against his tongue.

Suddenly, the stereo begins to play music. I jump at the scare of the intense bass rocking the deck.

“What kind of party did you throw?” I ask my dad. He shrugs.

“A good one. You could try and enjoy it.”

Head lights appear in the driveway, and just like that the first guests have arrived. Mark leaves me, so he can go greet them. I hear the happy voices welcome one another, and then another car pulls into our long wrap-around driveway. My father’s somber expression suddenly shifts into a jovial one. I hate him for that. Why did I never receive that sort of warmth? I shake my head.

More and more cars appear to line up around us, and the people that brought them come onto the yard. I don’t know anyone from the large crowd which now swarms our house like a flock of birds. But I wait, standing at the driveway watching every car that pulls in and everyone who climbs out. Every time one of the guests is not Christian or Ryan, my impatience grows. I chew on my bottom lip. I feel myself getting warm and anxious. The excitement ripples through me with each pulse of my heart.

With no other options, I make my way to the bar Mark has set up in the middle of the tent. A very few amount of people recognize me and congratulate me on receiving my bachelor’s. But most don’t even know who Mark’s daughter is, or the fact that he has one. I’m a great kept secret.

I push my way through a thick crowd of drunks; Jesus, how these people drink; and find my way to the temporary bar counter. My eyes cross a fifth of grey goose vodka. That will have to do for now.

I ask for a vodka and soda. The bartender smiles and quickly makes the drink, setting the clear glass onto the counter. I take a long sip and let the vodka set on my tongue for a moment. The first sip is good, so I waste no time downing the rest.

I hate spending time with my father’s people and peers. I don’t blend in being an Arts and Humanities major. That wasn’t even my first choice, It was the only thing Mark and I could settle on. I wanted just painting, but forget that. You don’t need a degree to do paint is what he told me in response. I argued you go to college to learn not to get a job. That did not go over well. But I was out of the house, and he was far away. His manipulation could no longer work on me. I chose to go Arizona state, and since I went on a full scholarship, there wasn't much he could fight me about.

I slip my fingers around the glass and order another. The bartender sets it down in front of him.

“What time is it?” I ask.

The small man looks down at his phone.

“Its nine.”

I frown. I had been avoiding the clock all night. Why are they taking so long? I wasn’t even going to come out of the house until I found out that Chris and Ryan would be coming,

“Thanks,” I say and start to head up to the deck. I suppose now, I will just go to bed.

I hear my father’s booming voice from across the yard. He stands amongst a group of young entrepreneurs and doctors - only the most elite and the most snobby. They were all part of the same country club. One I had absolutely no interest in.

“Jasmina!” I hear a voice call out. I slowly turn around. Please, god, just go away. An older man, and his wife face me. They look vaguely familiar, but no names come to my mind.

“Hi,” I say forcing a smile.

The man had a short cropped silver beard, and his wife looked like an aged leather Barbie doll. It seems no one told her to quit the plastic surgery. I am sure she was absolutely stunning once.

“Congratulations on getting your degree.”

“Thank you,” I respond, praying that’s the end of that. The woman reaches a long claw out and gently touches my arm.

“We are so excited to hear you chose to go to into medical school instead of pursuing art.”

“Art just is not practical,” the man said in addition. I want to throw up. What is my dad telling people? I glance back in his direction. He makes eye contact with me. In one look, I feel the threat of “Play along, don’t embarrass me in front of these people, or I will make you regret it.“ My stomach churns. He is lying to these people, because he thinks getting an art degree is degrading and shameful. I chew on my bottom lip.

“Yup...it's very unpractical. That’s why people perform drastically better in academics when it's incorporated into their studies.” They stare at me for a long moment. They don’t know what to say. “Football and science. That’s all America needs.” They don’t think I am very funny.

I take a long sip from my glass. I finish it actually. Their over plucked eyebrows furrow in confusion by what I said.

“Did you know that studying music will make you better in maths?” a voice suddenly says behind me. I jump.

“But I do like football and science,” another adds.

I spin around fast to see Ryan and Christian staring at me.

“You guys are here!” I squeal throwing my thin arms around both of them at once. Their arms wrap around me. It is the best feeling in the world. I wish I could stay pushed up against them safe forever.

“Of course we came, baby girl,” Christian whispers in my ear. We pull out of the embrace. I see his handsome blue twinkling eyes. His warm, slightly crooked smile flashes at mine.

“You’ve cut your hair!” I exclaim, reaching up and patting the thick black hair. He used to have it long, but now it was flecked with silver and trimmed short.

“With the gray coming through, it looked way too sloppy,” Ryan adds, slapping Christian on the back. They both laugh. Ryan’s perfect white teeth shine under a short brown beard. His deep golden, green eyes glance over at me. I feel a warmth spread inside of me as we laugh together. Ryan stands about a head taller than Christian at 6’4’’, but both are in peak shape for forty-five year olds.

My mood completely shifts now that they are here. And I have a new surge of energy.

“Wow, look at you, Jasmina,” Christian says with large round eyes.

“You’re all grown up,” Ryan adds on.

“I know...” I smile and spin, my blue dress twirling around me.

“Well, come on. Let’s go get a drink!” Christian says, waving his muscular arm and heading toward the bar. “It’s time to celebrate!”

“I already have one!” I shout, over the other voices.

“Do you think I care? I don’t!”

The older couple looks offended by our vulgarity. Ryan bends forward in front of me.

“Jaz, jump on my back?”

“I’ll hurt you.”

“What? All 10 pounds of you? Jump!”

I giggle foolishly and piggyback onto Ryan. I wrap my arms around his hard chest. I feel his hands scoop under my thighs and hold tight. I nuzzle my cheek against his neck in a friendly way. But the heat and feeling of his body excite me a little.

“Which way to the bar?”

He turns fast, spinning left than right.

“That way!” I point.

“Onward then!” Ryan bolts into a run, carrying me through the crows. The snobs gasp as we tromp through and land at our destination. He plops me down on the chair and flashes me a wink. Christian runs up next to us.

“Now what is the princess having to drink?” he asks.

“I’m having vodka!”

I hold my glass up to show them.

“Of course you are,” Ryan rolls his eyes and leans over the counter.

“We will have two vodka sodas, because that’s what the princess is having.”

After we all have our drinks in our hand, Christian stands up onto one of the tables under the tent.

“Attention!” he shouts even louder, ”Attention, ladies and gentlemen! I would like to make a toast to a very special girl!” The room falls quiet as all the eyes shift toward him. “To the dear and beautiful Jasmina. You have always been a dear angel in our lives, and we are so blessed to have seen you grow. There are no words for how proud we are of you. And even if Mark won’t admit it, we know you're the smartest person in the world. We love you! Cheers!”

My cheeks turn a bright red. I cannot believe he just did that. The night is finally turning around.

“Cheers,” everyone calls back raising their drinks into the air and toasting to me.

“Thank you,” I say smiling till my cheeks hurt.

Christian looks at me for a long moment. Our eyes hold, and then he climbs down the table.

“What’d you think of that?” he asks. “A little too much or was it good.”

“It was perfect, Christian,” I reach my arms around his waist and give him a long hug.

“I thought you were gonna burst out crying from how emotional you were getting,” Ryan sighs standing up and patting Christian’s back.

“I thought I was too, but I didn’t want it to be too dramatic or embarrassing.”

“It was nice,” my father says, walking up to the three of us.

“Mark!” the friends say right at the same time. They greet my father with one of those guy handshake hugs.

“What are two having to drink?” he asks.

“Vodka!” Christian holds up his glass.

“Vodka?”

“That's what the graduate is drinking; she’s the one with the college degree,” Ryan announces, putting his arm over my shoulder. I want to fall into his chest. I can smell his warm, spicy cologne. I hope it stays on my dress.

“Oh, right,” Mark says, glancing over at me distantly.

“I can’t even imagine how proud you must be,” Ryan sighs. “I mean Christian here is about to cry.”

“Yeah, I am...as long as she continues to make good decisions.”

“I’m right here,” I saw flatly. He continues talking over me.

“Oh, Ryan - I met Vivian Montague. She is absolutely beautiful.”

Viviane Montague! I scream in my head. I take a deep breath, but it doesn’t help. It feels as though someone has just ripped the floor out from under me. I am an absolute idiot for thinking once I graduated college they would want me. I have always dreamed of being with one of them since I can remember. They were more than just my dad’s best friends. They were like my best friends, always taking care of me more than normal. I have never been with anyone else. The happiness I am feeling is completely drained out of stomach. I close my eyes.

“Jazzy, you need to meet her. She’s been dying to meet you.”

I hear Ryan’s voice, but that is the last thing I want. I know I am being horribly selfish. My feelings are not logical, but I cannot help it. I force a tight smile.

“Yeah… who is this?”

“My girlfriend. I can’t believe she found you, Mark.”

“Yeah, she ran right up to me and was like ‘oh my god, I have heard so much about you.’”

Sounds like an amazing woman.

“Where is she?” Christian asks. He’s already finished two vodkas.

Ryan glances around the backyard, His beautiful eyes scanning quickly.

“She’s somewhere, here...Oh! There!” he cups his long fingers around his mouth and begins to shout.

“Viviane! Viv!”

He waves his arms dramatically. I force myself to suppress the feelings of intense jealousy as the long legged brunette comes strolling up. She is wearing a tight black dress with large augmented breasts sticking out. Her cat like eyes lock onto us. She can’t be any more than a couple years older than I am. I bite my lip and frown. I feel Christian’s hand land on my lower back.

“Jaz, you okay?” He always knew when I was upset.

“Yeah,” I lie, giving him a quick glance.

“The vodka starting to hit?”

“Yeah,” I fake laugh.

I am not sure who to hate more - myself for caring or her. I wish I wasn’t so attracted to them and I could just find myself loving some man, but none compare. There is no one in the world more perfect than them, and I will never have either. This has easily turned into the absolute worst night ever.

“Hello,” she almost purrs when she talks, in some soft wispy voice.

“Viv, this is Jaz,” Ryan motions.

I reach a reach a hand out for a shake. Her soft hands clasp mine.

“It’s Jasmina,” I say flatly, staring at her.

She smiles. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Seems like you’ve heard a lot… Ryan is quite the talker.”

“Really? You think so.”

I raise my eyebrows and take a drink. Yeah, we won’t be best friends. She flips a wad of long hair over her shoulder and slips her arm around Ryan’s waist.

“So I hear you are an absolute amazing artist,” she coos at me like I am some child. I glance over at my father’s eyes. They are burning into the side of my head.

“Yeah, I guess-”

“It’s a great hobby of hers,” Mark interjects, shutting the topic down in the most elegant way possible.

“It's not a hobby,” Christian corrects. “And she’s a fucking fantastic painter.” I step closer to Christian. He is always defending me.

“I’d love to see some of your work,” she turns to face me.

“Maybe…”

I chug the rest of my drink right then and there. There wasn't that much left, so I don’t look too much like an alcoholic.

“Looks like I need another,” I announce, shaking the plastic cup. I slip away then, finding my way to the bar. Tonight couldn’t have been more worse. I waited all this time for them, and then boom - Ryan brings Viviane along. I don’t want another drink. The alcohol is starting to be too much.

I sit down on the bottom steps of the deck. I am in full pity party mode. I don’t know why I thought I would be able to lure Christian and Ryan in with just the mere sight of me. I stare down in the blue dress I was so excited for them to see me in. I remember putting it on and thinking about them ripping it off of me. Stupid. It is all so stupid. I look up and see all of them talking with Viviane. She has encaptured all their attention with her large tits and mysterious eyes.

I sit for about twenty minutes watching the groups of people engage with one another. I try not to focus on my father and his friends and that woman. It’s hard not to. A group of my father’s people moves in front of me, but they do not even know who I am.

“I heard Jasmina has been accepted into several medical schools already.”

“Do you know which ones?”

“I think he mentioned University of Michigan.”

“That's a good one.”

A rock drops fast inside of my stomach. How could my father lie like that. So blatantly and expect it to be okay? That is crazy! Is he really that determined to live a lie where I attend med school and become a doctor? I have no desire to take that route. The conversation made me want to vomit everywhere. If he is telling people this then what was even the point of having the party? Oh, congratulations, Jasmina. We are celebrating when you decide to finally listen to me, and do what I want you to do. I stand up fast. I don’t care anymore. This was never about me. This is all about him so that he can show off to his stupid rich friends, and they can talk about nothing but themselves. It’s a competition. All of his friends’ kids are going to be doctors. God forbid I am an embarrassment for liking something else.

I push past a herd of people and march right up to him. I fold my arms and look him straight in the eyes. Viviane is in the middle of terribly compelling story about herself and shopping in Germany, but I don’t care. I actually enjoy interrupting her very much.

“You are a liar,” I snap.

They all get quiet and look down at me.

“What?” Mark asks taken aback. I know he's going to tell me that this party is for me, and he did this all for me. But that’s not true on bit.

“I said that you are a liar. What part did you not hear?”

His face expression shifts.

“What are you talking about?”

“Why are you telling people that I have been accepted to several medical schools, when I haven't even applied to anything. Don’t you think that’s lying?”

“I haven’t lied. I applied for you.”

“What?! Are you serious? Why the hell would you do that!?” My voice is loud now, and it carries throughout the backyard. But I want to make a scene. I want him to feel embarrassed, the way I feel embarrassed.

“Jasmina!” he barks.

“I don’t want to go to med school! I want to fucking paint!” I scream staring at him. My blood is pumping now.

His face remains solemn and stern. That's how I know I have pissed him off. He stares at me silently, clenching his jaw, and his hands tight in fists.

“You are fucked. You know that?” I say

“Jazzy, calm down.” Ryan rests a hand on my shoulder. I jerk it away. He is the last person I want touching me.

“Let’s talk about his later,” Mark responds slowly, trying to keep his cool the best he can. Everyone is staring at us now like the family circus that we are.

“No, I want to talk about this right now!”

He takes a firm step forward. The knuckles grabbing his glass are white. How much has he had to drink?

“Are you sure you want to do that, Jasmina?”

“Yup.”

I fold my arms and plant my feet to let him know that I am not going anywhere this time.

“Okay. Let’s talk about how your little art degree won’t amount to anything, and that you can’t try to live off of 20k a year, unless you want to live in some shit dump apartment.” Mark’s face is bright red. Sweat drips down his forehead. Christian sticks his arm out between us.

“Both of you calm down.”

“Money isn’t everything!” I scream over Christian. I am not just saying this to my dad. Oh no! That is a message for everyone at the party. “You and all of your snobby friends only care about image and money! That’s it! Not even human decency!”

I don’t wait to watch the reaction, or to hear what words Mark will combat me with. In his head he is always right, no matter what. I spin on all the balls of my feet and race up past the deck. The crowds of people are stunned and silent, overwhelmed with awkwardness. Similar feeling to being a child and watching your friend scolded by their parent.

I run straight up to the third floor of our massive home. Several party goers who were inside and missed the big fight, try to stop and talk to me. But the hot tears running down the side of my face tell them to stop any form of communication.

I slam the bedroom door, and throw myself onto the large fluffy king size bed in a very dramatic way. Heavy tears fall from my ears as I cry into my favorite pillow. I usually never lose my temper, but between Viviane and my father everything just exploded into this stupid frenzy of emotion. I lay there for a moment, shaking and crying. My makeup is completely off my face and onto the bed.

I freeze as soon as I hear the doorknob slowly turn, and the door click open. A small stream of the hallway light spills over me.

“Can I turn on the light, or is it one of those sit in darkness things?”

“Go away Ryan!” I whimper through the pillow.

“No.”

The door creaks open more, and two large bodies slam onto the bed on either side of me. I don’t dare lift my head from the pillow.

“Come on, Jas,” Christian says; his hand resting on my back, gently scratching. The sensation of him touching me makes me warm. I stretch my back to invite the touch and let out a soft moan.

“Look at us,” Ryan says softly.

“NO! I look like a monster.”

“Do you think we care?”

I have always dreamt of this moment, being in my bed between their warm bodies, to feel them both touch and kiss me. Why did it have to be like this? This is so degrading. I lift my head and see both of them, but just for a second. They look so concerned. But then I tilt my head down right back into the covers.

“There- are you happy?” I ask.

“Okay, come on,” Ryan whispers. “We hate seeing you cry. Especially at your graduation party.”

“It's not even my party!” My voice is muffled as I speak through the blankets.

“What was that?” Christian asks.

“It's not my party!” I shout, lifting my head up.

“Says who?”

“I literally don’t know any of the people here, besides you guys.”

Ryan takes a long deep breath.

“Why do those other people matter? We can have our own party!”

I lift my head up from the pillow. They look so handsome then, but I know that I won’t ever get to be with them the way that I have always wanted. Ryan had some new beautiful woman. How was I supposed to compete with her?

“I appreciate you guys trying to make me feel better, but I can’t go back down there, not after that whole mess…”

“We get it,” Christian says, as he and Ryan stand. I suddenly have the urge to pull them back down, but I don’t. I just watch.

“Do you want us to stay?” Ryan asks.

“No...I just want to be alone.”

“Alright, Jaz, that’s fine. If you need anything, just come find one of us.”

“Thanks.”

They walk out of the room, and the light from the hallway disappears as they close the door. It clicks with a shut.