“It will,” I said smiling as she walked down the hallway towards my bedroom.
Bridget picked out a dress shirt, tie, and dress pants for me to wear to the party. The party wasn’t going to be a casual affair. It was best though, since I was looking to impress her father and not look like I was heading out to fish for the day with the guys. Her parents’ home was large and sat in a very exclusive subdivision in the area. It was nothing like the home I grew up in as a child.
The large grand staircase was the most noticeable structure when we entered the grand foyer – outlined in black wrought iron with an intricate design featuring an O at the center. The O was the first letter to the family name, a sense of pride was evident. People were milling around drinking champagne while classical music filled the air. I instantly felt hot and uncomfortable. “Can I grab a drink?” I asked.
“Yeah sweetie, go on into the kitchen unless you want champagne.”
“I’ll go grab something else and come find you in a few minutes,” I said kissing her on the cheek.
“I’ll be out back; I’m sure that’s where my parents are. Let me go warm them up a bit.”
“Good idea. I’ll find you in a couple minutes.”
“Don’t be long,” she said as she walked away slowly pulling away from my hands until only our fingertips touched. She hooked her fingertips with mine and gave me a smile before breaking the connection.
She turned around and walked away. I stood there watching her walk through the room and stop to greet and kiss various people. What the f**k am I doing here? I was so out of my league. I was a poor kid from a split family who worked as a salesman. She was a rich girl who wouldn’t get Daddy’s approval when it came to me.
I walked into the kitchen and was greeted by the hired help. They were filling champagne glasses and small silver trays with appetizers to hand out to the guests. “Where can I get a beer?” I asked.
The room became quiet as a number of people stopped what they were doing to look at me, to see who wanted a beer in this home filled with caviar dreams. “Beer?” one man asked.
“Yes, sir. Just a plain old beer.”
“Let me look for you, sir,” he responded and walked to the fridge searching through the contents for my drink of choice.
“Ah, I found a couple tucked away in the back,” he said as his body became visible again from the other side of the door. He held out the beer for me, but I looked at it funny. It wasn’t a beer that I had ever heard of before; I was used to Bud or Natty Light. It was an imported European beer with a name I couldn’t read or pronounce. “Let me get you a glass, sir. The family would frown upon you walking around drinking out of a bottle.”
“Lord forbid.” I popped the top and took a large swig of the cool liquid. I’m sure if was pricey, but it tasted like any other beer I’ve ever had in my life. I just wanted something cool and wet, still thirsty from our earlier activities. I took the glass, emptying the contents of the bottle into the beautifully crafted silver vessel. At my mom’s, I’d be lucky to find a clean plastic cup with Batman half worn off to pour my drink into. “Thank you.”
I walked through the crowd and sipped my beer before finally finding my way to the backyard. I spotted Bridget with her parents standing near the pool. She must have been talking about me by the posture of her father. I approached slowly trying to overhear the conversation, but not draw too much attention to myself.
“Daddy, this is Kayden,” she said smiling and pointing in my direction as I approached. Her father hated me from the moment he laid eyes on me; he didn’t have to say the words, but I could tell by the way he looked at me. He studied my face before eyeing my outfit through critical eyes.
I held out my hand to shake his hand, “Hello, sir.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Kayden.” He didn’t shake my hand, but held his daughter a little closer and looked away from me. Bridget didn’t seem to notice the unfriendly welcome that I received, or she was used to such a welcome by her father.
“I’m going to go greet the guests, baby girl. Find your sister; she’s here somewhere.” He kissed her on the top of her head before smiling at me and walking away.
“Well, that didn’t go quite like I’d hoped.”
She walked towards me and wrapped her arms around my waist. “I’m sorry, Kayden. He’s just a little over protective of me. He’ll warm up to you.”
“Maybe someday, baby,” I said as I grabbed her face lifting her lips towards mine. I kissed her lips gently, not wanting to get carried away in front of the entire family. They didn’t look like the crowd that enjoyed public displays of affection.
I’d like to say that the relationship between her father and I progressed and a mutual respect formed over the years we dated, but it NEVER happened. I would never be good enough for his baby girl. He made it clear that I wasn’t the type of person he saw her with in the future, and I didn’t have the ability to give her the financial security she deserved. Money’s great, but love’s more important. Love is the foundation that all else teeters on, the great precipice that can bring you happiness or total torture.
3
The Plunge and Fall ~ Bridget
Our lives became intertwined; we were a unit, and it was time to take the next step. All of my friends were planning weddings or having babies, and it felt right. Bridget had all the qualities I wanted in a woman. She has a heart of gold, beautiful, funny, ready to party, f**king mind-blowing in bed, sucked c**k like a pro, and never judged me.