Free Matchplay by Dakota Madison Page B

and to be honest, I don’t either, but I feel like we belong together. I don’t want to like him. Every rational part of me tells me it’s a mistake and that I should steer clear of him but I just can’t stop the way I feel about him.”
    Olivia nodded. “I actually do understand. Don’t you think there’s part of me that would rather not date a woman? It would be much easier if I could fall for a guy. But I can’t. My heart belongs to Marney.”
    Olivia looked at me and then started cracking up. “Can you believe I just said that? My heart belongs to Marney . Does that sound like a shitty romance novel or what?”
    “I guess we’re both hopelessly in love,” I sighed and we both laughed hysterically.

 
    Six
    Make the Cut
     
    I received an email from Aaron a few days later. He had kept his promise. The email contained a link to a website with a treasure trove of information about Mary Cassatt. I was surprised I had never seen it before. I thought I had found nearly every piece of information about the artist that was available online. He ended the email with something that made me smile. “I hope you realize you’re more beautiful than any Mary Cassatt painting.”
    I emailed him back thanking him for the website. And I en ded with, “I realize it’s a cliché but it’s also true (especially in this case): Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
    When he emailed me again, there was only one line: “In your case, I think anyone would find you beautiful."
     
    ***
     
    A fter our next class, Aaron was waiting for me in his usual spot. He had his hands in his pockets and a serious look on his face.
    “What’s up?” I asked as I approached him.
    “I’m sorry I can’t meet with you today to work on our pr oject.”
    I was more than a little upset. He had never bailed on me b efore and we had just taken midterms, which meant we didn’t have a lot more time to get everything done. “Why?” I asked with a touch of anger in my voice.
    “I promise I’ll make it up to you. Maybe we can meet for a double session next week.”
    I looked into his eyes. “You didn’t answer my question.”
    “There’s a mandatory all-hands-on-deck meeting with the guys at The Clubhouse. We’re getting the place ready for Parent’s Weekend. We’re having a huge party Friday night. You should come by.”
    I frowned. “My dad’s going to be here.”
    He grinned. “The party is for students and their parents. I’d love to meet your dad.”
    That made me very nervous. I wasn’t sure I wanted my dad to meet Aaron. And I definitely wasn’t sure I wanted his parents to meet me. They were super wealthy. What if they didn’t want him with a middle-class girl like me?
    I shook my head. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
    “Why not?” Aaron had a look of genuine concern in his eyes.
    “My dad isn’t exactly the party type and he’s definitely not The Clubhouse type.”
    He crossed his arms over his chest. “And what exactly is The Clubhouse type?” he challenged.
    I gulped. I wasn’t sure how truthful I wanted to me. Did I really want to point out all the ways in which we were totally incompatible? “In case you haven’t noticed, Aaron, I don’t come from a wealthy family like you and your friends. I’m supported by a single parent, my dad, who is an engineer. He’s still struggling to pay what’s left of my mom’s medical expenses and help me with college. I’m on scholarship but we’ve still got books and stuff. Is anyone in The Clubhouse a scholarship student?”
    He shook his head. Then he stepped closer to me and erased all distance between us. I could feel the heat radiating from his body. “I really want you to be there. It would mean a lot to me to meet your dad.”
    When I looked into his eyes I saw sincerity and warmth. “I’ll think about it. I have to see if that’s even something my dad wants to do.”
    “Fair enough .” He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek.