Chapter 14

I thought I'd escaped the embarrassment by diving into the pool, but Jason had other plans. Strong arms pulled me out of the water, and I gasped as I resurfaced. My eyes met Jason's, and I frowned, confused.

"What are you doing?" I asked, trying to wriggle free from his grasp.

Jason cocked his head to the side, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I should be asking you that question," he said, his voice low and husky.

I tried to look away, but my gaze kept drifting back to his wet body. Water droplets clung to his skin, and I felt my face heat up again.

"Let me go," I said, attempting to sound stern.

Jason chuckled and released me, but not before his hands lingered on my arms for a moment. I shivered, despite the warmth of the sun.

"You're really bad at hiding your feelings, Andy," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I spluttered, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Jason laughed, a deep, throaty sound that made my heart skip a beat.
"Don't play dumb, Andy. I've seen the way you look at me." he said and I huffed in annoyance.

My face burned, and I looked away, trying to escape the intensity of his gaze. But Jason was relentless.

"Hey, I'm flattered," he said, his voice softening.

"But you should be careful. I'm not exactly...available." he said and I scoffed. The absolute cockiness of this grown ass man.

Of course, he wasn't available. He was my roommate's father, for crying out loud!

"You're in over your own head" I said, trying to sound nonchalant. Even though, every part of me knew I was caught.

Jason raised an eyebrow.
"Don't lie to me, Andy. I've seen the way you blush when I'm around. You can't hide it forever." he said and I glared at him, feeling cornered.

Why the hell was he even pushing this? Didn't he know how awkward it was? I was literally his daughter's roommate.

"Whatever," I muttered, turning away from him.

"I'm leaving" I announced as I swam to the other edge of the pool.

As I climbed out, Jason called out, "Hey, Andy?"

I turned back, my heart racing and my cheeks burning.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"You look hot in black" he said, his eyes taking in my entire body and I almost let out a gasp as his statement sunk into my head. What the fuck?

Nope. Impossible. He didn't just say that. I turned around and sighed as a shiver ran down my spine. I grabbed my things and basically ran inside with my wet body dripping all over the floor.

"Miss Andrea!" Polina gasped and I flinched as I ran up the stairs.

"I'm so sorry, Polina!" I exclaimed. I felt bad but if I didn't run for my life, I might as well have fainted right there by the pool and I definitely did not need him saving me again.

As soon as I made it to my room, I slammed the door shut and I leaned against the door, my heart racing and my mind reeling.

What had just happened? I couldn't believe Jason's audacity. He was my roommate's father, for crying out loud! And yet, he was flirting with me shamelessly.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm down, but my body still trembled with excitement. I couldn't deny the attraction I felt towards Jason, but I knew it was wrong. So wrong. So so wrong.

I walked into the bathroom and cleaned up quickly before making my way back to the room.
I groaned in frustration as I walked over to my bed and collapsed onto it, trying to process my emotions. Why did Jason have to be so charming and handsome? And so fucking hot too? It was so unfair.
And why did he have to be Bree's father?

As I lay there, I heard a knock on the door.

I made my way to the door and cracked it open slightly. I breathed in relief to see that it was just Bree. What the hell was I even thinking? That Jason would follow all the way to my room?. Andy, you're so delirious.

"Andy, are you okay?" Bree asked, concern etched in her voice as she stepped inside.

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I couldn't tell her about the awkward encounter with her father. Not yet, at least.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, trying to sound casual.
"Just needed to get out of the sun." I said.

"Okay, cool," Bree said.
"I was worried about you. You ran inside like your life depended on it. I heard your loud footsteps from my room" She said and guilt filled my stomach.

I laughed nervously.
"Yeah, I just … uh … I needed to use the bathroom." I lied through my teeth.

Bree giggled.
"Okay, weirdo." She said before sighing. Just before I got to ask what was wrong, she started talking.

"Well, I was waiting for you to come in anyway. I wanted to talk to you" she said, sounding quite serious.

"Oh" I said, as my heart started thumping loudly in my chest. Oh shit. Did she find out about the night Jason and I met? Shit shit shit.

I sat on the bed and she sat facing me. Fear was literally crushing me and I swallowed as I watched her.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to remain calm.

"Well, I know this might be hard for you to hear and maybe a little too soon but there's a party on the beach tonight and we're invited" she said and the relief of realizing it wasn't what I thought disappeared almost immediately after I processed what she was saying.

Wait, what? What was she trying to say?

"Um… okayyyy. I-" I started to talk but she cut me off.

"Before you say anything, I know everything has been traumatizing but I think this just might be what you need to feel better. Just dance it away. I mean, it has been two weeks since the incident" she explained further and I froze.

I get that she was just trying to help but 'Just dance it away?'. What?!

"Bree, I can't just dance it away. It doesn't work that way. If you really want to go to this party, then you should but I'm sorry, I won't be able to go with you. It's just… it's still too fresh" I said, the hair on my skin standing just from flashes of memories from that night.

"Fresh? Andy, it's been two weeks and you've been moping around since then. I've been trying to cheer you up by doing stuff with you but nothing's changed" she said, and I felt very uncomfortable with the way she kept saying it like I didn't almost get raped.

I snapped.
"Bree, this isn't a break up or something that I can just forget about just by having fun. I almost got raped. Again! Within the space of two weeks. Because I'm smiling every day does not mean I'm okay. I appreciate you trying to cheer me up and all. Truly, I do but it doesn't work that way. I can't heal or just bury it and go on" I finally finished and I breathed to calm my shaky hands.

"So just go to the party. It's fine. Really." I assured her as I stared at her face.

She looked disappointed.
"I was just trying to help but whatever. You can just stay in and rot in your room. I don't care" she said with anger lacing her tone before storming out of my room and slamming the door behind her.

I blinked in surprise.
What was wrong with her?!.
I shook it off and decided to focus on something else. I chose to believe she didn't mean any of what she said and she was just pissed about something else.

Focusing on something else wasn't as easy as said. The first thing that came to mind was Jason. I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was still watching me, his eyes burning my skin with intensity. I shivered at the thought.

And then, my phone buzzed, finally drawing my attention from the hot devil in my head. I hesitated before picking it up.

"Hey" the text read and I cocked my head to the side.

"Who's this? I responded and the person started to type.

"Jason" the text read. My eyes widened as I threw my phone out of my hands in shock. How the hell?! What the- I groaned as I realized I had to respond to his message. I sighed before picking my phone up again.

"What do you want?" I texted, trying to sound stern.

As I sat on my bed, staring at my phone, I couldn't help but wonder how Jason got my number. And why was he texting me like we were old friends?

I decided to play it cool, trying to brush off the awkwardness from earlier.

"Just making sure you're okay after that little incident by the pool." Jason replied.

I rolled my eyes, noting the teasing in the text.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking." I responded.

"Good," Jason said. "I was worried I might have scared you off."

I bit my bottom lip nervously.
"You're not exactly subtle, are you?" I replied.

"I guess not. But hey, at least I'm honest, right?" He texted in response.

I smiled, feeling a spark of connection with him. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.

But then I remembered who he was -my roommate's father. And I knew at that moment that I was in trouble.