We walk down a hall, passing employees dressed in khakis, polo shirts and white sneakers. The sneakers were the only thing I was told to bring. I’m hoping my experience will convince them to schedule me as a waitress, and not with the grounds crew or anything that has to do with golf. I can barely play mini-golf, forget about actual golf.
I follow Ashton into an office with “Club Manager” displayed in gold letters on the door.
A man in a suit sits behind a desk. The office isn’t much bigger than the dark wooden desk and the chairs in front of it.
“Hi Cary,” Ashton says, gaining his attention.
“Ashton!” Cary greets warmly from behind wire-rimmed glasses and a friendly smile. “This must be Lana.” He stands and comes out from behind his desk to shake my hand. “Nice to have you with us.”
“Thanks,” I say without nearly as much enthusiasm.
“Ashton is going to take you to the uniform closet and have you pick out a uniform for each department.”
“Formal too?” Ashton questions in surprise.
“Yes please,” Cary confirms. “Lana will be training for fine dining come the winter.”
I exhale in relief. I can tell from Ashton’s pained face formal dining is far from her favorite thing, but it has to be better than dragging around golf bags—or mowing the grass.
“Once you’ve changed, give her a quick tour. The two of you will be on the bev cart for the day, so make sure you’re out on the course by eleven. Lana, I’ll need you to fill out paperwork at the end of the shift.”
This brings a shine to Ashton’s eyes. “Let’s go.” She takes a key from Cary and leads me to a door halfway down the hall. “Pick out a uniform from here, here, here and here.” She points to different shelves. “Wear this one today.” Indicating the shelves with the khakis and polo shirts. “Depending on your schedule, you may need more than one. But we’ll figure that out later. I’m going to bring the key back to Cary and then I’ll show you where we clock in and change.”
I sort through the sizes and hold up the different uniforms, to be sure they’ll fit. I meet Ashton in the hall with a stack of clothes. Since I can’t clock in without my assigned employee ID, Ashton just points to the computer terminal before taking me to the locker room to change.
The tour is a blur of faces and names that will take me the entire six months to remember, and that’s just the employees. Forget about the members Ashton greets by name … mostly old men in some sort of hideous golf attire.
On our way to the Clubhouse, we pass the tennis courts. I barely glance at them when she mentions them because they have nothing to do with any of my jobs.
“Lana!”
I almost trip and fall on my ass spinning around at the sound of my name being called from somewhere near the tennis courts.
“Shit,” I breathe when I see who it is.
Parker Harrison jogs toward us, wearing white shorts and a fitted navy sports shirt. Following at a distance carrying two tennis rackets is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. And considering I’m standing next to Ashton, that’s saying a lot. I curse the pang of jealousy that jolts through my stomach.
“Parker,” I greet him coolly, ignoring the rush I experience at the sight of him. “What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you that,” he says, pulling me into a tight hug. I awkwardly hug him back because keeping my hands by my side would be even more awkward. Over his shoulder the blonde with the flawless, porcelain skin, crystal blue eyes and raspberry stained, pouty lips smiles brightly at me … like she’s happy to see me too. I’m confused by her reaction, because he’s not hugging me in a I’m-happy-to-see-you kind of way. There’s a possessiveness in the way his arms wrap around my body, holding me against him as he brushes his lips across my neck. “I’ve been worried about you.”
Parker is reluctant to let me go and I have to squeeze my arms between us to casually break free.
“Good to see you too. I thought your dad would have told you what happened.”
“No. Not much. I knew you were attending Blackwood, but not when, or that you’d be working here.”
“Well … here I am,” I declare, stretching my arms wide; painfully aware that the two girls are watching all of this.
Parker notices when I glance behind him again and takes my hand before turning to face her. “Lily, this is Lana. Lana, this is my cousin, Lily.”
Cousin? I guess maybe I can see it … in the eyes … a little. But I honestly would never have guessed they were related.
“Hi,” I reply with a slight nod. “Umm … it was good to see you,” I casually try to slide my hand out of his grasp, “but I need to get back to work.” I know the polite thing to do would be to introduce Ashton. But I don’t want to be polite. Because I don’t want to be standing here.
“Hi Ashton,” Lily says. “Do you know Parker?” Lily’s thoughtfulness makes me feel like an ass.
Ashton smiles at him in the way most girls do. It’s like they can’t help it. I’ve seen it so many times before that I want to roll my eyes at the starry-eyed gaze that possesses Ashton. I had higher expectations of her. But then again, I am one of his victims. “No. We’ve never met, but I’ve heard of you.”
To my surprise, Parker threads his fingers through mine and offers a polite nod, sheathing the panty-dropping smile that gets him just about everything he wants. “Nice to meet you. Would you mind if I spoke with Lana for a second?”
Ashton glances at her watch. “I guess we don’t have to finish the tour right now, but we have to be at the cart station in ten minutes.”
“I just need five,” Parker says, flashing a hint of his charm at her. She smiles back automatically, bewitched.
“Sure.”
Parker wraps his arm around my waist and forcefully leads me away from the girls, combatting my resisting feet.
“What?!” I snap, spinning out of his hold once we’re far enough away.
“What do you mean, ‘what’?” he asks, confused. “I haven’t seen you in almost a month. And the last time I did, was the night—”
“I know what night it was,” I interrupt, looking around—afraid of being overheard.
“Lana, I feel responsible in some way.”
“Why? You didn’t do anything wrong.” Then after a second, I add, “Right?” Because I still don’t know what happened to Allie after I left her in the stairwell … in the care of Parker and his team.
“No,” he assures me. “But I can’t help but feel like I should’ve done something more. To keep you from being,” he lowers his voice and whispers, “arrested.”
“Well, you convinced your dad to represent me, so there’s that. Although, right now I’m not sure if I’m really happy with that decision either.”
“Why? What happened?”
“I’m here. In the middle of fricken nowhere.”
“It’s better to be here, trust me.”
“I don’t belong at that school. This isn’t my life, Parker.”
“It could be,” he says like the possibility appeals to him.
“What?” I stare at him like he’s insane.
“I’m just saying, you’ve been gifted an amazing opportunity. Give it a try. You might find that you belong here more than you realize.”
“Why? Are you ashamed of who I am?”
“No!” He widens his eyes in adamant denial. “But you deserve a chance to do something with your life.”
I groan. “I am so sick of people telling me that I need to be something. It’s such bullshit.”
“Lana, we should probably get going,” Ashton calls to me.
I start walking around Parker, but he grabs my arm. I eye his hand and then him with a cocked brow. He drops it. “I’ve been staying at the family’s lake house with Lily this week. I need to see you before I go.”
As if she could hear us, Lily says, “I’m having people over tonight. You ladies should absolutely come. You know where the house is, right, As
hton?”
“I do. But I don’t know if Lana—”
“I’ll have my dad sign her out,” Parker finishes like he knows what Ashton’s about to say.
“Okay,” Ashton replies, a smile in her voice. “We’ll see you tonight.”
I’m annoyed they all decided this for me. So just to be a bitch, I say, “Maybe.” And walk away.
“Lana! You’d better show!” Parker shouts.
I grind my teeth and my clench my fists as we continue around to the back of the Clubhouse. I catch Ashton’s ridiculous grin out of the corner of my eye, like she figured us out and is amused.
I open my mouth to deny whatever she’s assuming, but close it and tense my jaw again.
“Not mutual, huh?” she laughs.
“No,” I huff. I am so irritated, I can’t form words—only grunts and grumbles of frustration. Ashton laughs harder.
“Do you want to go tonight? I’m not sure if you’ll be able to since it’s only your second night. Newbies have restrictions for the first month or so, but you also didn’t mention Niall Harrison’s your lawyer.”
“You know Niall?”
“Of course. He’s one of the best. I should know.”
“Really?” I ask, intrigued.
She grins deviously. “We’re all at Blackwood for a reason, right?”
I laugh.
“Lily always throws the most amazing parties. It’ll be fun. And I’ll sacrifice myself so Parker won’t come anywhere near you.” She winks and I roll my eyes.
“I’ll go,” I say with a resigned sigh.
A golf cart comes into sight, or I should say a bar on wheels with shelves stocked with liquor and snacks wrapped around a cooler built into the back.
“Hey!” Ashton calls to the guys dumping ice into the coolers.
The blonde straightens. Holy shit, he’s tall. Easily over six feet, which means he might as well be a giant. And … I’m staring. Because he’s flawless. And I mean in the way sculptors immortalized Greek Gods from marble flawless.
The guy with dark hair, who had his back to us when we approached, turns around. “Yes! A hot new girl.”
“Shut it, Rhett,” Ashton threatens. “Grant, this is Lana. Lana this is Grant … and shithead.”
“Hey, that wound’s deep, Ash,” the dark-haired shithead clutches his chest.
“Hi,” Grant says, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
“Hi,” I reply dumbly, fighting the urge to smile back, because I know if I do, it’ll be one of those doe-eyed girl smiles. And I would hate myself if I looked at anyone that way. So I bite my lip instead, which is also a bad idea, because now I look like I’m trying to give one of those seductive, lip-bite smiles. Please, someone save me from myself.
There’s a slight flush to Grant’s cheeks, probably from lifting the huge bags of ice. He has the ruddy Scandinavian complexion that tans easily, but flushes easily too. He’s at the beginning stages of the tan. His blond hair has sun-bleached streaks mixed in with shades of gold and honey.
Heat spreads across my cheeks, and I have to look away because I never blush, and the sensation is making my head feel light. Fine. He’s beautiful. But why the hell am I acting like a star-struck lunatic?
“Tablet’s all charged up. There’s cash in the box. You’re all stocked and ready to serve the course,” he tells Ashton. He addresses both of us. “Have fun out there.”
“I’ll be seeing you at the ninth,” the shithead says with an eyebrow waggle that makes me outwardly cringe. Grant laughs at my reaction. I smile at him before looking down again. I swear a giddy thirteen-year-old has possessed my body.
“Lay-off creeper. You don’t want her to file a restraining order on her first day,” Ashton throws at him.
Ashton climbs in the front and I sit next to her on the passenger side. When she turns the key, it sounds like a damn lawnmower. I thought it would be much quieter.
The cart beeps when she backs out of the spot and jerks when we move forward. I have to grab onto the sidebar to keep from falling out.
“You’ll get used to it,” she assures me as we drive along a paved path toward the golf course.
“So … you like the good guys. I never would have guessed it,” she says with a goofy smile.
“What?” I scoff.
“Grant. I saw.”
I roll my eyes dismissively. Only because I can’t seem to find the right words to describe what happened. I’m not quite sure myself since I’ve only been an idiot around one other guy, and that didn’t end so well.
“It’s okay. I mean, if you were to gush over anyone, Prince Philip is worthy.”
“You call him Prince Philip? As in Sleeping Beauty?”
“Yes!” she laughs. “Not many get that reference. His last name is Philips. And well, he’s a fricken prince, in all the ways that fairytales get it right.”
“Are you kidding me?” I snort, disbelieving.
“Not at all. He’s a good guy. Again, I would never have guessed you go for that type.”
“I don’t even know him!” I say in a weak defense. “Besides, how do you know he’s really a good guy?”
The corner of Ashton’s lip twitches in a devious smirk. “Because he’s not my type.”
One day, as Thaylina was gathering herbs and berries in the forest, she heard the most beautiful voice singing. The enchanting voice lured her deep into the woods until she came upon a shadowed figure dressed in a deep green cloak.
“Why are you alone in the woods?” the deep, smooth voice asked the girl.
“What are you doing alone in the woods?” she asked in return.
“Waiting for you.” A tall handsome man came into view. A sly smile on his lips. A shine in his eye. And sharp point to his teeth. “And now, here you are.”
By four o’clock, I’ve learned that golfers have an easier time parting with their fives and tens after the ninth hole, than most patrons at Stella’s were at releasing singles. And even though I’ll never see a paycheck for every hour I work, no one can take the cash I make as co-bev cart girl from my pocket. I have no idea what I’ll need the money for, but it’s nice to know I have it—just in case I need to send some home.
I also learned that, unlike Stella’s, the country club is law-abiding regarding its alcohol service. Since I’m under eighteen, I can only dole out waters, sodas and sports drinks, along with any snacks. Ashton turned eighteen two months ago and was recently promoted to head bev cart girl for the summer. Thankfully, she doesn’t care about the law and topped our Cokes with rum while we waited for golfers to hit the fricken ball.
Which is the last thing I learned today … golf is boring! Because our cart is diesel and loud, we weren’t permitted to pass through the course if someone was getting ready to swing or putt. It was torture having to wait for the players, mostly men, to line up their shots and swing.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was when we reached the shack at the ninth hole and were able to cool off in the air-conditioned bathroom while waiting for the cart to be restocked. This is also where I met Stefan, the head bartender. Not in the bathroom, but tending the Ninth Bar. He has this peculiar intellectual, man-of-mystery kind of vibe going on. Ashton told me he’s a grad student at Columbia and has worked at the club every summer since he was sixteen. He throws parties at his family’s summer cabin regularly and doesn’t care who attends, meaning all ages welcome. He’s all about good energy.
“I think he’s kissed half the girls on staff, and a few members’ wives too,” Ashton gossiped while we balanced with one foot on the toilet, leaning against the counter to allow the cool air from the air conditioner direct access to our underarms. “But he can get away with it. For some reason, he doesn’t come across as skeevy. It’s like everyone likes him. Everyone. There’s this crazy magnetic field around him that attracts people to him, and if some of those people end up kissing him, so be it. It’s like it’s no big deal.”
Even after only meeting him
for maybe two minutes, I totally understood what she meant.
“See you at Lily’s tonight?” he asks us as we’re sliding back into the bev cart.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Ashton calls to him as she presses on the gas a little too hard, almost rocketing me from my seat. I holler in surprise, which makes her start laughing. I join her. It was pretty funny.
“How are we getting to Lily’s? Do you have a car on campus?”
“We’re not allowed cars on campus, but we’ll secure a ride. Don’t worry.”
I discover I had no reason to worry when we step out onto the main steps of the administration building and find Parker waiting for us beside his Land Rover.
Or maybe I should be a little worried.
“How did this happen?” I ask, but it sounds more like an accusation. Except I don’t know who I’m directing it at.
“I told you I’d get you signed out.” Parker opens the passenger door, waiting. “Did you bring a bathing suit?”
I open the back door and slide in, allowing Ashton to sit in front. Parker’s smile falters when I don’t do as expected. Whatever.
“They’re in here,” Ashton tells him, holding up her shiny gold tote bag. “Thank you for driving us. It’s sweet of you.”
“Of course,” he replies as he shuts the door behind him. “I wanted to spend some time with Lana before I left.” He adjusts the mirror so he directs his electric blue eyes right at me.
It’s going to be impossible to avoid him, especially without Nina here to distract him. And it’s not that I don’t like him. Parker is charming, intelligent, and has this irresistible confidence that’s incredibly sexy. But for so many reasons, I have to keep my walls up around him, especially when I really want to smash them down.
“How big is this party?” I ask as we exit the school’s enormous wrought iron gates and pull onto the road that abuts the property. There’s nothing but trees on either side. It seriously feels like we’re the only ones in this town. It’s so weird.
Knowing You_The Cursed Series Part 2 Page 7