Mr. Lawson's Assistant

Chapter 52

Damon opened the car door for me, and I hesitated. He peered over the top of the car door at me, his expression soft.
"You sure you're alright, Oana?" He asked, concern flashing in his eyes.
No.
"I'm..." I breathed, suddenly lacking whatever words I was going to say.
Damon frowned and moved around the car door to stand in front of me.
I shook my head, sliding my feet out of the car and standing to my feet. "It's nothing."
His face said that he absolutely did not believe me, and he shouldn't have. I was the worst liar in the history of ever. Pushing that aside, I shifted away so Damon could close the car door, trying to ignore how the muscles in his shoulder tensed and relaxed at the simple motion. Damon felt my eyes on him and glanced my way, taking a slow step back.
"After you," he gestured towards the apartments, his eyes questioning me as I started walking. I was so focused on ignoring his stare, that I forgot how difficult it was to walk in heels and tripped. Growling at myself in annoyance, I steadied myself, then bent over to unlatch my shoes. My feet hurt anyways.
Damon watched without a word as I struggled to remove my shoes, before he started to chuckle quietly. "Can't you leave them on? We're almost to your apartment..." He smirked.
I straightened, yanking my dress down again. "You don't have to walk me inside. I think I can climb the stairs alone." I huffed, shooting Damon a look as I moved through the door that he was holding open for me.
He laughed quietly and followed me through the door, "It's the gentlemanly thing to do. Besides, by the way you were walking in those heels, I'm not so sure you'd make it..." He smirked when I turned back to glare at him.
"You try walking in heels." I snapped.
Damon shrugged, "Your legs look better in them than mine would."
Duh.
I raised my eyebrows, pretending to ignore the compliment as I turned back and started up the stairs. "Didn't you abandon your brother at the party?" I asked, remembering that Damon had mentioned his brother being there.
"Yes."
I stopped and turned around again, "What? Then why are you walking me inside? Go pick up your brother!"
Damon was two steps below me, putting him at eye-level, "Because my mom taught me to never let a girl walk inside alone." Finishing the last three steps to my hallway door, I turned to Damon as he reached to open the door for me.
I pursed my lips, "Go pick up your brother." I said, passing Damon and walking into the hall alone. I could feel his eyes on my back as I walked.
"You never answered me about our second date," Damon followed me into the hall as if I hadn't just rudely told him to leave.
"No."
But before I could go inside, Damon moved around me and blocked my way into my apartment.
"Your brother is stranded in the city park." I crossed my arms, tilting my head to look up at Damon.
His eyes flickered down to my lips when I spoke, but he brought them quickly back up to my eyes. "Tomorrow night at seven." He cocked an eyebrow, shifting forward a step. I backed up a pace and he smirked.
I gripped my arms tighter around my chest, "Not on your life." I narrowed my eyes as Damon took another step forward.
"You can pick the place." He straightened his shoulders, a look entering his eyes. I knew the look. He was about to get exactly what he wanted.
"I don't want-"
Damon actually smiled this time, "I'll be here at six thirty."
*
As I walked into my apartment, I found David sleeping on the couch, one of his legs draping over the side of the cushion and touching the floor. His mouth was hanging open too. I smiled, laughing to myself as I walked quietly past the living room into my bedroom.
I need to pick out my clothes for tomorrow-
I balked in the doorway to my bedroom at that thought.
No! I don't care what I wear tomorrow...
But I knew I was lying to myself.
As quietly as I could, I slipped out of my dress and put my shoes away. Once I was dressed in a baggy t-shirt and sweatpants, I walked into the bathroom to remove my make-up. It pained me to wipe off Kenya's work, but I knew better than to sleep with a full face of make-up on.
After I finished clearing my face, I washed my cheeks and forehead and brushed my teeth. Staring into the mirror, I cringed at thoughts of my run-in with Trey tonight. I cleaned the bathroom quickly, and moved to get in bed. As I climbed under the covers, I wondered why Trey hated me so much. It was one thing for him to come after me drunk. It was another thing for him to come after me sober...twice. There had to be an underlying reason.
Injured pride maybe?
I thought as I slid deeper under my covers and closed my eyes. I knew Soma had a key, and Kenya was going to be staying the night in Soma's room, so I fell asleep without another thought.
*
I woke up late the next day to the sound of David banging on something and yelling. Jumping out of bed, I snapped on a bra and threw my room door open. Only then, did I see Kenya standing in the kitchen, tears streaking her cheeks from laughter. David was glaring at the TV, holding a shattered TV remote and sullenly watching a random basketball game.
"Oh, you're up?" Soma said sarcastically, moving from her own doorway and glancing across the room at me.
I yawned and frowned, "What's going on?"
Kenya sniffed and wiped her eyes, still chuckling to herself, "David's basketball team lost the finals..." she trailed off, starting to laugh again, "...so he broke the remote."
Soma raised her eyebrows, looking at me before she crossed her arms.
"And that's funny how?"
David groaned and shoved his face into a couch cushion, "It's not funny!" He muttered, his voice muffled by the couch.
"I bet David two hundred dollars that his team would loose the finals," Kenya smiled, "and won."
"That's not fair! She watched the game before me!" David growled, lifting his head to glare at Kenya, but I could tell it was in jest. He was enjoying the banter as much as she was.
Oh boy.
"David told me he was going to watch the replay this morning, and I watched the game last night." Kenya shrugged, a brilliant, white smile lighting up her face when David threw a pillow at her. She caught it and threw it back, still smiling. Soma sighed and shook her head, turning to go back into her room. I considered doing the same thing, until I looked at the clock. It was nearly noon. As I moved back into my room to change, I frowned at the feeling that I had something important to do today.
How about a date with Damon Lawson?
I stopped midway between making my bed.
Crap.
Staring at the blankets in my hand, I recalled the conversation with Damon in the hall last night.
What were you thinking, Oana!
"Hey, you okay?" I jumped, turning to see David walking into my room.
I ignored his question, "You're supposed to knock."
David raised his eyebrows, "I did." When he saw the look I gave him, he stepped into my room and closed the door behind him. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head quickly, "Nothing-"
He rolled his eyes, "Don't even start with me. We both know you're the world's worst liar."
I glanced up at David, only to see him looking at me with a curious expression on his face.
"I have a date tonight."
David raised his eyebrows, giving me a chance to explain, but when I didn't he frowned. "That's why you look so panicked?" He started to smirk.
"I do not look panicked!" I snapped, but David grinned and pointed to my hands. When I looked down, I had a white-knuckled grip on my bed sheets.
"Who's the guy?"
"Damon."
David smiled and shook his head, moving to plop down on the end of my bed, "Tall, dark and handsome, huh?" He watched my face closely as he spoke, waiting to see my reaction.
I blinked at my brother, "You're not mad?"
He shrugged, "I like Damon."
"You like him? Since when do you like any of the guys who are interested in me?"
"Damon's different," David sat up and leaned back on his hands, "When you were missing, he wouldn't even eat or drink, same as me." David shook his head, "I was kinda suspicious as to why he was so focused on finding you, and I started not to like him. But then he found you, and all I remember thinking was 'this guy isn't all that bad'." David told me, rolling his head side to side to crack his neck. "It's obvious he likes you. A lot. And I figure that if he was willing to do everything he did to find and save you, he meets enough criteria for one date."
I stared at my brother, shocked at how chill he was acting.
"You actually approve of him?" I frowned, unbelieving.
"I like him. There's a difference." David rolled his eyes.
Holy. Freaking. Cow.
"So you're going to let me go?"
"If you're back before eleven," David smirked at the look I gave him, but pushed himself up into a standing position. "And if he so much as holds your hand, I'll probably shoot him." He added after a second of thought.
I pursed my lips, "David!"
My brother laughed and dodged the pillow I chucked at him, "Want me to tell Soma?" David threatened when I picked up another pillow. Immediately I dropped the pillow and narrowed my eyes at him.
"Don't you dare."
David winked and turned to saunter out of my room, "Hey, Soma!"
"David James!" I yelled, rushing out of my room after him.