My jaw drops. First of all, the skirt goes all the way down to my knees. Second of all, who says things like that?
Steve continues to study my skirt. Then he slaps the paper down by his side and glares at me. “Go back to your room and change.”
I glare right back. “This is my uniform,” I repeat. “If you don’t like it, take it up with Beringer.”
He points a finger at my legs. “You can wear pants. I’m certain that in this day and age, that’s an option for a school uniform.”
This is a stupid conversation, so I walk toward the door. “I don’t have pants.” Well, actually, I do. But those khaki monstrosities are ugly as hell, no matter that they have a three-hundred-dollar price tag. I’m not putting those things on my body.
“Of course she has pants,” Dinah says, laughing gleefully. “But we all know why she chooses not to wear them. Easier access with a skirt.”
Another frown slashes Steve’s face. “She’s right,” he tells me. “I had my share of fun times with girls in skirts. They’re easy lays. Is that what you want to be? Easy Ella?”
Dinah titters.
I clutch the strap of my backpack and turn the doorknob. If I had a gun, maybe I’d shoot Dinah with it.
“I’m going to school,” I say stiffly. “I’ve already missed one entire day of classes so you could drive around Bayview. I’m not going to be late because you have a problem with my school uniform.”
Steve stomps over and lays his palm on the door. “I’m trying to help you. Girls who put out are disposable. I don’t want that for you.”
I pull the door open with a sharp jerk. “Girls who put out are girls who want to have sex. There’s nothing immoral about that. Or gross. Or deviant. If I choose to have sex, then that’s what’s going to happen. It’s my body.”
“Not while you live in my house,” he thunders, hurrying after me down the hall. Dinah’s laughter follows us all the way to the elevator.
I jab the down button. “Then I’ll move.”
“And I’ll have you hauled back here. Is that what you want?” At my silence, he sighs with frustration. In a softer tone, he says, “I’m not trying to be a bad guy, Ella, but you’re my daughter. What kind of dad would I be if I just let you run around and sleep with your boyfriend?”
“My boyfriend is your best friend’s son,” I remind him. I will the elevator to arrive faster, but it seems to be climbing the forty-four floors one excruciating second at a time.
“I know. Why do you think I’m so anxious about you dating him? Callum’s kids are wild. They’re experienced. That’s not what I want for you.”
“Being a little hypocritical here, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” He throws up his arms. “I don’t deny it. The last thing in the world I want for you is to date the guy I was in high school. I had no respect for girls. All I wanted was to get in their pants, or under their skirts.” He throws a pointed gaze at my hemline. “And once I had them, I moved on.”
“Reed’s not like that.”
Steve gives me a look of pity. “Honey, I told all the girls I wanted to have sex with that they were special and the only ones for me, too. I’ve used all those lines before. I would’ve said anything to get a girl to say yes.” I open my mouth to protest, but Steve keeps talking. “And before you say that Reed is different, let me point out that I’ve known that boy for eighteen years and you’ve known him for a few months. Who has the more informed perspective?”
“He’s not like that,” I insist. “He’s the one who’s holding out on me. Not the other way around.”
Steve laughs abruptly. Shaking his head, he says, “Damn, that boy’s got moves I hadn’t even thought of. I’ll give him that.”
I blink in confusion.
“Pretending to be reluctant and forcing you to make all the moves? He must be loving that.” He sobers up. “No, Ella, you’re just going to have to take my word on this. Reed’s been around the block so many times, there’s probably a trench built from all his activity. There’ve got to be other nice boys at Astor for you to date. Why don’t you find one and we’ll revisit this conversation?”
I can’t mask my astonishment. “I don’t work that way. I don’t discard people like that. Reed is not disposable in my life.” I’m not like you.
“Let’s see how long his affections last when he doesn’t have access to you. Don’t be so easy, Ella. It’s not attractive.”
If I’d been the child Steve pretends that I am, I would’ve shouted an insult back. One burns at the back of my throat. One that says he needs to stop measuring me by his own miserable stick. But I’m not going to get anywhere by confronting Steve. Thankfully, the elevator finally fucking arrives.
“I need to get to school,” I inform him as I step inside the car.
“Classes are over at three forty. I expect you here by four.”
The elevator doors slide shut.