I touch her and she softens.
I kiss her and she melts.
I hold her and she relaxes.
Those little things make me fall for her deeper, knowing I’m the only one who makes her let her guard down so she can let me in. Her trust is the most precious and valuable thing I own.
“Don’t go home. Go on the date with me.” I plead.
She frowns. “What about my parents?”
“I say let them fuck off but I know you’re not that kind of person.”
“My mom must be worried.” She pauses for a moment. “I think.”
I can see that she is second-guessing herself. Even if I convince her to go on the date with me, she won’t enjoy herself. Her mind would be lingering towards her home and her parents.
“I can take you back if that’s what you want.”
She nods quickly.
I help her inside the car and then get in myself.
Once we hit the road, I entwine our fingers and set our joined hands on her thigh. Every now and then she squeezes my hand and every single time I look over to make sure she is okay.
She is not.
One look at her face and I can tell.
It takes us ten minutes to arrive at her place. I park the car around the block and cut off the engine.
Hope makes no move to step outside which only makes me worried about her.
I give her hand a gentle squeeze and she faces me.
“I’m coming with you.”
A look of panic washes over her face. “No, you can’t. My parents will get so mad.”
“I can’t let you go inside alone.”
She shakes her head. “You can’t come with me. My dad… he’ll hurt me and my mom will get so mad at me. She doesn’t like you.”
In other words, she is saying she hates me.
Fucking great.
Both of her parents resent me.
“What if you don’t come out?” I ask, rubbing circles on the back of her hand. “What if something happens and you need me?”
Doubt crosses her face but she gives me a weak smile. “I’ll be okay.”
That’s not fucking enough.
“I’m coming in if you don’t text me in five minutes.”
Rose gets out of my car and starts walking down the road. My gaze stays locked on her like a hawk. I can’t look away from her thinking that if I do something might happen to her.
