I knew she was trouble the moment I met her. One look and I was captivated.
“I would do anything to protect her,” I say out loud.
“You might have to, considering her parents are going to knock on our door at any minute,” Dad says in a grim tone.
The air grows thick, making it hard to breathe. Tension hangs over us like a heavy curtain.
“I’ll deal with them,” I warn him.
“The right thing to do is to send her home — ”
The stool scrapes against the floor as I abruptly stand up. “She is not going home. How many times am I going to say this?”
Dad opens his mouth to argue with me, but Mom grabs his arm and stops him.
His gaze moves to Hope. “I’m just looking out for my son.”
I rake a hand through my hair as I gather patience from every corner of my body to deal with this conversation.
“I know,” Rose says softly. “I’m truly sorry for bringing my trouble to your doorstep. I don’t mean to. It’s just… I don’t have anywhere else to go. With Heath…” She looks at me. “It’s easy to stay here because I trust him a lot.”
Taking a deep, slow breath, she adds. “I’ve decided to go back because I worry about Heath too. I don’t want him to get into any more trouble because of me. I’m sorry.”
Mom looks about ready to cry and Dad’s sharp features show concern.
“Heath has done a lot for me. More than I deserve. I would never do anything to hurt him.” Her voice sounds so broken.
It aches me.
“Stop! You don’t need to convince them,” I tell her. “You’re staying here because I want you to and you’ll continue to stay here because I say so.”
“Heath — ”
I grab her hand and give it a squeeze. “It’s either this or I sleep in my car in front of your house because knowing you’re in there with him waiting to hurt you haunts me.”
“This is a serious matter, son,” Xavier says in a placid tone.
I meet his gaze. “I know.”
“You should let me — ”
“No. I’ll handle it.”
“You need guidance to wisely handle this situation, not — ”
“What I fucking need is your support and nothing else!” My chest heaves as I talk to him. “I need to know that you have myback, not that you’re trying to sabotage my relationship with the person who brings me peace and happiness.”
His lips thin. A flicker of hurt crosses through his gray eyes.
“That’s not what he’s doing,” Mom states.
“But that’s how I feel,” I tell her. “I’ve already lost someone I loved, I don’t want to lose this person.”
Mom closes her eyes and Dad says nothing.
Without saying another word, I guide Hope out and take us to my room.
The sound of the door click is so loud as it cuts through the tension buzzing between us.
