“I offer you your salvation, sir.”
Startled, I flinched and jerked toward Noah.
His laugh had a sad tinge. “Sorry. Off in your own world, huh?”
“Yeah. You could say that.”
“Makes sense.” He extended the coconut-covered chocolate cupcake to me, then pulled it back, taking a second to remove the wrapper before trading it for Ron’s and Andy’s leashes.
Proving we’d been here entirely too often, all three of the dogs hopped up and down, their wet paws ruining the lower portion of Noah’s jeans. “I know, kids. I know. I didn’t forget.” He reached into the bag and pulled out three iced dog treats and then made each dog sit before tossing one into their gaping jaws.
For the next two minutes, I allowed myself to drift away. Just a few feet. Just enough to see the five of us. The picture we made in the rain. In front of the windows that reflected Cupcake Royale’s neon sign. Two gay thirtysomethings and their three mongrels. All sheltered beneath the protection of the brick building and an umbrella. All scarfing down sugar and carbs. Three without a care in the world. And two pretending all was okay. At least for a minute or so.
A pretty picture. One I never envisioned for myself. I wished I knew if it would last.
Then the moment passed, and I was back in my body. Cupcakes gone. Both of them. All three dogs begging for more.
We left the shelter of Cupcake Royale and started walking up Pike once more, heading home.
“What did Kayla say?”
I glanced at Noah from the corner of my eye, trying to judge if he somehow already knew and was giving me a chance to spill my guts or if he was simply asking.
His brown eyes met mine. “What?”
“Nothing.” I let out a puff of breath and increased our speed a bit. “She couldn’t talk long, of course. Not with Dustin in the house and Bailey there to overhear. They were both upset, Kayla and Bailey. Dustin told Bailey he’d slipped in a puddle and hit the edge of his car. It sounds like Bailey believed him. Of course, she’s seven. Why wouldn’t she? Kayla knew, not that Dustin was trying to convince her.” I cringed, remembering the panic in Kayla’s voice, asking what I was going to do about Dad’s ultimatum. “She, uh…. Kayla confirmed that she’d been told to stay behind. She kept apologizing for leaving me stranded.” All true. Every bit. Just not all we spoke about. “I’m honestly glad she wasn’t there. It would have been so much worse. In every way. I think she would have tried to protect both of us, Dustin and me. It would have been even more of a shit show and done not an ounce of good.”
Noah didn’t reply for a bit. Just kept walking. For several blocks, the only sounds were cars, the clack of dog nails on the wet sidewalk, and the rain hitting the umbrella. We were walking up the sidewalk to the car when he finally spoke again. “Are you going to tell me how things ended? What happens next?”
I’d known he knew. Of course of did. He wasn’t stupid.
And therefore he also didn’t need me to say it to really know for sure.
I hesitated by the passenger door, taking a second to look at him. “I’m not sure what’s next. Can I put a pin in that? Please?”
He searched my eyes. I could see hurt and worry in his, but not much more.
“Yeah. Sure.” He motioned to the key I held in midair. “Let’s go in and get these monsters dry.”
Chapter Eighteen
DAD GAVEme twenty-four hours. If I were a superhero or crazy smart, maybe that would have been enough time for me to figure out what to do. A way to circumvent his power. Manipulate him. Dig up some dirt. Something.
I wasn’t a superhero. I wasn’t all that smart. And while I could defy my father all day long, for the sake of my own happiness and not just to be rebellious, the thought of rising against him scared the shit out of me.
I didn’t think he’d kill me or anything. Despite his controlling nature, he wasn’t part of the mob. At least I didn’t think so. I didn’t even think he’d hit me like he had Dustin. I wasn’t sure if that meant he cared more or less for me, or if that even mattered.
He wouldn’t be able to do anything more than he’d already threatened. Cut me off from the family. From Kayla and Bailey. Kayla I could handle. She was my best friend, but she was an equal. She’d understand and we’d find a way. Bailey wouldn’t. She would feel abandoned. And who knew what she’d hear about me, truth or lies.
I didn’t really know why I was terrified of my father. He laid it out perfectly clear what my options were. He wasn’t going to do more than that.
There was nothing worse he could do to me.
Either turn my back on the life I’d made, reject Noah, and return to captivity, or abandon my niece.
Captivity.
That sounded dramatic. Too dramatic.
