“What?”
Ugh.
Seriously? What am I asking him?
But now that I’ve said it, I forge ahead, “I-I mean, all I’ve seen you do this last week is go to the office and take care of me and… What do you do after this? Like hobbies and stuff. Do you work on cars, I mean… there must be something you do to relax.”
It’s been bothering me for days now.
The fact that this job is killing him and that he has to do it because of me. He should be doing what makes him happy.
Like cars maybe and…
“I don’t have time to relax.”
“But –”
“Just lock the door after I leave.”
“Does he… know?” I ask him then with wide eyes.
“Does who know what?”
“That I’m pregnant. Your dad.” I pause to swallow down my racing heartbeats. “Does he know that you’re doing all this for me?”
The man who wanted to punish me for stealing his son’s car. And rightfully so.
The man who forced Reed to give up soccer in exchange for my freedom.
I wonder if he knows and if he does, what must he be thinking about it. About the fact that I’m pregnant with his son’s baby.
The flutters inside my stomach make an appearance and I can’t help but put my hand on my belly. And when I do, his eyes inevitably focus on it.
There’s a purple bruise on his right cheekbone that ripples at my question. It thrums just like the look in his gaze, all angry and determined. “You don’t have to worry about my father. I’ve got it under control.”
“But Reed —”
“I can handle my dad, all right? It’s fine.”
That’s exactly it, isn’t it?
That he keeps saying everything is fine. That he’s taking care of everything.
And I’m letting him because I know how important this is for him.
I know that.
Ifeelthat.
That’s why he stood in front of Conrad and made him a promise. That’s why he made all these plans. That’s why he put so much thought into them, so much care and so much detail. He must’ve made hundreds of lists to be able to pull this off.
That’s why I’m letting my brothers take care of everything too.
Because I know this is how they take control of the situation. This is how Conrad makes sure that nothing falls apart. This is how he copes with things. Like he did when Mom died and he had to take care of everything.
I know if I take this away from my brothers, this control, it will only make matters worse. I know if I take awayhiscontrol too, it will only piss him off.
And I’m grateful, you know?
