“I know you’ve been working so hard and I wanted to check on you before our shift.”
“Oh fuck, I forgot,” she glances at her watch and groans. “I got like three hours of sleep last night.” She sighs, running her hands through her hair and my eyebrows pull together. She walks through the threshold of her room and stalls, turning slowly like she fuckingknowswhat she’s just let slip pissed me off.
“What?”
Roxie sighs heavily, dropping her shoulders and tilting her head. It’d be a cute look if I wasn’t so on edge.
“I… I helped out late at the diner.”
“The diner closes at ten.” I stand in the doorway, blocking her exit and therefore her only way of getting out of this conversation.
“Then I had to go into the school to work a little,” she says with a shrug. My jaw sets to the side as I inhale through my nose.
“Why didn’t you call me? Text me? I would’ve walked with you, taken the bike.” I step closer to her, terrified that she was all alone…at night…by herself…a month and a half after being attacked…
Is shetryingto get killed?
“I would’ve sat by that front door and let you do your thing while making sure you were protected,” I growl, looming over her. “Do you not remember whatjustfucking happened? How there are people after you? Do I need to remind you how horrible it was?”
Fire sparks in Roxie’s eyes as I scold her and I see her fully wake up.
“I’m more than capable of taking care of myself, Ty.” Her hands go to her hips like the stubborn little hellfire she is, but I stand my ground.
“Are you? You were in an empty building, late at night without telling anyone where you were. Did you at least tell Harriet? Did you have your phone on–the one I got you? Did you lock the door behind you? Did you think about any of that?” I snap, my chest rising in anger.
Her jaw set to the side and her nostrils flare.
She didn’t. She didn’t take any fucking precautions.
“You’re not my dad, Ty. You don’t get to try and control my every move,” she snaps at me and my jaw drops.
That little shit.
“I’m not your dad, but Iamyour Daddy and it’smyjob to make sure you’re safe.” I point a finger at her, stepping so close my finger pushes against her sternum. “And you seem to be hell-fucking-bent on making my job as difficult as humanly possible.”
Roxie’s head tilts to the side as she slaps my hand away.
“I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah?” I ask rhetorically, gripping her chin with my thumb and lifting her downcast eyes so I can see her eyes, making her stare at me as she lies. “That’s not being called into question, baby, but what I am now wondering iswhyyou’re pushing against me so much.”
Her eyes widen just slightly before she narrows them.
“I just don’t need you to come in here, criticising me before I’ve had any fucking caffeine.”
“Hmm,” I narrow my eyes as I watch her squirm slightly.She’s lying.
Why?
“What?” She raises her eyebrows, daring me to call her out.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She turns to walk away, but as she does, I grab her hand to keep her near me, and see it.
Her knuckles are red and bruised.
“What is this from?” I ask, my tone soft in a false sense of calm.
