The damage is already done.
In a weird way, maybe this was the exact closure I needed.
Now I just have to sign those papers that Hayes and I both keep forgetting and losing track of, and convince Demetria to stay here. Yet another thing I can’t explain… the way it gives me comfort that even though I can’t keep him, she’ll have him.
Now I just have to get her to talk to me.
As I put the car into park behind the building, I turn my gaze to my beautiful darling girl. “Did I do something to piss you off again? Is that why I’m getting the silent treatment?”
She whips her head back to me and I’m taken aback at the sight of her bloodshot eyes and wet cheeks. Her hand swipes at her face and her lip quivers the tiniest amount as she says, “No, Raegan. You didn’t piss me off. I just don’t know what to say.”
I turn the car off and step out, rounding the hood until I’m at her door. She doesn’t budge when I open it. “Demetria, get out of the car.”
“I’ll be fine. Just do what you have to do and I’ll wait for you in my car. It’s the same shitty one I’ve always driven.” She tilts her head toward the other side of the parking lot. “It’s right over there. Can’t miss it.”
Oh, hell no.
I lean down and unbuckle her belt, then pull her from the seat by her arms. “If you want to act like a petulant child, Demetria, Iwilltreat you like one. Don’t give me that ‘fine’ bullshit.” Grabbing her hand tightly in my own, I click the key fob, lock it, and pull her toward the employee entrance. “I need to get Hayes’ keys to Roxie, whoever the hell that is, and you’re going to walk with me and talk. Got it?”
If I were to gather a guess as to what this is all about, I’d say she doesn’t actuallywantto leave him. Spoiler: she doesn’t have to.
“Fine.” It’s her only response and I know what she’s doing. Intentionally being bratty when she doesn’t want to talk about her fucking feelings. Well, I’m not having it.
I don’t react to her bait as I pull her through the door with a huff. Okay, maybe I’m reacting a little bit.
We pause just inside the door. “Talk.”
She averts her eyes and chews on her lip. I grab her chin with my hand and redirect her attention back on mine. “I said… talk. What’s going on? Is this about your decision to go home?”
Her face pulls against my hand in a poor attempt at regaining control. She can’t fucking have it. I gave her space in the car and I gave her a chance to talk to me willingly. She declined, so now she’s going to do things my way.
“Look at me,” I order and it takes her a minute but she finally obeys. Softening my tone, I say, “Good girl. Tell me what’s going on with you?”
With her eyes laser-focused on mine, her tears begin to fall. “Ihaveto go home, Raegan.”
“Why?” I whisper.
“You two will never figure your own shit out if I’m here getting in your way. It’s better this way.” Her voice trails off with her words as tears continue to fall. “Besides, my dad has been texting me non-stop since about a week after I got here. I don’t know what he wants, but I can’t avoid him forever.”
My eyes search hers for whatever I’m missing. There’s something else she’s not telling me. “What about how they treated you? How can you go back to them?”
“Raegan… you’re the one who taught me I don’t have to be defined by my past. Even if nothing good comes of it, at least I’ll know and I’ll be able to say I did my part.”
My hand relaxes but I can’t move it from her face. I need to keep touching her.
“Demetria–”
“I forgive you.” The three words I never thought I’d hear her say, spill out rushed like if she didn’t say them fast, she wouldn’t be able to say them at all. “If I can do that… I can forgive my parents. Not for them… but for me.”
My beautiful girl has come so fucking far.
A lone tear of my own runs down my cheek and before I can stop myself, I’m cradling her face with my hands and crushing my lips against hers. She melts into me and I reach down to grab her ass with both hands and hoist her up until her legs are wrapped around my waist.
Our tongues tangle as I move us effortlessly through the bar area. Thankfully, it’s closed and aside from the couple of employees Hayes said would be here, I don’t have to worry about other people witnessing what I’m about to do with her. If someone does walk in on us, I guess I’ll have to cross that bridge if we get there.
I stop when my hands are met with the hard edge of what I’m sure is a table. Dropping her ass onto the shiny surface, she jolts. “Fuck, that’s cold.”
“You’ll get used to it,” I assure her. “Lay back.”
