She responds, "I should probably go in there and explain. You guys can head back. I'll find a ride home."
The driver rolls up the window and starts backing out of the driveway. I watch as Clover takes Blake's hand in hers and they make their way toward me. I'm trying my best to remain calm. Whatever happened obviously has Clover feeling some sort of way, and I don't want my stress to make things worse, since I have no clue what's going on.
I silently let the girls pass me and enter the house. Blake flashes me an apologetic smile, but Clover doesn't look up at me. I can't help but run my hand over her head. Maybe that's the wrong thing to do, but I can't help checking to make sure she's real and not just a figment of my imagination. She doesn't stop or even slow down. She follows Blake into the house, hand in hand.
The girls take a seat on the couch, whispering back and forth, and I sit in the chair next to the couch to give them some space. I want to bark questions at them and demandanswers, but I somehow manage to keep my lips pressed tight. It's agony, but I need to practice my patience right now more than ever.
"Clover, would you like to tell your dad what happened tonight?" I've never heard Blake's voice so soft and sweet. It doesn't suit her, yet I find it endearing.
Clover shakes her head, but she finally makes eye contact with me. Tears fill her eyes, and my heart starts to break all over again.
"You can tell me, Lovie."
"I don't want you to get mad."
"Oh, sweetie, I'm not mad at you. I was just really worried about you."
"Not at me..."
I look to Blake for an explanation.
She shakes her head. "Not me, either."
"Who?" My question is directed at Clover.
"Auntie Jade."
My blood starts to boil, and it takes everything I have to not let it show. "What about Jade?"
Clover leans over and whispers to Blake, "Can you just tell him?"
Blake whispers back, "Are you sure you want me to tell him. I think he'd rather hear it from you."
"Please..."
Blake continues to hold Clover's hand. I want to reach out and grab both of them, but I don't.
"I was out tonight with some friends when I got a call from Clover. She asked me to come pick her up at Jade's place. She said she was scared."
I look to Clover for confirmation, and she nods beforeBlake continues.
"It looks like after Clover went to bed, Jade invited some people over for a party, and it got a bit out of hand."
Out of nowhere, Clover speaks up, apparently having a lot to say now. "There was loud music and a lot of people talking and yelling. I woke up to get a glass of water, but I was too scared to go downstairs. I didn't know anybody there. I tried to call Raina and Winnie, but they didn't answer, so I called B." Her confession continues to spill out as if she can't contain it anymore. "She told me to lock myself in my room, so I did. I waited for her to get there, but there was this guy banging on my door, trying to get in."
My stomach drops, and I feel like I'm going to explode. "Did he?—"
"No." Blake cuts me off and answers for her. "Nobody was able to get in. Bear and I got there within 20 minutes and got her out of there."
A million questions are on the tip of my tongue, but only one can come out at a time. "Clover, why didn't you callme?"
"I didn't want you to be mad at Auntie Jade. You just started letting us hang out, and I didn't want this to get her in trouble."
This got her inbigfucking trouble all right. But that's not what's important right now. "I'm sorry that you didn't feel comfortable calling me because of how I acted toward Jade. But, Clover, I need you to know that you canalwayscall me when you're in trouble. I don't ever want you to think that my feelings about someone else trump how much I care about you."
She nods, and a few tears fall down her cheek.
"Come here." I open my arms, and Clover walks over, collapsing into me. "I'm so glad you're okay. I got really scared."
