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Her father usually wasn’t this distant. Not once she had his attention, anyway. “Dad. Yes. I’m not mad.”
He sat on the edge of the bed. “I know you’re growing up, Layne, and I know you’re going to be interested in boys. I wish your mother ”
“Stand up. I changed my mind.”
He smiled, but it was grim. “You’re under a lot of stress,” he said. “If it’s too much, I want you to talk to me. We can find ”
“We’re all under a lot of stress, Dad.” She gave him a dark look. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t flinch from the look, but then again, he sat across a table from alleged murderers every other day. “I know what high school boys are like, Layne. I don’t want you getting hurt because you’re looking for an outlet.”
Her eyebrows went way up. “An outlet? ”
“I know you know what I mean.”
Her cheeks were hot again. “Gabriel Merrick isn’t going to hurt me, Dad. He’s a dumb jock who can’t pass math. He’s not interested in me.” She rolled her eyes. “And I’m not looking for an outlet.”
“You sure? Because he’s the first boy you’ve ever brought home.” He gave her a very level look, his voice taking on the first shadow of anger. “And I find it interesting that you went for someone older, someone who acts like a future felon, not two weeks after ”
“To study, ” she snapped. “He gave us a ride because we missed the late bus.”
“If he came over to study, I would have found you in the kitchen.”
She folded her arms across her chest, but before she could say anything else, he put a hand on her shoulder.
His voice was gentler. “Layne, I’m not accusing you of anything.”
“Sounds like it.”
“I just want you to be safe. I know you’ve been dealing with a lot.” He paused. “I’m sorry I haven’t been home much lately.”
She looked up at him, feeling a flash of guilt. “It’s not your fault. We all have to do our part.”
He took her face in his hands and kissed her on the forehead.
“Thanks for taking on so much.”
She nodded.
He stood and moved toward the doorway. She slid back under the covers.
But then he stopped before closing the door. “Layne?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t bring him over here when I’m not home.”
Like there was much chance of that. But still. Anger made her sit straight up again. “You don’t trust me?”
He laughed like she’d said something truly funny. “Oh, Layne, I trust you plenty. Good night, sweetheart.”
Then he shut the door.
And all she could think about was Gabriel Merrick.
About how much she wanted to hit him. Really hard. Right where it would count.
But worse, about how much she’d liked, just for an instant, the way his arms felt when he’d caught her in the hallway.
