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een my legs. “Brad, this is my…ummm…well…I sort of live with him.”
He raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms over his chest, his posture and gaze full of judgment. “Seems a little young to be your dad.”
“He’s not.”
“Brother?”
I shake my head. “No,” I say softly.
“Cousin? Uncle? Some sort of family member?”
“We’re not…related. I don’t…have a ton of family.”
“Yes, you do.” Cal’s voice is smooth and he pins me with a look. You have family. What do you call Aria and Henry and Margie?
“I just mean…ummm my parents died when I was younger and Cal took me in.”
“Just some random guy?” Brad stares at me and shifts his gaze to Cal in an accusing way.
“God, Brad, shut up!” Sasha glares at him. She looks at Mike, who is privy to my past, much like most people in our town, making me believe that Brad didn’t grow up here because everyone in the state of Oregon knows about the Shaw homicide-suicide. “Babe!”
“Yeah, cool it, B.” Mike nudges his arm. “He’s good,” he says pointing at Cal.
“Fine, well we’re going to have our date now? I don’t really know why you’re here.” His hand reaches for me, in an attempt to pull me away from Cal, but I keep my feet firmly planted in place and pull out of his grip. A flash of hurt but also anger moves through his eyes and I find myself taking a step back and closer to Cal.
He must sense my apprehension because he takes a step closer to Brad and somewhat in front of me. “I’m here because no one takes Madeline out without meeting me first. She knows the rule and so does Miss Parker, who I’m sure was hoping could get her out of the house while I was MIA.” He shoots a look at Sasha and she rolls her eyes.
“Come on, CG, I need you to relax. Our girl is almost eighteen, you can’t baby her forever.”
“Watch me.” He glares at Sasha, and I have to give her credit, she doesn’t back down, holding his gaze for far longer than most. She rolls her eyes and turns to me. “Can you call off your bodyguard please?” She pouts as if to say, please don’t ruin this double date.
“Can I talk to you for a second?” I try my best to sound irritated with him, trying to play the part of the teenager who’s embarrassed, but the truth is I’m irritated with everyone but Cal. He’d come for me when I wanted him to and is offering me the out I desperately want to take.
He doesn’t touch me as we make our way outside and all I want to do is jump into his arms and wrap my legs around him. “Hi.”
“Hey.” He smiles and it reaches his eyes making me wonder if he’s really not angry with me.
“You’re not mad at me?”
He shakes his head. “No.” He takes a step towards me and I feel him all around me. “I’m sorry I missed your show.”
I shake my head. “I understand.”
He touches my chin softly. “I hate when I can’t be there.”
“You’re always there. You’re everywhere.” I bite my bottom lip. “Thank you for coming.”
His thumb rubs my lip and dips slowly into my mouth. “Do you want to be here?”
I shake my head slowly and let my tongue run over it. “I think you know where I want to be.”
“I figured I would ask…”
“In case I was lying about my feelings for you?”
“He’s your age and not so complicated and…” Fear grips my heart, hearing his words, and I shake my head.
“Not you.”
