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I laughed. Dad had officially lost his marbles. I was a game to Seth—nothing more.
Dad rolled his eyes at me as if I were the dumb, clueless one in the room. “It’s the way he looks at you. I look at your mother the same way.”
I shrugged and looked away, not believing him for a moment, though my heart couldn’t help but hope. Dad and Mom had gotten together in high school. Their story hadn’t been an easy one. In fact, it’s the most fucked-up love story I’ve ever heard, but they truly did love each other.
But that wasn’t me and Seth. I knew from the get-go that getting involved with Seth was a bad idea, but I couldn’t help myself.
And now, look at me.
Dad gently shook my knee after he lifted me onto the counter. “I think it’s cute.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. He laughed and leaned against the counter next to me, crossing his arms over his chest. “Your mother and I are having some friends over today for a bonfire. Trent’s taking you and Gemma out to that old field near the back of the property so all of you can have some fun away from the adults.”
My mom rushed into the room, her eyes alarmed. Dad instantly stood up straighter, moving toward her before she even began to speak. “Bailey, Ian, come here.”
We followed her to the bathroom. “Did you know about these, Bailey?” Mom asked me, showing me Seth’s cut-up arms.
I swallowed thickly and slowly nodded my head. “Yeah. I knew,” I said quietly. “That was the first reason we skipped school. His wrist was bleeding,” I informed them. “I didn’t know what else to do, and Trent—” My throat closed up with tears, preventing me from speaking further.
Understanding lit up both of my parents’ eyes. Dad wrapped an arm around my shoulder, giving it a gentle, understanding squeeze.
They knew how bad it had fucked with me to see my brother unconscious with all of that blood on him and around him.
He’d almost died that day.
Seth jumped down from the counter, pulling his shirt back on over his head, hiding his bruises before I could really look at them, but I saw enough.
It made me sick to my stomach to know his own dad had done this to him. He was discolored all over. I had no idea how he wasn’t groaning every time he moved.
Seth flashed me a grin, as if everything was okay in the world as he walked toward me. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head before slipping out of the bathroom, pulling his phone from his pocket.
Dad looked down at me. “I’m telling you.”
I shot him a scowl. “Telling me what?” I asked him.
“Kitchen conversation,” he said with a shrug. “Kid’s got it bad for you.”
He walked out of the bathroom as Mom laughed. I glared at my dad’s back. “What you said is not true,” I called after him. “There’s no way.”
Dad waved me off. I clenched my jaw. “Whatever you say, Bailey.”
Dad went back into the kitchen. Seth came into the house as I walked down the hall. “Everything okay?” I asked him, honestly worried.
He just smirked. My heart skipped a beat. “It is now that I’ve seen your pretty face.”
My cheeks darkened at his words.
Dear God, please help me.
