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What are my parents doing here?
Hero follows my gaze, and out the corner of my eyes, I see his eyebrows draw together. “Who is that?” he questions, not bothering to keep his voice down.
“We are Elyse’s parents,” my dad answers, like he’s some kind of holy crusader.
My palms are sweaty, and my stomach twists into a nervous knot.
“And you are…?” my mom asks Hero, turning her nose up at him in disgust.
Hero doesn’t seem the least bit intimidated or offended as he walks up to my dad. Holding his head high, shoulders squared, he stops in front of him, extending out his hand. “I’m Jonathan Miller, sir. It’s nice to meet you.”
I almost choke on the air in my lungs.
Hero’s hand hovers in midair, my dad making no move to shake it. His facial expression and gesture say everything he’ll never say. My dad thinks he is better than Hero, and by not shaking his hand, he’s ensuring Hero knows it.
The shock I experienced a few moments ago transforms and anger takes center stage. How dare they treat him like he is less. So what if he’s not someone who would be considered suitable in our world. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad person or unworthy of respect.
“Mom, Dad, I wasn’t expecting you to come for a visit,” I snap, somehow finding my voice, the words twisted with anger.
I hate that Hero is meeting them. I never wanted him to meet them.
“Oh, dear, we just wanted to see how things were going. We were hoping you had come to your senses by now and would like to come back home with us.” My mother’s cheerful gaze and words snap me in two.
Anger pours from me.
Hero, who has long since dropped his hand, also changes moods. While we talk, my dad continues glaring at me and Hero with something that looks a whole lot like disgust and disappointment mixed together.
“Things are going great here. Matter of fact, I did come to my senses. I came to my senses the day I decided to go to college, so no, I am not planning on returning home, Mother.” I don’t know who is more surprised by my little outburst: me or my parents. But it sure does earn me a dirty look from them both. I can count on one hand the times I dared to raise my voice toward my parents—all of which ended with me getting a beating and going to bed hungry.
But he can’t do that here, not now. Noticing my dad’s hand twitch, I wait for him to pull out his belt and try to whip me with it. Instead, he just stands there, unmoving. This is the first time in my life I’ve seen my dad hesitant like this.
Looking into his eyes, I see something I’ve never seen in there before.
Fear.
Is he scared of Hero?
Considering the bulging vein on my father’s forehead, I would say he is angry enough to give me the whooping of a lifetime, but he makes no move to do so, which is strange. Without looking or thinking things through, I reach for Hero’s hand. “Can I stay at your place?” I ask, briefly glancing up at him.
I know it’s only stirring the pot and will make them angry, but the last thing I want to do is stay here in this dorm by myself after this encounter. If anything, I want to be closer to Hero, in his arms, wrapped up in his bed sheets.
My parents’ eyes widen to the point where I worry about their eyeballs popping out.
“Of course, baby,” Hero says sweetly, bringing our hands together.
“No, you may not go to his house with him!” my mother snarls, ready to slap me across the face. That’s how it always works—a little discipline and we never ask a question or make a choice again. They beat us to bend at their will, but I’m not under their thumb anymore. I’m not a part of their sick, twisted games anymore.
“That is not your choice.” Hero scowls.
My father takes a step forward, as if he’s going to get in Hero’s face. “You’re not worthy of my daughter. Furthermore, how would your future husband feel about you being with another man?” My father directs his attention back to me.
I hate the way his eyes penetrate mine. He’s trying to intimidate me, and it’s working.
“She’s promised to no one,” Hero butts in once again. The air around him is cool, but his gaze it heated with anger. He wants to slug my father, I’m sure.
“She’s promised to whomever I decide.” My father takes a thunderous step forward and a part of me wonders if Hero will back down. I don’t want Hero to fight with my parents, but it’s inevitable, especially after the way they’ve looked down and acted toward him.
