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There’s no way I could even try to sleep with May in the next room, let alone have Steve around.
I thought things would go slower, easier…Hell, I dunno what I thought was gonna happen.
I staked my claim on May, and that’s good enough for me right now.
“I thought you’d be happy at the news, Dad,” May pipes in, doing her best to break the sudden and silent tension.
It’s like Steve’s been doing his best to put on a cheerful mood since his welcome this morning, but my news seems to have undone all that.
And we haven’t even got to the really good news. About May and me.
I wasn’t expecting this all to be a walk in the park, but damn, if it isn’t starting to look like a shitfest already.
“And I supposeyoualready knew Brandon was back for good, right?” Steve asks May in an accusing tone.
It’s not what he says but the way he says it that gets my back up instantly.
Her dad or not, nobody fucking speaks to May like that.
Not ever.
“Yo, Steve,” I growl, feeling my hand ball up under the table, my jaw grinding shut.
“Take it easy, will ya,” I tell him firmly, but it’s too late.
May’s lip quivers, and not even able to look me in the eye, she excuses herself from the table and rushes to the restrooms.
“Nice one, Brandon,” Steve snarls, gripping my arm when I move to follow her to make sure she’s okay.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he snaps. “I think you’ve said and done enough for one day, don’t you?” he asks bitterly.
“I dunno what the hell it is between you two. Ever since that damned graduation, May’s been acting all weird every time you pop up…but it ends now,” he growls with a tone of finality.
The waiter quickly appears after Steve takes off after May instead of me, and I signal him for the check.
“I think we’re done here,” I explain, paying the bill before May and her dad come back to the table.
I’m already standing, ready to leave. But May’s red-lidded, tear-stained eyes stop me from walking out of here without her.
“I think it’s been a long day, and we’d all be better off just going home,” Steve announces, putting his arm around May and brushing past me as he moves to go.
“Brandon?” May sniffs, turning to face me, signaling me to follow.
I growl low in my throat, and my whole body is still tense as I walk behind them back to the car. I figure it’s best if I just keep my mouth shut.
If only for May’s sake.
After a painfully long and silent ride, as we turn into May’s street, I ask Steve to stop out front of the house next door.
My new place.
“I’ll pick up my bags later,” I tell Steve, and moving to get out of the car, he asks me what the hell I’m talking about.
“This is me,” I tell him, leaning in the passenger side before I close it, thumbing to the house behind me.
Ididbuy the house next door, and before turning to go inside my new place, I shoot May a look with a wink that I pray she understands.
I don’t want her spending another night without me, and at this point, I really couldn’t care less if her dad finds out about us or not.
