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I walk into the hall and push open the cracked door to see her scrubbing down the sink. “We have water, but no power.” There’s a small window in the bathroom, but the sun is starting to go down.
“I bought a few candles when I was picking up cleaning supplies. What did your dad say?”
I take a step toward her and pull her against me. “He won’t support our decision. That also means he won’t help us either. We’re on our own.” I lean my forehead against hers and close my eyes.
“We’re on our own,” she repeats.
I run across town and grab us a pizza for dinner. When I get back, Alissa has the blankets and pillows thrown out on the floor in front of the fireplace with a fire going. Dozens of candles burn everywhere, casting a light glow around the room. I take a seat next to her on the blanket and open the box, offering her the first slice.
“Thank you,” she says, taking a piece of pizza.
We sit and watch the fire while eating quietly.
“Dane, can I ask you something?”
I can feel her eyes on me, but I don’t look away from the raging fire. “Shoot.”
“Are you regretting this?”
When her voice crack with nerves, I finally look over at her. “Regretting what?”
“All of this.” She looks around, eyes flashing in every direction. “Me, this house, the proposal?”
My brows pull together. “No, why would you ask me that?”
She shrugs one shoulder. “Since you came back from talking to your dad, you just seemed sad. I don’t want to be the reason you’re sad. If you want, I can go back home, and so can you. We can pretend this day never happened.” I love that she wants to make me feel better, but we both know what we did today can’t be undone. She can’t go back home, and I can’t un-buy a house.
I drop my slice of pizza into the box and lay her back, moving my body on top of hers. “I don’t ever want to hear you say that again, you got it? You’re not going back to that house. I want to live here with you. I want to marry you. I don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks.”
“Not even your dad?” she asks, looking up at me.
“Not even my dad. I know what we’re doing is right. I’ll do whatever I need to do to keep you here with me, where I know you’re safe.” I move my lips to hers and kiss her soft and slow.
I don’t care if my dad isn’t on board with the way I’m living my life. I don’t care that I’m going to have to work overtime to pay for this house and all the bills that will pile up. The only thing I care about is Alissa and having her by my side every day, where I know she’s safe.
* * *
I wakewith the bright morning sun shining in the window. The birds outside are chirping, making me feel like I’m in a cartoon where everything will be okay. But I’m still not so sure.
During my lunch hour, I try calling the electric company to get the power turned on at the house, but because I’m only seventeen, they won’t even talk to me. I don’t want to tell Alissa I’m already failing in providing for her, so I tell her they’ll be out sometime this week. I don’t want to lie, but I know I’ll find a way to make it happen.
When school ends, I drop Alissa off at the house to get some work done, and I head to the grill for my afternoon shift, if I still have one.
The front door opens when I push it. As I look around, I’m surprised. Nothing has changed, but for some reason, I almost expected it to. Turning, I walk back to the office and find my dad sitting in his chair behind the desk.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, looking up at me.
“I’m supposed to have a shift this afternoon. Unless I’m fired.” I fall into the chair across from him.
He looks me in the eye. “Do you think you should be fired?”
“No. I moved out. It’s not that big of a deal.”
He sits up, resting his elbows on his desk. “It is a big deal, Dane. What’s going to happen if you two break up? I can’t pay for your house. I have my own house to take care of. Not to mention, running two businesses.”
“We’re not going to break up, Dad. We’re getting married.”
He scoffs and shakes his head. “You’re not the first seventeen-year-old kid to think his relationship is going to last forever. Guess what? People change. Neither of you are mature enough or responsible enough to take all this on right now.”
