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“But what if it does? I’m terrified, Belle.” I could hear the shakiness in her voice, something I’d only heard a couple of times. “You shouldn’t have to be worrying about this. All you should be thinking about are boys, studies, and parties.”
I smirked as Ford pulled up in a parking spot outside the building my first class was in. “In that order?”
“Well, maybe studies, boys, and then parties.”
I tilted my head to the side, glad we weren’t talking about the events that had taken place last night and that my mind was overthinking what had happened after it. “So not parties, boys, and then studies?”
“Hmmm, it’s a tough one, sweetie. I think you need parties before boys so you can meet boys at parties but—”
“The hell you talking about parties for?” Dad’s booming voice came over the line, and I winced, knowing there was no way I was going to get away without speaking to him.
“What? I’m not,” Mom said, her voice high-pitched. “I’m—”
“Who are you talking to?” Dad asked, and he was even closer now.
“Belle.” There was some shuffling and a grunt, and then Mom shouted, “Hey, give me that back!”
“Belle?” Dad asked, and I imagined he’d taken the cell off Mom.
“Hey, Dad.” I looked at Ford, but he was staring out of the windshield, his hands gripping the steering wheel like it was his lifeline.
“You should come home,” Dad ordered, brooking no room for an argument, but I wasn’t going to bow down to him.
“We’ve been through this, Dad.” My head dropped back, and I stared at the ceiling of the car. “There’s only a couple of weeks until spring break. I’ll be fine until then, at least.” I didn’t want to think about how slow the time from now until then would go. I wouldn’t admit to any of them how scared I was because I knew the moment I did, there wouldn’t be any turning back. They’d shoot down my need to stay at college and take over, but that wasn’t what I needed. I needed to feel safe in my own home, and I wasn’t sure if that would ever happen again.
“I don’t like it, baby girl. You’re out there with only Ford and he can’t—”
“He’s doing his job, Dad.” I closed my eyes, and the image of Ford on top of me was the first thing I saw. That wasn’t his job, but damn if I didn’t want to relive it all over again. “Look, I’ve got to go. My class starts in five.”
His frustrated groan rang over the line, and I could imagine the muscle in his jaw ticking. “This conversation isn’t over, Belle.”
I opened my eyes and sat up straighter. “Okay.”
“I’ll call you later.” There was a pause, and then he continued, “Here, let me put your mom back on. She’s giving me a death stare.”
“Damn straight, I am. You’re using your height to best me.” There was a grunt and then a groan, and Mom said, “Serves you right, Brody. Now, what was I saying?”
I chuckled and shook my head. I missed living at home sometimes. “To go to parties and meet lots of boys?” My gaze swerved over to Ford, but I couldn’t look at his face, so concentrated on his knuckles as they turned white on the steering wheel.
“Ah, yes. That’s it.” Mom laughed. “Are you really okay, sweetie? I can come and stay with you; it’s no trouble.”
“Really, Mom, I’m good. Look, I gotta go to class. I’ll call you later?”
“Okay, sweetie. I love you so much.”
“Love you too, Mom.” I waited a beat until I ended the call, and then complete silence surrounded me.
I glanced up at the building my class was in, but not one part of me wanted to walk in there. Someone had tried to get me inside my own home, and I couldn’t help think how much easier it would be in a busy college. Maybe Dad was right. Maybe I should go home. But no, I couldn’t surrender. I just needed some time. I needed some space to think about what had happened and—
Ford started the engine, and I whipped my head around to face him. “What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer me for several seconds, not until he was pulling out of the lot and back on the road. “I’m taking you somewhere,” he gritted out, and I couldn’t tell if he was angry or frustrated.
“But I’ve got class—”
“And there’s no way you’re going to be able to concentrate.” He pulled up at a stoplight and looked at me. His hazel eyes were darker than usual, but it was the small smile he gave me that put me at ease. “Give yourself a day, sweetheart.” He reached out and grasped my hand, and brought it onto his lap. “You need to give yourself time to think everything over.” The light turned green, and he turned his attention back on the road, but he didn’t let go of my hand. “Besides, I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” I asked, relaxing back in the seat and watching him. The farther we got from the college, the more he lowered into his seat and seemed to relax too.
