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As soon as the car stops, my mom whips the passenger door open and gets out, slamming it behind her. I wince, my hands between my knees, my body tensing from the sound.
My dad emits a long sigh, turning around in the seat to look at me. “Listen, Kenz, I know I was angrier than you’ve ever seen me. But this whole situation is shitty. I’m pissed that Detective Barnes and the security guard pressed charges against Chase. Your mom didn’t help matters in the office.” He blows out a breath before his words rush out. “I walk into the school to find you and your mom at each other’s throats?—”
“That’s because I started following Chase and the officers, but mom stepped in front of me and stopped me. I was so pissed when she said, ‘It’s better this way. Chase needs to be held accountable.’ Dad, that’s bullshit. Chase was defendingme. But no one wants to hear it.” Frustrated tears well in my eyes, burning my cheeks as they fall.
“Sweetie, the police wouldn’t have let you go with Chase. I know this situation is distressing, but to help him, we need to play by the rules.” Dad blows out a breath. “I wanna hear what happened. Before we go inside, will you tell me?” He opens the center console, digging around until he finds a pack of tissues. Shutting the console, he opens it and hands it to me.
I give him a watery smile, pulling one out and wiping my face. “I know I was behaving irrationally, trying to follow Chase and the officers. But I couldn’t help it. I-I…” Tears stream down my face. The lump prevents me from speaking.
My dad jumps out of the vehicle, opens the door, and crawls in beside me. Wrapping his arms around me, he holds me as I sob, my heart breaking over and over as the image of Chase being led out of there in handcuffs plays like a song on repeat inside my head.
Stroking my arm, my dad doesn’t say anything for a while. Finally, he says, “I know you’re worried about Chase, sweetheart.”
Shaking my head, I sit up, grabbing another tissue from the pack. “You don’t understand.” Blowing my nose, I compose myself slightly before saying, “The handcuffs. They are going to remind him of captivity.”
My dad nods. “I understand that. I’m going to the jail to see him soon and?—”
“Honey, they aren’t going to let you see Chase. Plus, you know your mom isn’t gonna like it.”
Like a volcano, I explode. “She doesn’t like anything about Chase and me. Bitterness creeps from every word I utter. “I just need to know he’s okay.”
“I understand, Kenz. I will update you once I see him, okay?” Pushing a lock of hair from my face, my dad says, “Tell me what happened.”
This could help Chase. Pull your shit together, Kenz.
Exhaling a breath, I tell him exactly what transpired. Every ugly detail of my panic attack, including that I was back in that attic, fearing I was going to be sexually assaulted again. My dad winces, his expression angry and ill. I know he’d like to find Orpheus’s charred remains, beat them into dust, and then light them on fire again.
I also tell him about Alex grabbing me and what he said, pissing off his father and Jeff.
When I’m finished, my dad is pissed. He stares out the window, fuming, before he regains his composure. “Look, Kenz, I understand you standing up against your mom. The things you said to her... Well, I'm sure she didn’t like them because it was truthful. She has been using Chase as a substitute for Gavin. I cautioned her about it, which escalated into me telling her Chase was not Gavin, and finally, I told her she needed to seek counseling for her behavior. Obviously, she hasn’t listened.” He looks so frustrated, my heart goes out to him. “But that wasn’t the time or place for the two of you to go to war. Not only did Detective Barnes and his family hear it, but so did Principal Martin’s office. Then they saw her striking you.” He shakes his head, anger coloring his face. “Idon’tcondone her hitting you.”
I nod. “I agree with you, Dad. It was poor judgment on my part. But I was so worried about Chase, and I couldn’t hold my tongue when she said that shit to me.” My hands shake, and soon, my entire body joins in. “W-What’s gonna h-happen to C-Chase, d-daddy?”
With a worried look on his face, he shakes his head. “I’m not sure. But I really should go to the station. I know Chase is eighteen, but he’s still in high school. He’s gonna need me there.”
“Promise you’ll update me about him?”
“Of course.”
“Before we go in, thank you for everything. Especially…” My hands flutter, not entirely sure how to say it. “Well, you know I have feelings for Chase. I’m sure it’s been awkward for you and yet, you’ve been pretty cool about it.”
My dad has a look of awe on his face. “Thank you, Kenz. I appreciate that. You’ve grown into such a strong, capable young woman.”
“Thanks. I had some help though. While it was hell what we endured, it helped me grow. Course, Chase was also a big part of my growth.”
My dad nods. “I hate thinking about what those crazy bastards did. What you went through…” Anger and pain cloud his face. “But I can’t change what happened. I will say, as far as you and Chase, it made me uncomfortable at first. He lived in our house, with you, and we were fostering him. I kept hoping it would fizzle out. Instead, it grew stronger.” He runs a hand through his hair, a sigh coming from him. “Let’s focus on one positive thing before we go inside. Chase mentioned he got you to drive your new car recently… I’m proud of you for that, Kenz. That’s huge.”
I smile at him, squeezing his hand. “Thanks.”
“The two of you bring out the best in one another. I know you genuinely love him and he loves you. If we weren’t fostering him, no one would bat an eye over you dating. But know that people in this town, like Alex, won’t be accepting of your relationship with him.”
“Trust me. I know.” I roll my eyes. “But I don’t care. They don’t know how we feel. And I… I can’t give him up, Dad.”
“I know, Kenz. I’m not asking you to. I’m just imparting that warning to prepare you.” He releases a long sigh, his gaze moving to the closed door between the house and garage. “How about we go inside?”
I sigh. “Time to face the music.”
He pats my shoulder. “Yes, it is.”
