“Not that it’s any excuse for the way she’s treated you, but do you think that’s why she changed? Maybe she’s mad she didn’t get more.”
“I wouldn’t put it passed her,” she simply said.
Who could do that to their own daughter? Purposefully have no food in the house and leave no money for her to eat. She had to be wondering how her daughter was still functioning to live on the few scraps of food she did at her house.
“From now on you’re coming to dinner every night at my house.”
“I can’t do that. Won’t your parents wonder why I’m there?”
“No, I’ll tell them the reason and they ask me why you weren’t eating dinner with us sooner.” It was true. They be appalled to learn of the way Harley’s mom treated her and she was right next door this whole time.
“I can’t,” she cried before burying her head in the crook of my neck.
“If you don’t come over, I’ll either bring the food to you or drag your ass over to my house. Either way, I’m going to make sure you eat. I could not live with myself knowing your sitting over there starving.” I dipped my head and rested it against the top of hers. “This is why you weren’t running the last couple of days, isn’t it? You didn’t even have the energy to do the one thing that helps you escape.”
My skin heated at the thought of Harley’s only escape being taken away from her. The simmering blood in my body was now boiling, and close to flowing over. It was next to impossible to keep myself from raging, but I knew nothing good would come of it and Harley would likely never open up to me again. Plus, her mom wasn’t home. I’d seen the car leave. That’s why I thought Harley was gone as well.
“I don’t know why I told you all of that.” She moved to push herself off me and I knew she was getting ready to shut down. I couldn’t let that happen. Not now.
“Stop trying to push me away. If you don’t want to talk anymore fine, but I’m not going to let you run away from me.” Not when I knew I was the only person she had even as unwilling as she was to admit that.
“You’re a stubborn jackass,” she huffed, but stopped fighting me and settle back in my lap.
“Maybe, but so are you. You’ve got too much pride to ask for help when you’re absolutely miserable and need it.”
She knew I was right, but didn’t admit it. Instead, she swiveled herself in my lap until she was facing the water. At least, she had this place that gave her solace. I only hoped one day, I could be that for her as well.
8
HARLEY
How Slade broke through all of my defenses I had no idea, but he had. Each morning after that night, he was waiting with a breakfast burrito in hand, and forcing me over to his house every night for dinner. It was awkward the first time I met his parents, but they treated me like a long-lost friend. To say I was grateful was an understatement. For the first time in almost a year I’m getting three meals a day. And when Slade’s parents found out I was a vegetarian they made sure to have not put the meatballs in the spaghetti or other little things like that.
They’re making my decision to leave in a few weeks difficult.
Then there was Slade. My dark knight who watched me from the shadows as I ran each night. I wasn’t running so much to forget so much now, but to enjoy the freedom the beach and ocean provided. And I liked having Slade sit beside me as we silently stared out at the ocean instead of all the prying and glaring eyes that were focused on us while at school. I still tried to keep our time at school to a minimum. We sat by each other during our one class and ate lunch together. No walking through the halls to make the girls hate me more than they already did.
“What are you thinking about?” His deep voice was little more than a whisper on the wind.
I didn’t bother to look at him as I spoke. I wasn’t sure if I’d have the nerve if I was looking into those murky green eyes of his.
“That I think I like you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him reel back and then circle his arms over his one bent knee. I could feel him drilling a hole in the side of my face before he ever spoke. “Well, I know I like you.”
As much as I didn’t want to, I couldn’t stop my lips from tipping up at the corners. “I mean it’s obvious from the way you stalk me.”
He chuckled with a slight shake of his head. “No, really, what were you thinking about?”
Wanting him to know I meant the words I was about to speak, but unable to look at him, I shuffled closer and rested my head against his shoulder. “That I’m thankful you and your family took me in, and I’m going to miss you when I leave.”
“You do know you don’t have to leave. The school year is almost over. Why not finish up? Have you even decided where you’re going to go once you leave?”
“No,” I mumbled. All I knew was I wanted out from under my mom. Once I turned eighteen, I’d have the money to go to school or live wherever I wanted. The only problem with that was I’d be alone wherever I went.
“Stay,” he sighed. His hot breath fanned the hairs around my face. “It’s not like once you turn eighteen, I’ll stop feeding you.”
He didn’t even know how much my life could or would change. I would want for nothing except to have my father back.
