I took the phone, even though I had no desire to speak with my father. “Yes?” I said.
“How do you like your new place?”
“It’s…” I didn’t really know how to describe it. It was lovely. And suffocating. “It’s…cold.”
“Ah, get Miller to turn up the temperature a few degrees.”
That was not at all what I meant. But I didn’t expect my dad to understand. He basically lived in a haunted mausoleum. “Can I speak to Matt now?”
“Angel, try to settle in. We’ll discuss everything again soon, alright? But in the meantime, enjoy yourself.”
“It’s hard to enjoy yourself when you’re a hostage.”
“Do you really feel like you’re a hostage? Look out the window. Your mother loved the beach. I was hoping you loved it too.”
I swallowed hard. God, he wasn’t supposed to have sweet memories of my mom to use against me. “I do love the beach.”
“Ah. I knew it. Have a good long weekend. I’m excited to hear all about your classes on Monday. Goodnight, angel.” He hung up before I could respond.
“Dinner will be ready in about an hour,” Miller said.
I handed him his phone back. There was no point in trying to call Matt. Miller wouldn’t let me. And I wouldn’t want him to even if he would allow it. I wasn’t going to get him hurt again.
“Want to explore a bit? I think your room…”
“Let’s explore outside instead.” I opened up one of the sliding glass doors and walked out onto the deck. I didn’t care what my prison looked like. If it was up to me, I’d be outside the whole time. It had been years since I’d been to the beach now. I walked down into the sand, not caring about my sneakers being filled with sand that would be nearly impossible to get out. I tried to remember the last time I’d been to the beach with my mom. But I couldn’t place it. I hated that. That memories of her faded more with each passing day.
“What are you thinking?” Miller asked as he stepped up beside me to watch the ocean waves.
“That I miss my mom.”
He didn’t say anything. He always had been a good listener. But I could tell from the way that he was staring at me that he felt bad. Like he wished he could take my pain away.
I started walking and he walked beside me. It was comforting to have him here. But it was in the back of my head the whole time that he had to be. He was walking with me because he was supposed to protect me.
I cleared my throat. “My dad sent us here because my mom loved the beach. She and I used to dream of living in a place like this one day.” I looked back toward the house, but we’d walked so far that I couldn’t even see it. “And now that I am? I just feel…claustrophobic.”
“I have a few ideas on how we could fix that.”
“How?”
“Come with me.” He put his hand out.
I slid my hand into his and he pulled me back toward the beach house.
I trusted him. I think that was part of the problem. I trusted Miller with my life. But I didn’t trust my father at all. And I didn’t know whether Miller was more loyal to me or to my dad.
Either way, it felt like my heart was breaking again. I’d always dreamed of walking hand in hand with a boy at the beach. Matt and I had planned to come to the beach on our honeymoon. It was what I was looking forward to the most about all of it. Being Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell snuggled up in the sand.
I gripped Miller’s hand a little tighter and hoped he knew how grateful I was for him. I knew he was here to protect me. Itwasn’t his fault that I didn’t want or need it. I just wanted to be free.
“Crap, I forgot about the food,” Miller said. “It’s probably burning in the oven.” He started jogging on the beach, pulling me with him. His stride was so much longer than mine that I was practically sprinting.
And I couldn’t help but laugh.
I felt free with Miller. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was a fresh start. A new beginning.
***
