Chapter 24 Anywhere Is Better Than Home
Gracie
Ryland and have been sitting in the diner for the last couple of hours. We finished our meals over an hour ago. Neither of us seems to be in any rush to leave, so we ordered milkshakes and desserts, too.
"Gracie, do you want to go home?" he asks.
I shake my head and sigh. "No, not really."
I want to stay away from home as long as I can. I am safer this way, especially with how drunk I know my dad will be when I do return.
"Do you want to stay here tonight? We can book into the motel?"
I am not sure I want to spend another night with him. Then again, last night was not bad at all.
My eyes divert down, and I blush. "Yes."
"Okay, we can go by, and hopefully they will have a room for us." He smiles.
I return the smiles. "Sounds good."
My dad won't even care if I don't come home. Tomorrow, I know he will be mad because the house is still a mess. I can deal with that when the time comes.
"Well, let's finish up, pay, and we can head over."
We finish off what we have left. I go to give Ryland money for my half, but he doesn't take it; he insists he will pay for it, much to my dismay. I am in no mood to argue with him on it tonight. The motel is within walking distance of where we are, which is handy. Ryland texts his mom to tell her he won't be home tonight. He keeps me close to his side, and we head over. I am thankful since strange places make me anxious.
We stroll inside. "Hello, I am wondering if you have a free room? Preferably with two single beds?" Ryland asks.
The receptionist nods and smiles, checking Ryland out. "I will check for you."
She doesn't seem much older than us. She is very pretty and is obviously attracted to Ryland. That doesn't surprise me; most girls are.
"Sorry, we only have a double room left." She says, looking up from the screen.
"Then we will take one of those." He replies.
She gets us checked in and takes the payment. Ryland pays for that, too, refusing my offer to do so. Why won't he let me pay for anything? It is rather annoying. I do have money. He is too stubborn for his own good. We take the key cards and head to our room. It isn't too bad, the room. It has a bed, a bathroom and a TV. It is clean, which is most important. It is all we need for one night.
There is one problem: what the hell am I going to sleep in? It won't be comfortable to sleep in my clothes. At the same time, I can't take any of them off and sleep in my underwear. I wouldn't feel comfortable with that around Ryland. He would see the scars and cuts that I always hide. It looks like I will be sleeping in my clothes.
"Do you want to hang out in here or go for a walk around?" he asks.
It is not even nine. A little early for sleeping.
"We can go for a walk around. I want to try to find a store or something so we can get juice and snacks."
"Good idea. I am a growing boy. I will be hungry again in an hour," he chuckles.
I laugh, shaking my head. I will get hungry later, too.
"Come on then, we can't have you starving."
Rylan flashes a dorky smile at me before he places his hand on the small of my back as we head out. There will be somewhere we need to find it. Ryland moves his hand from the small of my back and slips his hand into mine. Why does he keep doing that? I never try to pull away. It has become a comfort to me.
"Does it bother you when I do this?" he asks, nodding to our hands.
I shake my head. "No. I don't mind."
"Okay. I just wanted to make sure you were okay with it." He smiles and squeezes my hand.
He doesn't need to know that it comforts me. I rest my head against his shoulder.
"Are you okay, Gracie?"
I glance up at him. "Yes, I am fine."
I am fine. I am not lying. I don't have anything on my mind to worry about, even just for one night. I can forget about the life I live every day.
"Will you need to let your dad know?"
I scoff, not on purpose, it just comes out. "No, he won't notice or care."
Ryland sighs and squeezes my hand. "I am sorry, Gracie, that he isn't a good man."
I shrug and change the topic of conversation. I don't want to talk any further about him.