Chapter 28 Dreading It
Gracie
Ryland and I are on our way home. I dread it. My father will be so mad because I have barely been home the last couple of days, meaning I haven’t been there to clean and cook his meals like the slave he thinks I am. I have not been there for him to take his anger out on. I am sure he won’t think twice about making up for the last couple of days.
“Gracie, do you want to come to mine? I don’t want you going home and being alone with him.” Ryland sighs.
I shake my head. “I need to go home. The longer I am away, the worse it will be.”
Ryland has not let go of my hand since we got into the car. I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that I told him everything I did. I have never told anyone. After knowing him for only a short time, I shared my entire life story with him. There has been something that has been bonding me to him since day one, and after this, I can see that more clearly. I have a trust in him that I have never had in anyone. It scares me, but there must be a reason for it all.
“I know. I am right next door if you need me,” he says, lifting my hand to his lips and kissing my knuckles.
I lean over and kiss his cheek. “I know you are. Thank you.”
I rest my head on his shoulder as we drive. He slips his hand out of mine, only for a moment, to wrap it around my shoulder. I take his hand back in mine and connect our fingers again. I fell asleep for a couple of hours after our talk, but I am still exhausted. It was an emotional morning.
“Will you manage to get back out later?”
“Yes, if he is drunk enough, he will crash out. If not, I will climb out of my window. Why?”
“I thought maybe we could hang out or something?” he suggests.
I nod. “Yes, I would like that.”
I am all in for any reason that gets me out of the house. Maybe we can see what Lola and Ben are doing. It will keep my mind off things, plus Ryland and I won’t need to talk about what is happening because neither of them knows, and they never will.
I love Lola, she is my best friend, but I can’t tell her the truth. She is always bright, bubbly, and happy. I don’t want to take any of that away from her by telling her what is going on in my life. I know she would be there for me, probably wanting to kill my father, but I can’t do that to her. I don’t need her getting sad or mad. Maybe one day I will tell her when I am away from this place, away from my father.
A silence fills the car. Ryland is concentrating on the road while I am lost in my thoughts. I close my eyes, trying to think of good things. I am trying to cleanse my mind of all the bad stuff. I have thought about it all way too much over the last few days. Life isn’t perfect; it is nowhere near perfect, but I don’t want that to consume me. If I do, he wins, and I refuse to let that happen.
“We should go bowling.” My sudden suggestion breaks the silence.
“I have not been bowling in years, we should do that.”
“Yay! We can see if Lola and Ben want to come, well, if we can pull them away from “doing” other things.” I laugh.
“We can try, but I don’t know if it will be possible.” He chuckles.
“I will text her and ask.” I smile.
I take my cell out and text her.
Hey! Do you and Ben want to come bowling with Ryland and me later? Well, if you can keep your hands off each other for a few hours, ha-ha xx
I wait for a response, and a text comes through quickly.
Hey! Yes, sounds good. You and Ryland? Are you two like dating or something now? x
Yay! And no, we are not dating lol x
Hmm, you sure? You two seem to be spending a lot of time together. Have you at least kissed? X
I laugh and shake my head. My best friend is too nosy for her own good.
I will see you later, then we can talk. Will we get you at your house or Ben’s, or shall we meet you there? x
Fine! Don’t tell me, ha-ha. We can meet you there, what time? x
7 p.m.? x
Okay. See you then. Love you x
Love you too x
I smile and put my cell away, and let Ryland know what our plan is. It will be good for us all to hang out and act like the teenagers we are.