Chapter 201 Feel For Her

Chapter 201 Feel For Her
\[Jeremiah’s POV\]

I silently watch as Rika openly squirms under her father’s scrutinizing gaze. It’s clear to anyone watching that their relationship isn’t the best, but didn’t I already understand that? I mean, he was more than willing to hand her over to someone’s son for a business collaboration.
I guess it was a good thing that it was me that she was to get closer to, because there were some fucking creeps out there. I hated to think what some of those assholes who think they are above everything would have done to her.
Fighting the grimace that wants to come with the thought, I focus on what is in front of me until finally Mr. Reeves’ car drives away.
Only when it is out of sight do I turn my gaze to Rika who continues to stare in the direction it disappeared.
“Hey,” I say, reaching out to touch her arm, but she swats me away.
“Sorry about that,” she says slowly and I can tell that she is trying to make her voice sound normal. “He means well and I shouldn’t have slacked off.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” I tell her, hating that she even had to sit here and try to justify being scolded. “Anyway, should we get going?”
I was certain that Rika didn’t want to be around me when she was in the mood that she was in. It was easy to tell. Lilah would get like this in the past and when she did, I learned it was best to just let her work through her shit on her own because nothing I said or did would help her.
“Yeah,” Rika says, giving me a look of relief that further confirms my assumption. “Thanks for taking me bowling, but it seems our time together has to end here.”
“No worries.” I smile.
After that, we head back to Rika’s car and after she drops me at home, I find myself in my room, my mind wandering as I go through the day and the promise that I made, but mostly about the incident with Rika.
I wasn’t sure why it bothered me so much, I mean, she was someone that I was getting to know and her issues shouldn’t be a concern to me, but when I remember the way her face looked after interacting with her father, well, I just can’t seem to get it out my head.
“Fuck,” I growl, sitting up and heading to my dresser to grab some sweats and a t-shirt and then I head out of the house and start stretching as best I can with a clunky cast.
Since I couldn’t get my head to shut the hell up, I could at least go for a walk since it usually helped it relaxing me and helping me think more clearly.
However, as I walk, all the damn things bothering me continue to flow and when I reach the park about a mile from my home, I’m no better off than I was before leaving.
“Fuck,” I growl, swiping sweat from my face. “What the hell is with all this annoying shit?”
Of course, I could blame Collin for coming into mine and Lilah’s life and causing all this shit, but I was just as guilty because I stuck my nose where it didn’t belong in the beginning.
Then isn’t the solution simple? I think, collapsing on a swing and lifting my gaze to the star-filled sky above. If I wanted to get rid of this looming unease and peacefully, I needed to take care of the the things bothering me.
But would it be that simple?
Collin made it seem like finding out what his father is doing behind the scenes would be easy, but if someone was mixed in dirty dealings, there was no fucking way that they would make it so easy to discover.
Then what exactly would I have to do to get the proof that Collin was seeking?
Would I have to get myself involved in those things and pretend that I was actually into it?
A shiver of disgust rushes through me at the mere thought of such a thing, but I know that is exactly what I would have to do.
Then what about Rika?
What if she or her family got wind of what I was doing? Would they continue to want a connection to my family or would they cut us off, let my father’s business crash and burn, and promise Rika to someone else?
Why do you even care? The small voice in the back of my head asks. Whatever happens to Rika isn’t any of your business. At least, it shouldn’t be, but when I picture some piece of shit treating like nothing more than a thing, I just…
I clench and unclench my fist as the urge to punch someone hits me and honestly, I’m a bit surprised by this feeling.
What the hell was even happening to me? Was it because we almost got intimate so I feel obligated to protect her? Or was it because I feel bad for her?
I don’t know and really trying to figure it out and put a name to how I feel just gives me a headache.
Pointless.
It was useless to think about such things when I wasn’t even sure how this whole plan would end up turning out to be.
For now, I would just focus on getting a connection with the man Collin called father and I would make the rest of my decisions after.
“Right,” I announce, feeling a bit more clear-headed. “That’s how it will have to be.”
Sighing, I stand and then stretch and with a clearer head, I head back home. However, when I arrive, I find my father standing on the porch waiting for me.
“Jeremiah,” he calls when he spots me and I feel myself going on alert. “There you are.”
“Yeah,” I tell him, wondering what he was wanting. “I went for a walk.”
“You should be careful with that.” He counters. “Your ankle is still healing. What if you push too hard and you end up with complications?”
“Worried the Reeves’ won’t want me as a son-in-law if I’m crippled?” I ask, half-joking, half-being serious.
“Mind your tone.” He tells me and I’m reminded of Collin. “Where have you been?”
“I already told you I went for a walk.”
“I mean earlier today. Where were you?”
For a moment, I don’t speak as I examine my father and when I realize what it is that he is hinting at, I almost want to laugh.
“I wasn’t with Lilah if that is your concern.” I tell him, heading to where he stands. “I was with Rika. If you need a confirmation, contact her father yourself.”