Chapter 22 A Bad Feeling
Ryland
Gracie and I are heading to hers. She seems nervous suddenly. She doesn’t seem too keen on the idea of me going into her house. I don’t know why, but I am sure I will discover the reason when we go inside. She doesn’t say a word as she tries the door. Her dad left it open, which works out since she doesn’t have her keys.
“I am sorry if the place is a mess. My dad isn’t the tidiest person in the world. I wasn’t here last night to clean up his mess.” She stammers.
He is a grown-ass man, he should be tidying up his own mess, not expecting his daughter to do so.
“It is fine. There is no need to apologise to me.” I smile.
Gracie gives me a soft smile, and the two of us head inside. The first thing that catches my eye is all the holes in the walls and doors around the house. Her father clearly has a temper. He better not take it out on her. The second thing that catches my eye is when we walk past the living room and see loads of empty bottles and cans lying around.
“I will get that sorted later. Come on, let’s go upstairs.” She says, grabbing my hand and dragging me upstairs.
I decide not to say anything about what I have seen so far. I don’t want her to get embarrassed or close up on me. I can tell at first glance that her father is an alcoholic with a bad temper. I can only hope he doesn’t release it the same way my dad did on my mom and me. The day he finally left and didn’t come back was one of the happiest days of my life. If he ever showed up again, especially now, I would kill him without thinking twice about it. I really don’t want to even think about the piece of shit.
Gracie leads us into her bedroom. The room is spotless, not a single thing out of place or any mess. The only thing out of sorts is the hole in her bedroom door. It looks like someone kicked it in. The others look like they are from punching, but this one is completely different. Like they were trying to force their way into her bedroom.
“Please, make yourself comfortable. I won’t be long.” She says softly.
I nod, go over and sit on her bed. Gracie grabs a couple of towels and some clothes before disappearing to shower. I take a look around while she is in the shower.
My eyes land on a photo of her and a gorgeous middle-aged woman. Given that Gracie looks so much like her, I assume it is her mother. It is the only photo in her room and next to her bed. She looks happy, really happy. Gracie can’t be that old in the photo. The happiness isn’t pretend like it is now. I wonder what happened to her mother. She told me she passed away, but she didn’t tell me what happened to her. If she wanted to, she would have.
I sigh because I am fearful for Gracie, given all the signs that her dad isn’t a good man. I should stop snooping. I sit back down on the bed where I was when she left the room. I need to get us both away from here today. I don’t know where to, but somewhere out of the way. Somewhere we can just be us without worrying about anything else.
Ten minutes later, Gracie returns, dried and dressed. That was quick. I thought girls usually take forever in the shower. Her petite frame is covered with a tee, an open hoodie, and a pair of skinny jeans. She really is tiny compared to me. The tee she’s wearing is a little baggy on her slim body.
“That was quick.” I laugh.
“Yes, I always am. I have never understood these people who can stay in the shower for like an hour. There is no need for it.” She says, shaking her head.
I nod. “I agree.”
“I need to do my hair, and then we can go.” She smiles.
I nod, and she heads to her dressing table. She sits down to do her hair. She removes her towel from around her head. Her usual light-brown, straight hair is darker and curly, too, when it's wet. I watch her closely. Gracie looks at herself in the mirror, shakes her head and screws up her face. It is as if she is disgusted by what is looking back at her. The lack of confidence she has in herself isn’t right. She shouldn’t hate herself. She has nothing to hate. Gracie is breathtakingly beautiful.
She must feel me watching her. She looks at me through the mirror. I smile in return; she smiles back, but the same sadness still fills her eyes.
“There is nothing wrong with you, Gracie,” I say softly.
“There isn’t much right with me either,” she whispers. I don’t believe I was supposed to hear it. I don’t say anything else. I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. She focuses on what she is doing and pulls her hair up into a messy bun. “We can go now.”
“Anywhere in mind? I thought we could drive and see where we end up. What are your thoughts on that?” I ask.
Gracie nods. “I am fine with that.”
“We may get lost.”
“I am fine with that, too. My dad wouldn’t care if I didn’t come home.” She shrugs.
“Then your dad is an idiot, isn’t he? Come on, let’s get on the road.”
I will take her away for as long as she needs, especially if it keeps her away from him. I offer my hand to her. Gracie hesitates for a moment before she takes it. I slip her small hand into my large one. I can feel it shaking. I link our fingers and lead her outside.
“Your car or mine?” I ask.
“Your car will be fine. I don’t have much fuel left in mine. I will give you some fuel money.”
“My car is fine, full. You will not give me anything.”
Gracie goes to protest, but I give her a stern look. She sighs and looks at the ground, nodding her head. I open the door for her. I do have manners sometimes. Thanking me with a smile, she climbs in. I run around to the other side. I start the car and get us on the road to God knows where. We will see where we end up.