Chapter 29 I Expected Worse
Gracie
We arrived outside of Ryland’s house for the last fifteen minutes and have been sitting in the car. I am in no rush to go inside, and Ryland is in no hurry for me to go in.
I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. “I should go.”
“I know.” He replies, worry clear in his voice.
We climb out of the car. I freeze, not wanting to move. I shouldn’t be this fearful about going home. Ryland reaches for me, pulling me into him and kisses me softly.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” he asks as our lips part.
“No, it will only make him angrier. He doesn’t want me having anything to do with boys.”
“Gracie, if he starts, please promise me you will get out and come to me.” his words are strained as he caresses my cheek.
I peck his lips. “I promise.”
Ryland hugs me tightly, and I hug back, not wanting him to let go of me. We part from the hug. I give him a small smile and head inside. The place is quiet. There is no sign of my father. Maybe he is out. I hope so.
The place is a mess. There is rubbish lying everywhere, mainly bottles and cans. The sink is filled with dishes, and the counters are a mess. It looks like he deliberately poured some liquid all over the kitchen floor. I sigh and decide to get started straight away. It doesn’t take as long as I thought. I am a pro at housework. I don’t get the point of cleaning up, he will make a mess again when he gets home. Just as I finish, I hear the front door open.
“Where the fuck have you been?” I hear him tell. He assumes I am home because the place is tidy.
“Out,” I reply.
He comes storming into the kitchen, his eyes angry and his face red. I notice his hands are clenched at his sides.
“Out? Doing what? Acting like a little whore? You know the rules. You do not go anywhere until this place is clear and you make my dinner.” He hisses, coming towards me.
He is wasted. No surprise there. I went to move in the opposite direction from him, but I didn’t manage. He grabs my wrist with all his force. “And you don’t go anywhere without my permission.”
I am in a lot of pain, but I am not going to show him that. He gets kicks out of knowing I am hurting. Sick bastard! I don’t struggle either, because it'll only make him angrier.
“I am sorry,” I whisper.
He slaps me, hard. “So you fucking should be, you little bitch. Get out of my sight,” he says and lets go of my wrist before he pushes me away from him.
I dart by him and head straight to my room. I close my door and put something heavy against it. I break down in tears. I look at my face in the mirror. It is bright red and bruising. I need to get out of here. I have done everything; his dinner is in the oven. He only needs to heat it up.
I jump in a quick shower and change into some fresh clothes, jeans and an oversized hoodie to hide the bruising on my wrist. I put some make-up on to cover the mark on my cheek. I made sure I have everything, including my keys, this time. I head for my window and climb out of it. I rush over to Ryland’s place and knock. A middle-aged woman who I assume is his mom, answers.
“Hello, I am Gracie. I live next door and go to school with Ryland. Is he in?” I smile.
She gasps like she is surprised by me, but then immediately smiles back. “I am Melissa, Ryland’s mom. Yes, he is in, come in, sweetie.” She says and steps aside to let me come inside.
I thank her with a smile.
“Are you the one that Ryland has been spending all his time with recently?” she asks.
I nod. “Yes, we have become good friends.”
Another smile graces her lips. “That is good. I am glad he is making friends. He is in his bedroom, head up.”
“Yes, and thank you.”
I head upstairs to his bedroom. I don’t know if I should have called or texted him first. I nervously knock on the door.
He groans. “Mom, I am fine.”
I laugh and open the door, popping my head in. “Not your mom.”
He chuckles. “Oh, sorry, come in.”
Ryland is lying on his bed, playing on his computer. He pauses it when I come in. I walk over and sit on the edge of his bed.
“Are you okay, brow eyes? I can see you have been crying.”
“I will be. It wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be.”
Yes, he still hurt me, but I was expecting much worse. Ryland moves over and pats the spot next to him on the bed. I smile, slipping my shoes off and lying down next to him, placing my head on his chest.
Ryland glances down at me. “What happened?”
I push the sleeve of my hoodie up, show him my swollen, bruised wrist. “And he slapped me. That is why I have make-up on to cover the mark.”
He traces the marks on my wrist and sighs. “I am sorry, Gracie. Do you want something for your wrist?”
I shake my head and snuggle into him. I don’t want to talk about it, not right now. Ryland picks up on and drops it.
“Do you want a turn?” he asks, holding the controller to me.
“I don’t know how to play these games,” I reply with a pout.
Ryland chuckles. “I will show you.”
“I will show you,” he chuckled.
I nod, and he hands me the controller, starting the game. It is a racing game. I press buttons at random and hope for the bed. It isn’t working well. I am crashing into everything. Ryland laughs hysterically from next to me.
“I don’t think I am one for playing computer games.” I snicker.
“It would seem that way. I will try to teach you when we have more time.”
“Good luck with that.”
“Challenge accepted. But right now, I will turn it off. We can find other ways to occupy ourselves until it is time for us to leave.”
Before I have a chance to say anything, he dips his head down and plants a gentle kiss on my lips. I respond with a deep moan and happily kiss back. I find myself kissing him all the time, but I still have no idea what is going on with us. It all has just happened.
We continue to kiss for a couple of minutes. Ryland parts from it first, smiling. I give him a shy smile, feeling my cheeks heat. Will I ever get over the full-blushing-around-him thing? Ryland smirks and winks at me. He knows what he does to me. I playfully roll my eyes, laughing.
I snuggle into his side, and he wraps his arm tightly around me. I will happily stay here just like this with him until it is time for us to go. I feel safe in his arms. A feeling I don’t have often, so I will make the most of it.