by Rebel Hart
But something inside me wanted to go downstairs.
Maybe it was Rae’s positive influence. Or her insistence that this world gave a shit about me. Whatever the drive, I found myself standing in front of Dad while he slammed cabinets and murmured to himself about having no tea in the house.
When the fuck did any of us drink tea?
“How was your trip?”
He froze at the sound of my voice. “What?”
I cleared my throat. “How was your trip? Productive, I hope?”
He peered over his shoulder. “Sure.”
“Where did you two go again?”
“There a reason I’m getting the third degree from you?”
I shrugged. “Just curious, I guess.”
“Well, get less curious.”
I paused. “So no to the talking about your trips?”
He slammed his mug onto the counter. “Clint, if there’s something you need or want, spit it out. Because I’ve still got some important things to get done even though we’re back.”
And I’m not important. “Nah, I’m good. Just checking in on you.”
He harrumphed. “Fine. Cecilia!”
She piped up behind me. “Yes, Howard?”
I whipped around, startled by her presence. Had she been standing behind me the entire time? Silent like that? Without saying a fucking word?
“You going out like that for our date night? Or are you changing?”
I paused. “Date night?”
Cecilia nodded. “I’m just changing really quickly. I figured I could shower at the suite after dinner.”
Dad sighed. “I’d prefer if you showered here. Just make it quick.”
“We’ll miss our reservations if I do that.”
“Which is why I said make it quick.”
I murmured, “I’ll leave you two to it.”
“Oh, and Clint?”
Dad’s voice gave me pause. “Yep?”
“Don’t wreck the house while we’re gone. We should be back tomorrow morning.”
I nodded. “Got it.”
An hour later, Dad was bitching up a storm as he and Cecilia left the house. They were back in his noisy-ass sports car, zooming off into the distance without having been home for more than a couple hours. And I had a craving to take my bike out for a spin. I needed to get out of this house anyway. It had been tainted by my father, and I needed to give the house time to breathe.
But the faster I rode, the more my thoughts spun.
Of course he wouldn't have time for me.
He’s been gone practically four weeks! And I’m not important enough to talk to when he gets back?
You’ve never been important to him, Clint. Get over it.
I wish I was important to him…
I zoned out while driving my bike. And I didn’t come to until I pulled into a parking lot. I stared at Grady’s Groceries, watching through the window as I spotted Rae, standing at the cash register scanning groceries with the fakest smile on her face. I grinned at her presence. I pulled my bike into a parking space under the shade of a massive tree. One random tree in the middle of a small patch of Riverbend. My thoughts turned to her. How beautiful she was. How much I enjoyed being around her. She’d become my soft place to fall. Solace, in my time of need. Something I’d always needed, but never felt I deserved.
In some ways, I still didn’t feel as if I deserved her.
I turned my bike off and slung my leg over. Putting down the kickstand, I leaned against it, my ass falling against the side of the leather seat. As I watched her through the windows of her work, the minutes ticked by. She had the closing shift today, and I knew how much she hated closing. Working those long hours after being at school all day. Still, she looked as if she were taking it like a champ.
Like the strong girl she had become.
I’m so fucking lucky.
Rae was special. The more time I spent around her, the more I was convinced of it. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to sequester more of her time. I wanted to own her. Have her as mine for as long as she’d let me. I mean, there were times where I could happily spend the rest of my days making Rae smile and taking care of her.
You got it bad, Clint.
And the thought made me smile.
Maybe one day she’d get on the back of my bike and ride off into the sunset with me. Not because she’d failed her classes and needed to get away. But because our future after school aligned that much. I loved it when she rode on the back of my bike. Her arms wrapped tightly around my waist. Her thighs squeezing me tightly as we accelerated down the open highway. The winding back roads of our hometown. Her laughter, making me all warm and fuzzy inside.
She’s got you fucked up, dude.
I pushed away from my bike and started for the store. My hands fell away from my chest, swinging beside me as I walked through the automatic doors. A mindless greeting fell from her lips as she looked over toward me. But when her eyes connected with mine, a genuine smile crossed her face.
And all thoughts of my father faded into nothingness.
Finally, I’d found someone who felt like home. Someone who gave a shit about me. Someone to cherish me. Who enjoyed me. Who saw my worth, even when I didn’t see it myself. I walked toward her as her smile grew bigger. I leaned against the end of her register, listening as the last of the customers walked out of the store.
Then, gazing into her eyes, I made myself a promise. The only promise I’d ever made myself outside of leaving my father’s house the second I got out of high school.
I promise you, Rae, I’ll do anything to keep you at my side. To keep you safe. To help you succeed in all the ways you want.
Because I just couldn't lose her.
It simply wasn’t an option.
KEEP READING RAE AND CLINTON’S LOVE STORY:
Book 1: getbook.at/playwithme
Book 2: getbook.at/promiseme
Book 3: getbook.at/staywithme
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About the Author
Rebel Hart is an author of Dark Romance novels. Her debut novel, Play With Me, is the first book in a planned trilogy.
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