by Kirby Hall
She tried to remind herself she hadn’t been doing anything wrong. “I was at Bekah’s, Dad. I wasn’t doing anything I’m not supposed to.”
Her dad stood and placed his hands on his hips. “Alexa, I think it’s time you started telling me the truth right now. You and I both know you haven’t been spending every day with Bekah after school.”
“But, Dad—”
Her dad held up a hand. “Stop right there. Don’t lie to me.”
“Okay, I won’t. But, please stop acting like I’ve been out using drugs or drowning kittens. I’m not one of your clients.”
“Damn right you’re not. You’re my daughter.” Her father’s shoulders tensed as he stood. “I ran into Bekah’s mom last week at lunch and do you know what she said? She said they missed seeing you around their house. As you can imagine, I was confused so I talked to Maria when I got home and she said you weren’t getting home in the afternoons until late. What I want to know, Alexa, is where you’ve been spending your time. Clearly you’ve been lying to me.”
Maria. She wouldn’t throw Alexa under the bus intentionally, but she wouldn’t lie to her dad either. This was getting out of hand. It was time to come clean. It was West and West was a good person. There was no reason to be so worried. Alexa took a deep breath.
“I’ve been seeing someone. We’ve been hanging out after school. That’s it.”
“Who is this someone? West Howell? The tutor boy?”
Heat flared in Alexa’s cheeks. Somehow having her father guess made it worse. She hadn’t even gotten to tell him herself.
“Yes, sir.”
Her dad placed his hands on his hips and started to pace. “Jesus Christ, Alexa. Of all the boys at your school and the ones from the club, that’s who you chose to spend your time with? What a waste.”
On the verge of tears, Alexa ground her teeth and stuck out her chin. She wouldn’t stand there and listen to her dad talk that way about West. As if he were nothing.
“Dad, West is a good person. He cares about me.”
Her dad spun around on his heel. “You don’t know him. Open your eyes, Alexa. He’s nothing like you. What can you possibly have in common?”
“Stop, just stop. You yelling at me isn’t going to make my feelings change.”
“Your feelings?” Her dad let out a humorless laugh. “Stop acting like a child and think. That boy has no future, and I will not have him ruin yours.”
“How can you tell me to stop acting like a child when all you ever do is treat me like one?”
Her dad crossed over to where she was standing and gripped her upper arms. “Alexa, did he even tell you why he transferred into your school?”
She stumbled. Her dad wasn’t yelling anymore, he was pleading with her. And, his question caught her off guard.
“Did he tell you how he was kicked out of his last school and that coming to yours was his last chance? He is one strike away from being in juvie. I know what I’m talking about. I see criminals every day and you mark my words, West is heading down a dangerous path. He’ll never amount to anything and you have your whole life ahead of you. Every opportunity is at your feet waiting for you to take it.”
Alexa stood in her father’s grasp with a lump in her throat. She didn’t know why West had been kicked out of his old school. He obviously hadn’t told her everything about his life. He also didn’t tell you why he couldn’t meet up today, her mind seemed to whisper. She shook her head. He didn’t have to tell her everything. She trusted West, and she knew that even though her dad wanted what was best for her, he was wrong about West. How could she make him see how wrong he was?
“Dad, he’s changed. He’s a good guy.”
“Oh, Alexa. You’re blinded by teenage lust.” Her dad let go of her arms and put his back to her. “You cannot see him anymore. I won’t have it.”
Her mouth fell open. She could almost hear the jail cell slamming shut. Her dad would make sure she was trapped inside her gilded cage. It would be easier to regulate and direct her every move. Her hands shook and then her head snapped up.
“Dad, how do you know why West transferred?”
Her father’s shoulders sagged slightly as though the answer weighed on him. “I ran a background check on him when he started tutoring you in the fall.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing and yet, she wasn’t surprised. Of course, her dad had checked up on him. He’d never allow someone in his house and around his kids without knowing everything about them.
She scoffed. “You talk to me about honesty and trust,” her voice rose as disgust swelled inside her, “but you don’t trust me to make my own decisions. You try to control every aspect of my life.”
“I’m your father. It’s my job to—“
“To keep me from growing up?”
He smacked his fist on the counter. “Go to your room, Alexa. This conversation is over.”
Tears streaming down her face, Alexa fled to her bedroom and fell onto the bed. As sobs wrenched their way through her and into the pillow where her face was buried, she thought about not being able to see West anymore. She could see him at school, but it wasn’t the same. From now on, her dad would want to know where she was. Every minute would have to be accounted for.
She rolled over and gasped for breath. It was her own fault. If she’d just told her dad to start with, maybe he wouldn’t think the worst of West now. Her dad blamed West when, in reality, it had been her fault she hadn’t told him. West would’ve been fine with telling her dad they were together. She sat up and threw her pillow across the room. What crap. If she’d told her dad he would’ve reacted exactly as he had. There was no gray area with him.
Alexa dragged her phone out of her bag and found West’s name. She took a deep breath and began to type.
I need to see you. Meet me.
Her phone buzzed a moment later. 10 minutes?
She bit her lip. No. Later tonight. Midnight?
Are you okay?
Fresh tears filled her eyes. West wouldn’t understand unless she told him her dad knew about his past. What other reason did her dad have to dislike him so much? She’d have to tell him her dad had done a background check. It was possible her dad’s intrusion would be enough to make West want to breakup with her. A fresh wave of anguish washed over her. She didn’t know what it was he’d done and it didn’t matter. Either way, her dad had violated West’s privacy.
Not really, but we’ll talk tonight. -A
Maybe they could find a different way to meet assuming he didn’t want to be finished with her and her overbearing dad. She reached over to the bedside table and set the phone down, the picture of her and her mom catching her eye. An overwhelming sense of longing tugged at her. Her life would be so different if her mother were alive. She tried not to go there. To the place of what-ifs and maybes, but there were days when she couldn’t stop it. What would be her advice? What would she think of West?
Alexa swallowed. It hurt to realize she had no idea what her mom would think. Memories of her were vague at best now. Too much time had passed since she’d last heard her voice or felt her hand wrapped around her own, warm and comforting the way only a mom’s touch can be.
A knock sounded on her door and Graham cracked it open enough to peer in with one eye. “Are you okay?”
Alexa wiped under her eyes and nose and pasted on a smile. “Yeah, are you?”
He pushed the door the rest of the way open and moved over to the bed, sitting on the edge with one knee bent. “I heard you and Dad fighting.”
“I’m sorry, punk. Dad and I just…”
“I know it was about West.” Her brother looked down at the flowers on her bedspread. “Is he like your boyfriend?”
Alexa’s face heated. “I guess so.” Boyfriends were
on the list of topics she didn’t want to talk about with her little brother. Near the top in fact.
Graham raised his eyes and met Alexa’s, his expression serious. “Well, I like him.”
Alexa couldn’t stop herself. She reached over and hugged her brother. There were so many times she was convinced he needed her, but the truth was she needed him more.
“Okay, you can let go now.” Graham shrugged her off and stood. “If you want to play video games, we can.”
Laughter burst out of her. “Thanks. I just might take you up on that offer.”
Graham turned back when he reached the door with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. “Prepare to be destroyed.”
Her heart twisted. Too late.
Chapter 23
West paced back and forth between the gate and trees across the road from Alexa’s house; the crunching of dead leaves and grass the only sounds. He wondered if what she was upset about had anything to do with the piece of paper the Sheriff had handed to his mother that afternoon. If Alexa did know about it, maybe they could figure something out together. If she didn’t . . . he’d decide how to tell her later. Based on her text, there was some sort of drama already and he wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with more than one thing at a time.
He ran a hand through his hair and hoped she was okay. He may’ve teased Alexa about being needy, but she wasn’t. In fact, she was pretty damn self-reliant. He paused long enough to study her house again for any sign she might be on her way outside to meet him. So far, the only lights were the ones over the front door and one he was pretty sure belonged to her dad’s room. The light from inside was muted and most likely coming from a TV. The hairs on the back of West’s neck stood on end. He didn’t want to see Alexa’s father.
A dog barked from one of the neighboring houses so he melted into the tree line. He knew exactly what her neighbors would think if they saw some guy loitering around outside their homes. They wouldn’t hesitate to call the cops and that was the last thing he needed. But, he wouldn’t leave without seeing Alexa.
“West,” Alexa whispered, “are you here?”
He stepped out and she ran to him. Dressed in flannel pants and a T-shirt, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder.
“Hey.” He rubbed her back. “What’s going on?”
“It’s my dad,” she searched his face trying to find the right words. “He knows we’ve been hanging out.”
“Hanging out? Is that what we’ve been doing?” He pulled back from her and cocked an eyebrow, trying to coax out a smile. It didn’t work.
Alexa’s face crumbled and she went back to clinging to him. “He says I can’t see you anymore.”
His heart lurched into his throat. “Is that what you want?”
“No.” She pushed away from him and locked her eyes on his. “No, that’s the last thing I want.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
He kissed her back, hard. If he could show her how much he’d come to rely on her, how much he cared, they could find a way to deal with her dad. Maybe he could prove he was good enough. He thought again of the paper his mother had crumpled in her hand; the temporary protective order against him. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but he was pretty sure he knew who’d filed for it.
She broke the kiss and gasped for air. “Maybe he’ll cool off and calm down. Maybe if we keep a low profile for a while.”
He nodded and though the thought of spending time apart made his stomach sink, he would do whatever he could to make things with Alexa work. “We can start there.”
Blue and red lights lit up the night around them, casting strange shadows over their faces and clothes. Alexa jumped back as the police cruiser pulled to a stop with its headlights bearing down on them.
“West Howell, step away from Miss Cross and put your hands where I can see them,” a voice said through a speaker.
West did as he was asked and took a few steps away from Alexa. She tried to cling to him, but he shook his head. “It’ll only make it worse.”
The officer opened his door, stepped around the front of the car and grabbed West’s wrists, forcing them behind his back. Alexa moved to his side and tried to block the officer’s path, but he sidestepped her and pulled West along with him.
“He wasn’t hurting me. I asked him to come here,” Alexa said. “Please. He’s my friend.”
“I’m sorry, but he’s in violation of a court issued protective order. I have to take him in.” The sheriff’s deputy placed a hand on the back of West’s head and directed him into the back of the cruiser where he was instantly met with the smell of pee and whatever the officer had had for dinner.
“There must be some mistake.” Alexa’s voice rose. “There’s no protective order.”
West flinched. He should’ve told her as soon as he’d gotten there, but he didn’t know how to tell her what her dad had done. He’d been afraid of what it would do to her, to them both.
His arm rested against his cell phone where it was tucked in his jacket pocket. He needed to call his mom, but she was at work. God, his mom. He’d promised to stay out of trouble. She didn’t need any more burdens piled on her shoulders. As if the implosion of her marriage and loss of her daughter hadn’t been enough, he’d gotten in trouble in school which had resulted in astronomical legal fees she’d had to cover, after which he’d sworn to do better. He never meant to cause more harm.
West hung his head and saw the stains on the upholstery under his shoes. He should’ve known things were going too well to last. He had the perfect girl, good grades; he’d had a good tryout for the track team and now this.
“I’m just doing my job,” the officer said and closed West’s door.
Alexa stepped between the officer and where his door was still hanging open. “At least let me go get my dad. He can help us clear this up. He’s an attorney. He’s right up there.” She pointed toward the house, her voice a mixture of pleading and confusion.
When West’s eyes swung over to the house and he saw her dad standing in the driveway watching the scene play out, a scene he’d planned, West ground his teeth.
“Let the man do his job, Alexa.” Her father’s voice was full of ice.
“Daddy,” Alexa said and ran to him. She still didn’t realize what was happening.
“Thanks, Jim. I’ll talk to you in the morning.” Her dad nodded to the officer.
“But, Daddy, what’re you doing?” Her voice cracked. “Help him!”
“Get inside, Alexa.”
The deputy closed his door and put the car in gear. West couldn’t hear what Alexa was saying to her dad any longer, but he watched as she gestured wildly with her arms. When she did turn to see him through the cruiser’s filmy back window, a look of pure horror was etched on her face.
As the police cruiser started to move, West turned around in the seat, the position awkward due to his trapped wrists. Alexa’s dad started back up the driveway alone while Alexa stepped out into the street. With her arms wrapped around her middle and tears streaming down her face, she screamed. The word ‘no’ sliced through the air and brought a lump to West’s throat, not because of where he was, but because he couldn’t do anything to stop her pain.
Her dad didn’t realize what he was doing to her. To both of them. Maybe all dads were assholes.
The deputy eyed him in the rearview after they turned onto the main road. “My advice? Stay away from that girl.”
West faced forward and met his eyes. “I don’t remember asking for your advice.”
“That’s true,” the officer continued, clearly not offended by West’s attitude, “but I’ve known Richard a long time and he’d do anything for those kids. They’re all he has and he holds on tight. If he has it in his mind, you’re trouble. You won’t get near that girl.”
/> West leaned back as much as his cuffed wrists would allow. His shoulders were already starting to ache from the angle. “So, what now?”
“Now, I take you in and you spend the night behind bars.”
West shook his head again and rested it on the seat. Jail. Strike three.
~ ~ ~
West’s gaze remained on his mom’s hands where she was gripping the wheel with white knuckles. Every few seconds her gaze darted to where he was sitting in the passenger seat and then she’d go back to staring at the road with bloodshot eyes.
“I just don’t understand,” she said for the tenth time since she’d picked him up at the police station. “What did you do to get a restraining order or protective order or whatever it’s called placed against you in the first place?” She blew out a breath and shook her head. “I guess it’s my fault for not being home enough, but West come on. Everything was going well for you, wasn’t it? We’re doing okay, aren’t we? What happened?”
I fell in love with the wrong girl. “I told you, nothing. I was talking to her. That’s it.”
“But, they don’t issue protective orders for guys who just talk to girls, do they? Or, throw you in jail for the night?”
“They can when the girl’s dad is an attorney in town and he has friends in high places.” West rubbed a hand over his face. The lack of sleep from the night before was catching up with him. He longed for his bed and a shower. And, somehow, he had to find a way to talk to Alexa.
“West, is everything all right? I mean, school is going well and you’re . . . okay?”
“Mom, I’m fine. This isn’t about me.” That was what he’d figured out the night before while some drunks took turns snoring and singing. What was happening was about Alexa’s dad and his need for control. He understood why her dad was pissed about the lying, but normal parents grounded kids. They didn’t send the boyfriend to jail.