Off Limits

by Vos, Alexandra

  “Well, I’m going to get changed,” I dropped my plate into the sink. “I’m glad I decided to shower first thing now, don’t be too long, either of you.”

  Hopefully getting to my dad’s house wouldn’t be such a fiasco this time around.

  ***

  When we’d gotten a few minutes away from my dad’s house, Luke sent me a pointed look through the mirror. The area really didn’t look much nicer than the place on Plant Road, it was just further away and so cost us more petrol money.

  I let him know that I knew he was right and slumped further down into my seat. For the first time I pondered who on Earth my dad would actually know that had agreed to let him live with them. He didn’t have friends, so it must have been someone he met when he was staying at the last place, which really didn’t bode well.

  Nerves began building in my stomach and my mum’s comments from the last time we’d spoken about my dad filled my mind. There was something about his past that I’d been conveniently shielded from until now, that much was obvious.

  I’d ask my mum, not him about it, though. She’d tell me the truth if I asked directly, whereas I knew my dad wouldn’t mind shame-faced lying to me about it. For now, I’d just enjoy getting to see my dad.

  Pulling into the driveway of the house my dad had given, I was left feeling a bit more optimistic. We were just coming out of the rougher area and this place didn’t seem all too bad. It was semi-detached on a relatively quiet road. Definitely not boarded up windows, even if the garden had just been tarmacked over to make way for a driveway.

  Taking a deep breath, I exited the vehicle and put a smile on my face. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking about mine and Luke and Phoebe’s dilemma. Now was the time to appreciate seeing my father for the first time in a while.

  I knocked on the door and waited impatiently, wanting to escape what I was sure must have been an awkward silence between the three of us. Phoebe didn’t know what was wrong, but she must have sensed that there was something amiss.

  My dad opened it and pulled me into a hug, which I returned happily, even if the urge to ask him about his past was nagging at me. I definitely couldn’t do that whilst Luke and Phoebe were here, anyway. “Hi dad,” I gave him a squeeze before pulling away and entering the house. “Do I need to take my shoes off?” I’d brought a change of clothes to Phoebe’s for going home in and was once again grateful for the ability to wear trainers to a house party.

  “No, they’ll be fine. It’s laminated all the way through. Luke,” he shook Luke’s hand and then repeated the gesture with Phoebe. “First door on the left is the living room. There’s a real sofa in this place, you’ll be pleased to know.”

  I collapsed down onto the thing, but it wasn’t much comfier than his last one. Still, I kept the smile on my face and pretended it was the comfiest thing I’d ever sat on. “This place is nice,” I appraised, not feeling so guilty for looking down on his previous residence anymore. “Whose is it?”

  “Just an old school friend. I ran into him the other day, what a blessing that was. He was kind enough to let me in, so this is my temporary arrangement for the mean time.”

  “Did mum offer you the option to move back in? She said she was going to.”

  “She did,” my father pulled a face. “But I left for a reason.”

  I could both understand that and not. If he’d chosen to stay in the other place I would have questioned him, but this house seemed nice enough. It was, at the very least, legal.

  I swallowed suddenly, fingers stopping where they’d been drumming on the arm of the sofa.

  If my dad was legal and Phoebe was going to find out anyway, we could tell the police.

  Our stalker issue could be gone, just like that.

  Everything really was turning itself around.

  “Sorry, what?” I blinked when I realised everyone was looking at me and tried desperately not to let any kind of relief show on my face. Luke obviously hadn’t realised what I had yet and I couldn’t wait to tell him. Seeing his face brighten with the knowledge would be perfect. “I zoned out.”

  “You had a very wild party last night, then?” My dad teased, waving his hand in dismissal as to whatever he’d originally said.

  Phoebe grinned. “It definitely was. Exactly the kind of birthday I wanted.”

  “And now you’re an adult. I’m dreading the day Carmen is wanting to do something similar.”

  “Well, my house is always open for her to have a party at mine and look, we all survived just about it tact,” she teased, grinning wildly. Phoebe had always thrived off family interaction.

  “Is it okay if I go and get a drink?” I checked, wanting to escape Phoebe’s happiness and knowing I should really be getting as much water down me as possible.

  “Of course, honey. The kitchen is just out that door and straight ahead. And I’ll have a cup of coffee, since you so kindly offered.”

  I chuckled and looked at Luke and Phoebe, who were sat close together on the sofa. “You guys want anything?”

  “Just water for me, please.”

  “Same here.”

  Nodding, I escaped the room and followed my dad’s instructions. It was a small kitchen, but somehow cosy. I put the kettle on and opened various cupboards until I found the cheap brand of coffee. Normal coffee was bad enough, but I couldn’t imagine this being even close to edible.

  Shaking my head, I poured our glasses of water and waited for the kettle to boil. Spotting some photos on the window sill, I was unable to contain my nosiness. Maybe they’d give me some idea of the guy who’d miraculously offered my dad a place to stay.

  I almost dropped the first picture I picked up, skin turning cold as I took in a much younger Angela’s smiling face.

  Swallowing, I closed my eyes for a moment and called to Luke. “Hey, Luke, would you come and get me something off the top shelf?” My voice hadn’t wavered and I heard the living door opening. Taking deep breaths, I prepared myself for his reaction.

  His temper had never been good, but when I showed him this he was going to go berserk.

  Luke came in and shut the door. “Sure, which cupbo-”

  I thrust the picture towards him in silence and watched the emotions play over his face. From shock to disgust to burning anger, I swallowed. “That bastard.”

  I took a single step towards him, but couldn’t bring myself to reach out just yet. “Luke…” There wasn’t even anything I could say.

  “I’m going to kill him.”

  Luke had been wanting to know where his dad was ever since he’d left and I almost didn’t doubt that he might seriously hurt the man who’d ruined his and his mum’s lives. “Luke, calm down.” I really didn’t want him to go to get arrested or something.

  “Please don’t. I’ve finally found this bastard, no one is going to hold me back from showing him just how much of a dick he’s been.”

  I took another step forward and gripped his forearm tightly. “I don’t want you to get into trouble.”

  “It would be worth it, for this.”

  I shook my head insistently. “Kicking him about a bit won’t solve your debt issues, but if you get put in jail then you won’t be able to get a good job and it won’t have been worth it.”

  Luke took a deep breath and put his hands on my shoulders. “Carmen, I’m serious, just stop trying. I know you mean well, but I don’t want to fall out with you. Just stand back and let me give him what’s coming to him.”

  “Luke please, you have to listen to me.” I gripped his arms tighter, staring up at him with wide eyes. He was practically shaking, his fingers gripping into my shoulders far tighter than was comfortable. “Your mum would be saying the same thing and she’s just as hurt as you are. You need to calm down.”

  “It’s not going to happen, Carmen, not even for you.”

  Luke gave my shoulders one last squeeze before striding from the room and straight up to my dad. “When is he back?” He gestured to the man standing beside Angel
a in the picture.

  “What’s going on?”

  Luke took a calming breath before demanding again, “when is he back?”

  When my dad sent a glance in my direction, I just nodded. There was nothing I could do anymore. If Luke really wanted to risk everything doing this, I couldn’t say I really blamed him. “He should be about half an hour. I’d been going to introduce you anyway.”

  “Thank you,” and then Luke strode from the room, no doubt to go and pace in peace. I doubted his anger would have calmed at all by the time his father came back.

  “What’s going on?” It was my dad who asked the question again, but Phoebe’s wide eyes demanded to know the answer as well.

  “It’s his dad,” I explained, not wanting to give away quite how much Luke had told me about it. “Luke hates him, he was… not very nice,” I avoided swearing in front of my dad.

  Phoebe stood up, “I’m going to see if I can calm him down.”

  I hesitated, tugging on the ends of my hair. “He might rather be left alone.”

  “No. I need to go and make sure he’s okay.” The cold edge to her voice let me know the anger she was feeling, towards both of us. Luke had confided in me and not her.

  It was only going to get worse.

  I retook my seat on the sofa, wanting to go and comfort Luke myself. I wouldn’t make him feel any better, but perhaps I could distract him a little bit whilst he waited for his dad to arrive. My dad fixed me with an anxious look. “What’s he going to do?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “If he’s going to hurt-”

  “If he’s going to hurt him then there’s nothing any of us can do about it,” I muttered, casting my own gaze out of the window as raised voices came from the next room. Phoebe hadn’t been successful, then

  “Carmen,” my dad began, pausing with knitted eyebrows. “Is there anything I can do? I had no idea, obviously.”

  “The guy you’re living with is an arsehole,” was what I settled on. Luke had said he was into drugs, so the story about my dad just running into him was sounding unlikely. I bet he’d met him at his old accommodation. “That’s pretty much all there is to it. Just let Luke do what he’s got to do.”

  Phoebe stuck her head back into the room with tears shining in her eyes. “Go and make him feel better,” she muttered, before striding off upstairs.

  That was what really tore at me. Phoebe cared for Luke, she really cared for him and I’d ruined that. “I’m going to go and see him,” I told my dad, sticking my head into the first door and coming across a pacing Luke. He sent the harshest of glares my way, but when he saw it was me rather than Phoebe it softened.

  “Sorry,” he muttered, coming to a standstill for a moment before shaking his head and pacing again.

  “When was the last time you saw him?”

  “A year ago.”

  I swallowed. There was far too much pent up anger here. Part of me knew I was wrong for finding Luke attractive right now, but the fire in his eyes and the way his taught body strode with purpose around the room did leave me a little bit hot under the collar.

  Standing up, I intercepted his walking to wrap my arms around his middle. I didn’t really expect him to return the hug, just to give me a quick squeeze and continue his pacing, but I needed him to know I was here and that I cared.

  I was surprised when he wrapped his arms around me for a good few minutes. His breathing was rapid and his heart beat so fast I began to worry. Could adrenaline last a full half an hour? His hands were warm and hard on my back and my cheek smushed into his chest.

  There was nothing I could say. The wrong thing would have probably come out of my mouth if I’d attempted to speak, but just holding him sent the right message.

  The door cracked open and my dad stuck his head through. “He’s back.”

  Luke dropped his arms from me immediately and I could only tell him, “don’t do anything stupid,” before chasing after his large strides onto the driveway. Phoebe and my dad were right behind me.

  Luke ripped open the doorway and the smaller man on the other side jumped backwards, eyes quickly widening. I had no idea where Luke got his height from, his dad couldn’t have been more than six foot and his mum was tiny.

  I got the slimy vibe from his father right away as he rang his hands together and hastily retreated from Luke. I exited the house so I could see everything that happened.

  “What is this?” Luke demanded, continuing to make his father back up until his back was against the wall of a shed on the right of the driveway.

  His father didn’t answer, just held up his hands in a defensive plea.

  “How dare you have pictures of my mother?” Luke spat every word, the hand holding the photo trembling with rage.

  “He’s going to kill him,” Phoebe whispered, eyes wide and terrified.

  I watched the scene play out. “He won’t hurt him,” I assured her.

  Luke’s dad stayed silent still, waiting for Luke to make the first move. We all jumped when he through the frame onto the ground and the glass smashed. “Answer me, you piece of shit.”

  “I’m sorry,” there was fear, but not sincerity in the shorter man’s apology.

  Luke just shook his head. “Just as pathetic as I remember. You’re not even worth it. We’re better on our own, even after what you left us with.” Turning around, Luke took a deep breath and unclenched his fists. “We’re leaving.”

  Luke’s dad had the nerve to smirk when Luke had turned around, sensing the victory and my own anger grew. I strode past Luke and gave him the hardest slap I could manage. It hurt my own hand more, I was sure, but the shock on Luke’s dad’s face was worth it. I prayed I left a bruise.

  “You little bitch,” when he went to grab my arm, Luke socked him right in the face.

  It was so hard Luke’s dad’s head cracked against the shed all, too. Luckily it was wood and not concrete. He held his bleeding nose and I realised Luke had dragged me behind him, fingers biting into my arm so hard they’d leave bruises. “Don’t touch her,” he spat, practically dragging me away from the scene and back to the car. I sent my dad an apologetic look before opening the passenger seat door and slipping in.

  Luke’s hands gripped the wheel so hard they turned white. Phoebe had taken one of the back seats and I didn’t want to know what she was thinking right now. “You okay?” I asked him.

  “I will be. I’m glad he gave me an excuse to hit him.”

  It wasn’t a smile exactly that touched my lips, but I just nodded once and Luke started driving. It didn’t take us long to recognise the blue Ford that tailed us, but for today it wasn’t on our minds. Hopefully by tomorrow he’d be in prison, or at least with a restraining order.

  Phoebe sat in silence until we were nearly back at her house. “You told her everything,” she accused, voice wobbling. “And you refused to tell me.”

  Luke considered his response with a guilty expression that Phoebe couldn’t see from the back of the car. “I did,” he answered carefully. “Because Carmen had just been through the same thing. She could relate. It was different.”

  “I don’t have to be able to relate, I’m your girlfriend. You’re supposed to just tell me so that I can make you feel better. You’re supposed to just tell me because you trust me. I tell you everything, good or bad.”

  The tension between Luke and I grew. “I’m sorry.” Was all he could say, guilt weighing on both our consciences.

  Phoebe just made an unattractive noise of disbelief. “I don’t want to see either of you for a few days. Being betrayed hurts, you know?”

  She lapsed back into silence until we pulled up outside Phoebe’s house and I cringed when she slammed the door. Luke looked guilty, but altogether not too concerned. He’d never been planning on telling Phoebe about any of this. “I’ll break up with her when she agrees to speak to me again,” he muttered.

  I couldn’t even manage a small smile. “I hope she’s going to be okay.”


  “Thing kind of thing happens to people all the time,” Luke sounded more convinced than I knew he must be. Sure, people lost best friends and boyfriends all the time, but not in rapid succession. “She has her other friends, she’ll be going to university soon. It’ll all work out okay.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, I hope so.”

  Luke grasped my hand and gave it a tight squeeze. “Thank you, for earlier. The fact you were there really helped.”

  My lips quirked. “It’s no problem. I’m glad I was there. I should get going home, though, and I’m sure you want to tell your mum about what happened.”

  “That I do. I’m not even sure how she’s going to react. I’d kiss you, but we’re parked in a bit of an awkward place for that.”