Page 31 of Into These Eyes
“Promise me, that if you don’t feel like you’re coping tonight, you’ll call me. No matter how late it is. At the very least, you should have someone to talk to.”
I blink at him, surprised again. He shouldn’t be worrying about me. He should be celebrating his good news.
“I’ll be fine,” I tell him as I click on my seatbelt. I want to reach for the doorhandle, but he’s in the way.
“Promise me, Jamie.”
“Sure. I promise,” I answer quickly, needing to get out of here before I have another complete meltdown.
Apparently satisfied, he takes a step back and gently closes the door for me.
As I drive away, I glance in the rearview mirror to find him standing where I left him, watching.
When I turn out of the caravan park, a strange sense of loss overcomes me. I scoff. Is it really a surprise? I lost my father today. My only parent.
And I’ve lost the sixteen years of hate I held in my heart for a man who never deserved it.
Can it simply be redirected to a man I loved my whole life? Because I haven’t just lost my father, but every single memory of him.
All of them were nothing but lies.
Chapter 14
Gavin
As I make the trek back to my caravan, I pretty much want to punch myself in the face. From the brief glimpse I had of her eyes before she shielded them with those dark sunnies, I knew I’d said the wrong thing. Even though it’s the truth. Of course she’s gorgeous. But I should know better than anyone that the truth can backfire spectacularly.
Now I’ve probably scared her off for good.
Approaching my personal oven, I notice Fletcher’s still sitting on his steps. I feel sick that she came here on the worst day of her life and had to deal with his disrespectful comments. So, I barrel over.
“She comes back, Fletcher, I don’t want to hear a word out of your mouth. Leave her alone.”
He stands and puffs his chest out, but doesn’t move closer. He’s a good five inches shorter than me and probably forty kilos lighter. Though he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, he’s not completely stupid.
“Can say whatever the fuck I want. Ain’t nothin’ you can do about it.”
I don’t even bother squaring my shoulders. He’s all talk. “Don't test me on that.”
He scoffs, sits on the step again as he plucks out another cigarette and clamps it between his teeth. All in an effort to convince me I don’t scare him.
“Ya wanna end up back in the clink, be my fuckin’ guest,” he grumbles before lighting up and taking a deep drag.
I stride over to my caravan and barge inside, letting the door whack shut behind me. The arsehole is fucking right. I get into any sort of altercation that leads to assault, I’ll be right back in a cell.
Letting out a long breath, I lean against the kitchen counter and stare at the little table where Jamie Evans sat. Where she flipped my worthless life on its head.
And once again, her life has changed forever, too.
Only difference is, this time, she doesn’t hate me. This time, she’s going to help me.
Or so she says.
I have no reason to believe she won’t, but I also don’t have a reason to believe she will. Especially after my little fuck up in the car park.
When she gets over the shock of her father’s revelation, and his death, she’ll probably change her mind. She might find it’s far too painful to be reminded of why I need her help. After all, she owes me nothing and I’m sure that whatever work is required to clear my name, won’t be a straightforward path. Like I told her, it’d be far easier for her to keep quiet and do nothing, to forget about me and get on with her life.
I won’t blame her if she soon comes to that realisation. Even if it crushes me.
