Page 71 of Badges

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“Whatever you say, Dad.” I give him a crooked smile before I leave.

I shouldn’t scoff, he’s in good shape for flirting with seventy. I hope I’m as fit as him when I’m his age.

Walking back to my house, I’m almost dragging my feet.

What if Elena decides she’s leaving?

By the time I’m climbing the porch, I feel like I’m gonna puke.

All I want is for her to choose me.

But it’s noticeably quiet when I walk in. Her light is showing under her door, so I know she’s still here.

If I was really worried, I have her on my tracking app.

There’s a part of me that wouldn’t even chase her if she did decide to run.

Unless she wanted me to.

Bedazzled

Elena

Pounding on my doornearly has me crashing onto the floor.

“Elena! Wake up!” Wade’s voice booms through the wood.

Shit. He sounds pissed.

What did I do?

Tugging the comforter up around me, I know it won’t offer any protection.

Would he hurt me?

No. I don’t think he would. My heart tells me I can trust him, even though my damn baggage tries to tell me otherwise.

Fuck my dad for putting that thought in my head first every time.

“Is everything okay?” I call out.

“Can I open this?” A sound like his palm smacks again, not nearly as loudly as before.

Blinking rapidly, I grab my phone to check the time.

Geez, I slept in. I shouldn’t have stayed up all night crying.

All I could focus on was how badly I screwed up and how much he probably hates me now.

“Yea.” I don’t even want to think about how horrible I look.

When he pushes the door open, he holds out his cell. The bright screen is just a blur for my gritty eyes.

But his broad grin tells me it’s something good.

“What am I trying to look at?” I squint, yet the words still stay as squiggles.

“I found her! And she’s really my daughter!” Excitement radiates from his body.

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