Page 22 of Moved
“Nah. He’s been checking into things for me. Nance stepped in as second.”
“Officially? Tattoo and everything? You know for a gang leader’s daughter I’m still remarkably un-tattooed.”
He grunted in acknowledgment. “Your mother would come back and kill me if I ever let that happen.”
I sighed. “It would almost be worth it.” I didn’t mean the tattoo. Getting one just to see her, to ask all the questions that her letter to me caused.
There was a moment of heavy silence. “I miss her, too.”
“I know. I love you, Dad.”
“You too, sweetie. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
****
Knocking woke me again, making me wish I hadn’t insisted on the formality. He’d just enter if I didn’t answer.
“Come in!” I buried my head under my pillow. “College means sleeping in. I finally get curtains, and I can’t even enjoy them.” My words were muffled but he must have heard them because he laughed.
“Get up. Time for exercise.”
I sat up and whipped the pillow at him. He caught it with a smile.
“Where were you yesterday? Just disappearing like that isn’t cool. I kept picturing...” I sighed and decided not to finish my ridiculous thought.
“What did you picture?”
“I’m here for a reason. I thought maybe Chuck...just never mind.” The idea of Chuck, who was just a creepy follower, coming here and taking on Racer was as ludicrous this morning as it was last night. But it hadn’t stopped me from thinking about it.
Racer walked closer to the bed and handed me the pillow.
“Your father said they spot Chuck at least once a day.” My eyes flew to his as he said it. “Your father’s fine. He’s not alone. The point is that they know he’s still back in your home area. There’s nothing for you to worry about here.”
Then, why couldn’t I have a car or go jogging? Instead of saying it aloud, I just nodded, ready to change the subject. I didn’t want to think of Chuck stalking my Dad.
“Shed.Five minutes.”
Then, he strode out the door.
****
Racer put me through an hour of self-defense training where he actually taught me a few moves. With his arms wrapped around me from behind, I stomped on his foot. When he grunted and bent forward slightly, I tossed my head back and tried to break his nose. We practiced the move several times until he sat on the mat to rub his feet.
“I thought I’d be too short for that,” I said referring to the backwards head-butt.
“Not if you bring him down to your level.”
Him. Chuck. “Do you think I’ll really have to use this stuff?” I’d only said yes to lessons to make Dad feel better, but Racer suddenly seemed very determined to hone my defense skills. Was there something Dad and Racer weren’t telling me?
He shrugged, stood, and offered me his hand. I took it and tried to ignore the tingle that spread from my fingers to my stomach at his touch. Self-defense with him was getting distracting. So much touching...
****
I curled my feet under me and leaned back in the chair, trying to focus on the movie. After doing homework for six hours, I’d paced the apartment restlessly. The sound of my steps must have gotten to Racer because, with a frown, he had knocked on my door and invited me down to his place. The comedy on the screen hadn’t improved his mood. It wasn’t doing anything for me, either.
The restlessness sat heavy on my shoulders, making me want to fidget. I couldn’t stop worrying about Dad. Where was Chuck? Why wasn’t he letting go of his infatuation? He was handsome enough to attract other women.
