Page 47 of Bullet
She thinks about it for several minutes before she looks up at me. “It was a hard day at therapy. I have homework, and I don’t think you are going to like it.”
I reach across, grabbing her hand. “I’ll do anything if it helps you feel better.”
She nods. “I’m supposed to start doing things I did before Mom died. Like hang out with friends and go to parties with them. I’m supposed to act my age or some shit.”
“No. I don’t want you drinking.”
She glares at me. “I get that I may have done some excessive things these past few years, but I can go to a party and stay sober. I did it most of my early teens.”
“Sorry if I have a hard time believing you won’t fall into old habits.”
She ignores my jab. “Skyla has been wanting to hang out. There’s a party tonight. At first, I didn’t want to go, but now I think I need to. I need to get some semblance of normalcy back.I know you won’t agree, but it’s what the doctor thinks will help me cope. I think she might be right.”
I hate that I want to lock her up and keep her in a cage so nothing ever touches her again. I can understand what she is saying, though. I doubt the doctor told her to go to a party, but I am sure she did tell her to get back to her normal activities. Just like I know that she went to many parties before her mom died. I had to pick her up at a few of them when she got herself into trouble.
It was a little secret between Eleanor and me. She would let Harlee go, but I would be in the shadows waiting in case something happened. My chest aches at the thought of Eleanor. She really was a special woman.
It’s for her that I nod.
“Okay. You can go,” I tell her.
“I wasn’t asking permission. I’m nineteen years old. I can make my own decisions. I was informing you that I am going.”
I grit my teeth. She’s right, of course, but I don’t like it.
“It’s still dangerous out there. William is plotting, and we don’t know why. You’ll take an escort with you,” I tell her.
She gives me an adorable little smirk. “Is that you offering?”
Fuck. I shouldn’t. I really need to keep my distance from her, but I can’t help myself.
“Yes. I’ll go with you and keep you safe. No drinking and no drugs. Those are nonnegotiable. You might be nineteen, but you are still under my care, which means that you take care of yourself.”
She sighs, rolling her eyes. “Yes, sir. I don’t even like drinking. I only did it to help numb the pain. Talking with my therapist, I realize that I was using it as a crutch. I’m learning to live through the pain instead. I promise, I’m not going to drink or touch any drugs.”
I take a deep breath. “I’m glad to hear that, Angel. We will eat, then I’ll take you home to change. We can go to this party tonight, but if anyone tries to fuck with you, I reserve the right to step in.”
“Fine, but you aren’t my keeper either. Last I checked, I’m not your old lady, and you refuse to step up to my dad and ask for permission to date me, so what I do is none of your business. If I want to dance with a boy, you will stand aside.”
I don’t like the idea, but she’s right. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Honk, but she doesn’t know that I plan to. As soon as he is better and back with us, I plan to tell him my intentions with his daughter. Even if it gets me banished or killed, I will ask for that permission.
I can’t do it yet, though, so I’ll respect her decisions. At least for a little while.
I can’t guarantee the safety of any asshole who puts their hands on her, though. A man can only take so much.
“Dancing is fine, but if they are not respectful, I’ll teach them what the word means.”
She shakes her head. “You MC guys are all the same. You grunt and growl and act protective. I know you feel some sort of responsibility for me, but you can’t keep me locked up forever. I will eventually find someone I want to be with. I’m no longer a little girl.”
Boy, is she right. She is far from the teenage girl I met three years ago. She has grown into a chaotic mess, but one that I have come to care for in ways I didn’t realize were possible.
I stayed away out of obligation to her father and respect for her not being able to handle her feelings, but she is working through all of that now. Her father will be coming back, and I will show him that I am the right choice for his daughter.
I only need to be patient a little longer, and then maybe I can finally have the woman who owns my heart.
Space. I need space.
I really should have demanded that we bring my car tonight, but Bullet knows how much I love riding. It’s one of my favorite things to do in the world and something I now only do with him.
