I wipe my upper lip with the side of my hand to remove the milk mustache. “It’s fine, Dad. What’s up this morning?”
“I want to talk about Nathan.” Mom walks in, and he glances over at her. She gives him some kind of confirming nod, and Dad continues, “He is a little advanced, wouldn’t you say so?”
“Advanced of what?” I blurt, knitting my brows and my nostrils flare.
He stares for a minute, seeming shocked I’m unaware of his accusation. “He owns his own business, has degrees,” he carries the plurality of the word. “Ladybug, you don’t even have a job.”
“Okay. . ?”
“Your mother and I were thinking he may be too much for you at this stage in your life. He’s a nice young man, very respectful and courteous. However, he has a good chunk of his life together, and you’re just getting started. It may not be wise for you two to date and get serious.”
I rise from the table, walking away. I definitely do not like the direction of this conversation.
“Tracey, do not walk away from this table while I’m talking to you,” he warns.
I halt, fists un-balling at my sides. “Stop, Dad.”
“Tracey, come back here and sit down. I’m talking to you.” He adjusts in his seat. “You have a voice here too.”
I lean on the back of a chair. “Nathan’s perfect for me. Yes, he does have a lot of his life together, and he should. He started young and matures as he grows older.” I cross my arms. “You should be happy I prefer to be with him, since he’s doing something positive with his life and being responsible, making a name for our generation, rather than some drug dealer or a guy who only wants to use me for sex!” Whoa. My shoulders slump. That may have been taking it too far. They scold me with wide, disapproving eyes. I throw up my hands. “Sorry. Sorry. Look, guys, there should be nothing wrong with the guy I’m dating having his life together. Everybody needs someone, and well, we’re each other’s somebody.”
“You would be using him for his success, Tracey, and that’s not right,” Mom says.
“I don’t even know what that means. I won’t, I don’t, use him for anything. Nathan chose me first, and I followed. We were ma―” I shake my head, taking a breath. “We were together before I knew anything about his business or degrees. And I don’t look at him differently, nor does it make me feel any different for him because of it.”
“What we mean, Ladybug.” Dad breathes and pats Mom’s hand resting on his shoulder. “Nathan seems a little advanced for you. We wouldn’t want you to get blindsided into anything you weren’t ready for or do something you didn’t want to do.”
“So Nathan’s a good guy, just not for me?” My brows draw taut as I put the pieces together. “You know, you’ve raised a smart and mature young lady. You two should have more faith and trust in me. I’m involving you in my relationship with Nathan and sharing these things with you should say a lot about my maturity in this situation. But I guess not.” I hate the card I’m about to play, but they’ve upset me. “Honestly, I am eighteen and can legally do what and who I want.”
“Tracey, you are out of line!” Dad barks, slapping his hand down on the table.
I am, but he drove me here. “Dad, you just made it seem like I was inadequate for my mate, err, boyfriend!”
“That is not what we are saying, Tracey.” Mom steps in with all her using him for success glory.
“Then what are you saying, Mom?” They are the ones who are out of line.
“Tracey,” Dad starts in a softer tone, “all we’re saying is we don’t want you tagging along, and later, when Nathan finds someone that’s level with him, you get dropped.” Getting up, Dad comes over. “We don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“That won’t happen,” I say softly, filled with hostility.
“How do you know that?”
Because my freaking heart beats in his freaking chest, and neither he nor I am going anywhere! “When you know, you know.” It’s hard explaining this to them without telling the truth. “And I’m going to be honest with you both.” They stare at me, anticipating my next words. “I’m going to be with Nathan, and you two are going to be with me or against me. Nothing you say or do, including moving, will change my mind about that.”
“Tracey, what has this boy done for you to make you feel so strongly about him?”
“Mom, it’s not about what he has done for me. It’s about what he does to me. He makes me weightless, and I level him. He makes me happy, and I return it. He makes me feel the entire universe when he looks at me. And when he holds me, we soar to the furthest star and back.” I shrug and cover my warming cheeks with my hands. “He loves me. What more do I need? And with the added support of his family, I want to have the same thing from you two.”
“Hold on, Tracey. You have met his family?” Mom counters. I roll my eyes.
“Yes, dear, and they all live together,” Dad answers.
“How did I miss this?” I let them carry on, Dad catching her up on the conversation she missed last night.
“Okay, Tracey. You’ve met his family, and. . ?” Mom carries with her hand moving in a continuing motion.
“I love his family.” I wring my hands and suck in a calming breath. “Look, there’s nothing more to discuss,” I hesitate to say. They may have a point, but will never understand my level of confidence in Nathan and myself. “Guys, your job is to tell me your opinions, and from what it sounds like, you both like him. This means he’s a good guy. Yes, he is more advanced than I am, but so what? He loves me, and would wrap the world up and give it to me in a box if he could!” I calm myself, being worked up in my explanation. “He’d give me all that love possesses if I needed him to.” I eye them both, assuring, “Please understand that this isn’t some childhood crush. This, what we have, what we’re building, is real. I’m not going anywhere, I’m not changing, and I am not leaving. And I’ll call him here to tell you the same thing.”
They study me. I guess going over what I said. They share a glance. Mom doesn’t like to argue. Dad, on the other hand, will keep it up even if he’s losing the battle. He’s where I get it from. But Mom will help me win this war.
“Mom, you know affection when you see it. When Nathan was near me and around me, did you see a misstep or falter? Why would I waste my time introducing you to him, the only guy I’ve ever introduced you to, if this was just some crush, or he didn’t feel the same way about me as I do him?” I cackle. “His feelings are probably stronger than mine!” I look away from them, thinking I should’ve held that back. “What I mean is, he loves me more than I love him. And, Dad, you said it yourself. What made you change your mind from yesterday morning? Knowing he has his own company, is that making the affections you acknowledged any less intense?”
Dad approaches to hug me, I think. “You seem to be well aware of your feelings for each other. We are uneducated about your relationship, and it’s your responsibility to educate us. About everything,” he adds with dramatic emphasis. “We love you too, and you are our lives as well. It’s not only our job to provide an opinion on your relationship, but to guide you and bring all the options to the table to help you make wiser decisions.” He lets out an arm. “And, yes, Nathan is a nice boy.”
I wrap my arms around his middle. This isn’t the last I’ll hear about this, but they have to know I’m right. “So, should I be expecting a moving conversation when you two return?”
“Unless you want to have it now,” Dad responds.
“No, but. . . You are moving?”
“Do you not plan on accompanying us in the move?” he asks.
I swell my chest, stepping up to the plate. “I do not.”
Dad straightens his spine and crosses his arm. “And where will you go?”
Honestly? “I’ll register for school and either live on campus or live with Nathan for a little while and see how things work out, leaving out a future family and babies, though.” I put the brakes on the baby talk. “But I’m not mo
ving to Tennessee.”
“Okay, Tracey,” Mom interjects.
“What, dear?” Dad questions her in a high-pitched voice flooded with shock.
Mom steps to Dad’s side and picks up his empty plate and glass from the table. “We cannot force her to move, honey. She’s old enough to make her own decisions. Now, I do not agree with her living with Nathan. However, we do not have to make her move across the country. We will make the proper provisions to accommodate Tracey’s choice and safety, if, in fact, she stays here.”
“We have some things we need to discuss, dear.” That probably won’t be an uplifting talk, but I appreciate Mom’s support. “We’re preparing to leave. Yes, your mother and I raised a wise and responsible young lady. Don’t forget that while we are gone.”
“Okay, Dad. You two have a good time. Love you,” I say as they head upstairs.
I eat my cold breakfast, missing Nathan. This whole being bound thing isn’t as bad as he made it seem. I think I’m controlling it. Yes, I miss him, but not to the point I can’t do anything else.
My skin crawls as an aggressive hankering makes my blood rush. I rub my arms, having no calming effect on the sensation. Before I realize it, I call him, Nathan?
An irritation crawls beneath the surface of my skin, beyond the reach of a scratch. The urge and aggregation of this sudden beckoning forces a single huff from my lungs. “Gosh!” I clutch the edge of the table.
Okay, scratch that. I need him. Only him. No Glen, no Scott, no families.
Nathan, I call again. I need him to tell me he loves me and that we’re permanent. My parents just messed up my head. I need to suppress this irritating yearn.
Nathan! If you’re somewhere hanging on the brink of death, I am not saving you again.
I still get no answer.
Nathan! What the hell? I shout.
Yes, baby? he answers calmly.
What are you doing? I ask, slamming my hand on the table.
Sleeping.
Why?
Is it a crime to sleep?
Nathan, stop, I grumble to myself. I’m putting on my clothes. Can you please come get me?
Now?
No, tomorrow. What the hell, Nathan?
There’s a chuckle. Babe, what’s wrong?
I ignore him and head to Mom and Dad’s room. With another hug, I apologize for being rude. After helping them with their bags and saying our goodbyes, I head back to my room and throw on a pair of dark-denim Bermuda shorts, and a pink and a blue tank. I slip into a pair of sandals and snatch my phone from the dresser on my way out.
Nathan’s sitting in his truck parked in my driveway. He gets out and helps me in. As he settles back in the driver’s seat, he says, “I take it your talk with your parents didn’t go so well?”
I angrily turn to him. “Why couldn’t you just say okay when I asked you to come get me?”
He shrugs, leaving his shoulders near his ears. “Tracey, what’s the problem?”
“You took forever to answer me, and you acted like I was bothering you.”
“You’re never a bother, Tracey,” he says, driving away from my house.
I watch the road, going over my erratic emotions. Am I losing it, maybe blowing it out of proportion? Is it the mating? Am I just overwhelmed. I grumble and slouch in the seat.
“Are we picking up Glen and Scott?”
“No, forget about them. Go back to your house.”
He narrows his eyes, brows furrowing.
“What?”
Dragging his gaze away from me, he mutters, “That’s what I am trying to figure out. Why are you upset and spazzing out on me?”
I throw my head against the headrest, lifting my knees to my chest. Nathan steals glances at me the entire ride to his house, and I stare out the window, ignoring him. I can’t help but think about what my parents said; using him, not being able to give him enough of what he’s giving me, me having nothing, and him having everything. It all makes sense. Like his father said last night, it’s because of me he was caught. I throw him off. I’m a flaw, holding him back.
Natalia’s on a ladder in their driveway, assorting flowers hanging from the garage gutters.
“Hey, Natalia,” I greet.
“Hello, Tracey. Nice of you to come by.” As if I’m not over here all the time.
“Mom, don’t hurt yourself up there. Get Little Nathan out here to help you.”
“No, Nathan. I got it. Go spend time with Tracey.”
“Okay, Mother. Be careful.” He’s stern with his warning. I guess she hurts herself often, by the way it sounds.
As we head to his room, I kindly greet everyone we pass with a smile I don’t mean and a ‘doing well’ that’s a lie. I head to his bathroom to take a second alone. It might’ve been better for me to stay at home, but I needed to see him. I’m so caught up in my emotions, and I don’t want him to see me break down. But he follows right behind me. “Tracey, what is going on? What happened?”
“Just tell me the truth.”
“About what?”
“Am I enough for you? You have everything. Your entire life is together, and I’m barely getting started. I can’t be.” I charge into the bathroom and try to close the door, but he stops me. I hunch over the sink with a huff of frustration. “I need a minute alone, Nathan.”
“Is this something your parents said?”
I look up at his reflection. “Why does that matter?”
“Honestly, it doesn’t, but I ask because your parents don’t know the truth.” He turns me around to face him. “They don’t know who I am or how old I really am. If they knew all the time I’ve had to accomplish these things, their perspectives would be different. Plus, they would think something was wrong. Me looking this good at fifty-three, but. . .” He shrugs.
I smile at his remark, not putting that piece of the puzzle into my confusion. My smile fades. “Why does it matter if I wanted you to come pick me up now or later?”
“Tracey, I was asleep. I answered. I’m okay. You’re okay. I don’t understand what’s wrong.” He stares at me for a moment.
I fidget my shaking hands. I’m confused. I’m antsy. I’m. . . I don’t know anymore.
“What makes you doubt us, babe?” he asks, rubbing my arms.
“What do you mean?”
“Your mind, it’s full of doubt.” He looks around. “Uh. Can we go back to the room and talk outside the bathroom?” I stalk past him and stand in front of his messy bed that’s usually made up. “I told you I was asleep.”
“I don’t know, Nathan. It doesn’t seem right. Fate made a mistake. We don’t match.” I pause. “My mom told me I would be using you for your success if I stayed with you.”
“How’d you respond to her?”
“I didn’t even know what that meant, but I love you and you equally love me, and I have nothing to use you for.”
“So, why has your mind changed?”
I flick my gaze up to the ceiling and cross my arms. “I’m not sure. After last night and knowing it wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t come into the picture. I just…”
He grabs my waist and tries to pull me to him. I don’t budge. “Come here, Tracey,” he demands through gritted teeth, pulling me harder. I stumble forward, and he says, “Nothing was your fault and you coming into my life is best thing to happen to me.” He smirks, and I try to fight my smile. “Now let me help you forget about this drama, show you sincerity.”
Forgetting is exactly what I want to do.
“You’re permanent, and I’m devoted to you,” he promises and kisses me, eliminating the doubt and worry compelling me. I’m usually more confident. “Exactly, give me back my strong-minded mate.” His voice is soft and seductive as he speaks against my lips. His hand pressed against my lower back pushes me against him. “Where did all this built-up aggression come from?” Our kiss deepens, causing my breaths to become greedy. “We’re good, love.” He slips his inquisitive kisses behind my ear, hitting my mel
t my soul spot.
This whirl of uncertainties, and every emotion in me that doesn’t know which way to go, I put into our caress, letting myself float into my mate.
cloaked
“Hey, guys!” Taylor chimes. She enters Nathan’s room and Natalia’s right behind her.
Nathan and I jump up from his bed. He stands, and I sit at the edge of the sheets, legs crossed. I acknowledge the messy bed that makes it look like we finished instead of started. “Um, this was like this before I got here,” I say, gesturing to the bed.
Taylor and Natalia laugh as I leave the bed for the desk chair. “Don’t stop on account of us.” Natalia titters.
“Maybe you two could knock before you walk in.” Nathan straightens the bed and invites his mom to sit down.
“Nathan, I told you I was stopping by. You two don’t waste any time,” Taylor exclaims.
“Yeah, well, that is so not appropriate,” I counter, hugging Natalia. “Hi.”
Natalia rubs my shoulder. Concern knits her brows. “Are you okay, Tracey? You looked so upset when you walked in.”
“Yeah. Everything is just a little much, and my parents are giving me a hard time right now.” And this bond is kicking my ass. It’s so intense today. I scrape my nails over my arms and look away from her.
She pats my shoulder, asking, “Would you like to tell me about it?”
“Well. . .” What the hell, why not? “We’re supposed to be moving to Tennessee in a few months.”
“What? Not happening. Nathan, why haven’t you said anything?” Taylor jumps in.
Nathan throws his hand over her mouth. “Hush, Taylor. Everything’s fine.” She shoves him away.
“And he keeps saying that.” I point at Nathan. “I don’t see it, but I trust him. Then they get me up this morning to talk about how Nathan’s too advanced for me and together and I’m not, so we won’t work out and I’m going to end up getting hurt. And they’re right, because if it wasn’t for me, last night would’ve never happened.” I blink back my burning tears, getting more and more overwhelmed with the more I say.
Plight: A Dark Paranormal Romance (The Sephlem Trials Book 1) Page 33
