Nathan looks to us, and Dad follows. Mom rubs her hand over his back as he takes her side. Nathan comes over to me still standing by the living room’s doorway. I take his hand, getting my fill up.
“Did you see what Tracey needed to show you?” Dad asks Mom, pushing his hand across her back.
“Yes,” she nods once. “Now, we can go.”
Guided by Taylor, they pass me, heading for the front door. “We’ll be in the car, Tracey,” Dad calls.
Not a second from them leaving the room, Scott scoffs. “You guys were walking the trail, huh?” He just couldn’t hold it.
Nathan laughs. “Yeah. That’s exactly what happened.”
“I doubt it,” Scott retorts, nodding to Glen for her to come with him.
They leave Nathan and me in the room with Natalia and Roseland. “If you weren’t on the trail, then where were you?” Natalia wastes no time digging into the truth.
“We were, Mom. Scott was kidding. Sparks’ dad was pissing her off. We left to calm her down so she wouldn’t set the dining room on fire.”
Nodding, Natalia throws up her hands. “Good. Tracey’s set enough things on fire around here.”
I lift my shoulders in a half shrug. “Am I ever going to live down the kitchen?”
“No!” the three of them exclaim.
I press my lips together as I roll my eyes. “Natalia, thank you for intervening with my dad. And for what you said to my mom.”
“Of course, Tracey. I wanted to make sure they didn’t just hear it from you but from me, too. You’re welcome here. But we must also respect the wishes of your father. We’ll have it figured out soon enough.”
“Thanks.” I hug her and wave bye to Roseland.
Nathan walks me to their front door and with our time we snuck away, and the blessing from Mom, I’m still in good spirits. Dad will have to work really hard to murder my mood.
Nathan grabs my waist, snagging my attention. “Glad you feel better.”
“You feel better?”
“Much. Thanks,” he drawls with his mood mellow and calm, face blank and relaxed, and eyes a smooth swirl of hazel. His shoulders slacken as he leans against the wall.
“Thank yourself. And later, while we are sitting on the beach, you’ll tell me what’s been up with you.”
He leans his head against the wall and looks down at me through his lashes. “Okay, Sparks, anything you want.”
I turn away from him and pull open the front door. “I’m holding you to it.”
As I’m heading out, he pulls me by my pockets back to him. “I don’t know, Sparks. We might have to throw these jeans out,” he whispers, lips grazing my ear. “I’d suggest throwing out this ass . . . but I’d miss it.”
I chuckle. Unable to move, I wait for the trimmer to stop trickling down my spine. “Every time you’re this close—this innocently close—my body hums from the ends of my hair to the tip of my toes,” I mutter every word, as though they were my last, hoping the immobility will pass soon.
“Your body loves me as much as you do.” His mood alters to one of despair. I can’t place it exactly, but its change concerns me.
I twist around. “You’re okay?”
“Of course.” He opens the door wider. “I’ll see you later.”
I pinch my lips to the side, eyeing him. “You’d tell me if something was up, right?”
I wait longer than I’m comfortable with for his answer. Scraping his nails across his beard, he turns down the corners of his mouth and nods.
“So, yes?” I push him to answer verbally.
“Yes.” Leaning forward, he plants a soft kiss to my cheek. “Call me later.”
“Fine,” I say, leaving. “See you later.”
genuine imitation
The silence is unbearable on the ride home. Mom and Dad have said nothing but goodbye since we left Nathan’s house. The least we can do is get a head start on this talk Dad is so adamant about having. “Okay, Dad. What’s up?” I start, since neither of them plans on kicking this thing off.
“I don’t know, Tracey,” he says, shaking his head.
“Mom?”
“We have already spoken, honey.” She’s right.
“Okay, then turn back around, and drop me off.” I hate this. One minute, Dad wants to express himself and then the next he has nothing to say. He must want me to apologize, to explain my actions, or agree with his rejection of my relationship with Nathan. That’s not going to happen. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He’s being such an asshole!
“Tracey, what has gotten into you?” he asks, tone clipped and high-pitched.
“Nothing, Dad. I just think you’re overthinking and overreacting about all of this. I’m not a child, and you’re treating me as one.”
“Tracey, you are also not an adult.”
“What makes me not?” I fire back.
“What you did back there was inappropriate.”
“No! What you did back there was inappropriate. You brought up a conversation that needed to be held between us. Not in front of Nathan’s entire family. It would’ve been different if it were only a talk between his mother and us. If you hadn’t done that, making me uncomfortable, I wouldn’t have had a reason to leave.”
“It was fact, Tracey. We are moving. What were you going to do, tell them at the last minute? Just leave?”
“I’m not leaving period,” I declare, letting the weight of my words settle. “And they already knew. How else would I’ve known she’d welcome me?”
“Tracey, you cannot move in with their family. You know nothing about them! As you said, you don’t even know how to get around their house. How long have you and Nathan been together?” he questions rhetorically. “A week! Before you even think about taking those steps, the least you can do is get to know the boy.”
“Honestly, Dad.” I break in, ready to chop him down. “I spend more time at Nathan’s house than I do my own. But you wouldn’t know that because you’re never home!” The car speeds up, and we all slightly jerk forward as he pumps the brakes to slow.
“Dear,” Mom interjects, “maybe we should finish this conversation at home.”
He looks between her and the road. “And why do you not have anything to say about this?”
She rubs her hands together. It’s the way she copes and manages her anger or frustration. “Tracey and Nathan are fine. I’ve spent time around them—”
“And how often does this happen? Why didn’t I know about it?” he questions in disbelief, cutting her off.
“Nathan is at our house frequently, and Tracey goes over there quite often. I have spoken with both of them privately. The three of us talk all the time. It’s her relationship. It’s what she wants. She is not a child, regardless of how we see her. Give her a little rope, dear.”
“Sweetheart, this cannot be you talking. You can’t be serious,” he insults.
I cut in, taking the heat off Mom. “What is the problem, Dad?”
“The problem is, you haven’t had a relationship your entire life, and here comes some boy and after, what? A few days! You want to run off into the sunset and move in with him and his family.”
“I would prefer to move in with him than to move to Tennessee with you and your mood. If you weren’t forcing us to move and being so mean, I probably wouldn’t make such a big deal over it.”
“The move will benefit you, Tracey,” he says in a kind tone, gaze lifting to the rearview mirror where our eyes meet. “You know nothing about the world around you. You’ve only ever lived in Bennington.”
“If I want to see the world, I’ll go see it with Nathan. When I want to. Not forced to,” I chide.
“Tracey, that boy doesn’t love you. You two don’t even know each other well enough. You don’t know any boy. You haven’t had the chance to experience a proper relationship yet, and you’re jumping at the first opportunity of something temporary, non-lasting. It’s not worth you throwing your life away!”
�
�Dear, you are taking this too far. Tracey, your father is just overprotective, fearing you getting hurt or letting go of home too soon.”
“No, she needs to hear it. I’m trying to talk some sense into our daughter. You’ve just been sitting around, not saying or doing anything about it. Just letting her parade around like this is okay.”
“There is nothing to say or do,” she asserts, raising her voice. “There is much you do not know or understand. You need to stop, and now.”
Dad ignores her, eyes pinning on me through the rearview mirror. “Let’s not mention the way you two were kissing. Maybe I’m wrong.” His head jerks, as if he’s just come up with the answer on his own. “By the looks of it, he only wants you for sex, Tracey!”
“James Warren! That is inappropriate,” Mom shouts. “That young man is more than respectful to our daughter. Stop this.”
“No, Mom. It’s okay. Let him get it out,” I sass with all the sarcasm I can, turning up my nose.
He quiets the remaining few minutes to the house. We enter our home, each of us waiting for the other to speak.
I sit at the breakfast bar. Dad’s stare stabs through me every time he blinks. “Go ahead, Dad. Continue to tell me how my boyfriend is using me for sex. And while you’re at it, tell me about what I don’t know about boys. Considering, I dated a guy for two years.” I raise two fingers. “I just didn’t tell you about it. Or the fact that Nathan would be the second guy I’ve had sex with, not the first.” I make an exaggerated gasp, throwing my hand over my mouth for extra effect. Dad’s eyes spread wide. Mom’s too. And seeing I finally have their full attention, I continue, “If you could’ve been understanding and accepting and talked to me, this would’ve happened differently. And because you’re always gone, that’d be the reason why you know nothing.” I turn away from him, fed up with my dad and his anger toward Nathan and our relationship. Nathan, come get me?
Okay.
“Tracey, you are trying to make me into the bad guy.”
“You made yourself into the bad guy.” I meet Dad’s angered eyes. “Why would we waste our time going over there and meeting his family? Why would Nathan cook for everyone? Oh, right! So he can just use me for sex, which he already gets for free, and leave me. That seems pointless. He didn’t have to prove anything to me. But he’s going to go out of his way, make sure his oversized family is all in the same place at the same time for a few hours, clean the entire freaking house, all just to impress my father so he could use me for sex, huh? He did all that to impress you two, not me.” I stand from the barstool, pointing to myself. “I am not a child, Dad. And I appreciate the two of you care about me and want what’s best for me. I do. I’d also appreciate your understanding. But I understand I don’t have it,” I say, heading up the stairs and going to my room. “I’d swear I thought you felt differently,” I mumble.
Lumbered footsteps follow behind me as I close my door. “Tracey, do not lock that door.”
I’m done arguing. Instead of me closing the door, I leave it open and go over to my chaise. Sitting on it with my knees pulled to my chest, I watch Dad enter my room. His piercing glare sweeps across the room before finding me and holds my stare as he sits on my bed. I break our silent bore, leaning my head back on the arm of the chaise. I close my eyes, saying, “Nathan will be here shortly. I don’t want to argue.”
“Ladybug, you have to consider your options, understand what’s out there for you. I know what you said. I heard you.”
I cut him off. “If you heard me, why are we still talking about this? There is no other option.” I leave my head back with my eyes closed. If we keep going and he keeps giving me the angry eyes, and I keep defending myself and my mate, I will break out into tears. I hate arguing with my parents. I know they hate arguing with me too, so why can’t he just stop!
“What makes you so sure about Nathan? What has you this wrapped up in him that you would feel this fragile relationship is lasting?” he asks, shifting on my bed.
“I’ll have him tell you. Maybe it’ll sound better coming from the horse’s mouth because my words apparently mean nothing to you.”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all, Ladybug.”
Mom’s presence enters the room. “Dear, can we talk for a minute?”
“Yes, as a family. Anything we have to say about Tracey and Nathan, I would like for her to hear it.”
I peek through my lashes, looking for Mom. She looks at me as Dad turns his attention to her. I shake my head, unsure of what she’s about to say. Let’s just leave it alone.
“Dear, Tracey and Nathan are fine. If it works out it does, if it doesn’t, then a lesson is learned. It will be a learning experience. You telling her you don’t want her to be with him and forcing her to move will do nothing but worsen the situation for our family. We’ve been down this road before, and we know how it ends. Let’s not run our daughter away all because we wouldn’t give her options, responsibility, and a chance to make her own decisions without our instantly rejecting them or not being understanding of her wants and feelings.” Mom, the peacekeeper. She knows how it feels to have a family reject your choices and decisions like hers did to her.
“You give their relationship your blessings, Karen?”
“They are good kids, James. Nathan’s parents have raised him well and with respect. You have seen the way he treats Tracey.”
“That means nothing, Karen.”
“When I caught them in the bed together this morning, they were both clothed, and there were no signs of sex. Tracey was even honest about his being here.” She casually informs in the most convincing voice possible, as if she didn’t just swat at a swarm of wasps.
Aw, crap. I rise, knowing the smelliest shit is about to hit the fan.
Dad’s brows touch his hairline, and though I expect it, I still jump when he shouts, “What! What were you two in here doing?” He’s on his feet, fuming at the ears.
“Dad. Sleeping, clothed, nothing else. Did you not hear what she said? We weren’t doing anything.”
He looks from me to shock-faced Mom. However else she expected him to respond, I don’t know, but apparently pissed wasn’t one of her top three. He’s already on squad No Nathan, so this should’ve seriously been the reaction she was expecting.
“And what did you say about this?” he blares, a thick coat of anger lacing his staggered voice.
“I wasn’t as mad as you are,” she defends.
“How could you not be?” he shouts louder. Confusion and befuddlement are thick on his reddening face.
“She told me the truth.”
“How could you be so sure it’s the truth?”
“Because I trust our daughter!”
“Even after all the valuable information she provided in the kitchen. You still trust her?”
“What would you like me to do, dear?” She folds her arms across her chest and puts her weight on her right foot. “Scold her for telling the truth? How would you like me to respond, James?” she clips, hitching her eyebrow. “Yell and demand she never be truthful again?”
“Get her a goddamn chastity belt and keep her from seeing that boy! Stop allowing him to come over here, and you three sit around like he’s a part of this goddamn family!”
“Tell me what’s wrong with him, James. And I will.”
“Tell me too.” I stand from the chaise. I know if he comes up with nothing, he will drop it.
Sparks, I’m outside. Take your time.
‘Kay. Give me ten.
Dad eyes me, saying nothing for a moment. “There isn’t anything wrong with him. Something with him and his family doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Well, Dad, I’m sorry to hear that. But he’s here, and I’m leaving. When you’re ready to have a rational conversation, let me know. And maybe we’ll hug and say we love each other.” I pass him to get to Mom and hug her. “Thanks, Mom. Sorry again.”
“I know, Tracey. Be careful. We do love you and want the best for you.”<
br />
I don’t look at Dad as I head out of my room. I hear them sit on the bed as I head downstairs. Dad mutters and Mom’s silent.
The LED lights of Nathan’s truck beam on me as I open the front door and walk toward it. He gets out and meets me at the front of the truck. “Hey.”
“You got your truck back!” I cheer without raising my voice.
“I did. How’d your talk go?”
“It’ll be better after we leave.”
His lips press into a thin line. “That bad, huh?”
I push my hands through my hair and let the cool breeze wash my hot neck. “No, but my dad is an asshole.” Meeting his eyes, I say, “Said you were only using me for sex. And you can’t love me.”
He smirks and his dimple winks. “I might be.” Backing away, he adds, “But considering you do all the convincing and make me do things I’m not ready for us to do, I’d say you use me.” He licks his lips. “Once again, our parents have it wrong.”
I fight my grin. “What are you trying to insinuate, Nate?”
He smirks. “Nothing, Sparks. You ready?”
“Tracey?”
I roll my eyes at the sound of Dad’s voice. “Yes, I’m ready to go,” I answer Nathan, turning to face dad.
Dad charges out of the house and off the front porch. “I’m not comfortable with you leaving with him.” He throws a point, finger wagging in our direction.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Do not do this in front of him,” I threaten with a look of warning.
Stopping a good few feet from us, Dad crosses his arms. “Tracey, let’s go back in the house.”
“Erm.” A familiar voice sounds behind Nathan and me. Nathan’s defensive shield hardens his body; it halts me for a split second before my flesh prickles with the harder he gets. I don’t have any kind of shield, but feeling him on me makes me believe I do. “I wouldn’t be interrupting something, would I?”
I resist the urge to veer right and look past Nathan. But I know the voice. One I dream to hear, but dread to listen to at the same time. Roehl.
Brazen: A Dark Paranormal Romance (The Sephlem Trials Book 2) Page 20
