Chapter 8
1264 Words
Riley
I returned home late, but when I walked in, Carl wasn’t home, he had told me the code of his apartment, but he was not home.
I let out a sharp sigh, but just before I headed upstairs, he walked in, holding some grocery bag, I glanced over his shoulder and was relieved when there was no Nora today.
“You are just coming home?” He asked me, his gaze flickered down to my skirt high on my thighs, just once but I caught it.
“Yes.” I responded as he walked toward the kitchen, putting the grocery bag down on the cabinet, I placed my bag on the sofa and went to the kitchen to help him rather than leave for my room.
He poured himself a whiskey and took a sip.
“Rough day?” I asked innocently, opening the fridge and bending low, slowly that my ass curved perfectly under the tight fabric as I put some of the things he got into the fridge.
He didn’t answer, so I turned to face him. “You are quiet.” I said, he looked away from me, trying to distract himself by staring at the bottom of his glass.
“I am trying,” he said, his voice a bit hoarse.
I grabbed a can of soda. “Trying on what?” I opened it and took a sip.
He clenched his jaw. “I am trying not to let a seventeen year old turn my life into a nightmare.” He didn’t look at me.
My hand tightened around the soda can, what was he trying to say? Does he already regret taking me in?
I exhaled softly and walked up to him. I stepped closer and could smell the liquor on his breath, and it wasn’t difficult to feel the tension rolling off him like heat.
“I will turn eighteen in two weeks.” I whispered.
“Two weeks is too late,” he faced me, I held his gaze and there were flashes of emotions I couldn’t interpret in them.
He doesn’t regret taking me in, he is holding back his desires.
I blinked in confusion. “Too late for what?” I asked.
His eyes dropped to my lips. “It’s too late for you to stop doing this,” he met my eyes again. “Before I do something I won’t come back from.” His brows creased slightly.
I parted my lips but held in the gasp, my pulse flustered and I tilted my head, my heart raced inside of my chest. “Maybe you shouldn’t be staring at my mouth like you want to ruin it…”
Would he kiss me?
He cursed under his breath and turned away, walking to the sink. “Call your parents, they called earlier, they have arrived in France.” He said, putting the glass away, he turned on the stove. “I will make dinner now, you should eat this time.”
A smile curled up in my lips as I stared at his perfectly made back that was turned at me, I didn’t answer or walk up to him again, I headed for the stairs, slowly taking off my blouse as I went, just in case he glanced back.
It was obvious whatever I was doing was working.
“Hello, Dad, how is France?” I asked over the phone when it finally connected.
“We just arrived, but it’s been good so far, how have you been?” My father asked from the other side of the line.
I glanced at the room door. “I am missing you, I am missing home.” I muttered.
“I am sorry that this came up, but we would rush it and be back as soon as possible…”
“It is okay dad. Take as much time as you need, I can handle this much.” I pressed the phone against my ear, I wanted to ask if he knew Carl was getting married and why I didn’t know about it, but I decided to keep my lips shut for now.
“How is living with Carl?” He asked and I was silent for a while, there was a knock on the door and it was slowly pushed open.
“Dinner is ready…” Carl mouthed.
I nodded at him. “It’s been good dad. He is taking good care of me.” I held Carl’s gaze, twirling a lock of my hair around my fingers, crossing my legs over the other one and pushing back slowly.
Carl rubbed his forehead and let out a sigh, he shook his head at me, his golden amber eyes narrowed and he walked out of the room, a smile tugged on my lips.
“That’s good to hear, hang in there and don’t cause any problems for him, Riley. It’s hard enough for him to take up our responsibility even when he has his work to do, okay?”
“I am not going to be a bother to him, don’t worry dad.” I lied. I was going to be bother Carl to the extent he gets tired of trying to pretend.
“Alright, I will make sure to send you a present on your birthday, have fun with your friends, okay?” He added and we said our goodbyes.
I tossed the phone on the bed and headed downstairs for diner, gladly, there was no Nora and it was finally only us.
He kept looking through his phone while eating but I stared at him, intently, so he know I was staring, but he didn’t stare back, whatever he was reading on his phone made his brows crease.
“It is bad habit staring at your phone while eating, you know that right?” I said, hoping he would turn his attention to me.
He glanced up, but before he would speak, his phone rang. “I have to take this…” He got to his feet, excusing himself, I watched him move to a corner to answer the call.
I couldn’t hear anything he said to the person on the other side of the line, but his reaction said it all, he was worried, angry and perhaps…
“Damn it!” He cursed loudly and hung up, he turned to me, rubbing his hand over his forehead, I blinked, putting down my cutlery.
“Is something wrong?” I asked when he approached the dining table again.
“Can you stay home alone tonight?” He asked me and I blinked, slowly rising to my feet.
“Why?” I asked.
“I have to attend to something urgent, lock the door and stay in, I will be back as soon as possible.” He turned to leave.
“Where are you going? Can I come with you?” I stepped forward, but he stopped and faced me again.
He pressed down his lips and shook his head. “No, it’s something I should…”
“Is this about Nora?” I interrupted and his brows creased slightly, he averted his gaze. “It’s about her, isn’t it?”
That lady wouldn’t just let me be with Carl alone even for a minute.
“I will be right back…” He turned to leave but I quickly rushed over and grabbed him by the wrist.
“Don’t go!” I begged and he slowly turned his gaze to me, his eyes softened. “Please, stay with me, don’t go.” I repeated.
- Writer
