Dad’s Little Secret

CHAPTER SIX

They had gone back to the house after she had complained that she couldn't walk any further.

She was shaken, scared, tired, and weak. Manny had suggested she follow him to a friend's but for some reason, she just couldn't find the strength to continue walking. So after walking a few steps away from the house, they turned back but not before Manny made sure Bob had gone.

Lisa lay awake long after Manny had gone to let her sleep. She thought about everything that had just happened. She had taken the risk of leaving home to see Bob, who should have helped her get the body enhancement she had so longed for. What was this turn of events? What was this mess she had gotten herself into? She hated it!! This was not what was supposed to happen. This was not like the happily ever after she had hoped for.

And then there was Manny. What was this restlessness she felt whenever she thought of him? What was this longing? She had hated him at first sight anyway, so what were these sudden palpitations in her heart every time she was near him?

The sensation of Manny's touch, his strong grasp steadying her back, still lingered.

She hated feeling safe with him.

The way Manny had come into the picture within these recent hours of turmoil, the way Bob had turned against her, she ought to have been brainstorming on how to get out of this situation but the one thought she could conceive, however, was Manny.

His presence was fire and ice. One moment, he was propping her up so that she wouldn't collapse. Next, he was brushing her off as another issue left on his doorstep.

She hadn’t really been in multiple serious relationships, but she knew this was not a good feeling. If she ever went ahead, there was bound to be toxicity as Manny was always too quick to shut her out.

She shook off the feeling, tossed the covers aside and headed to the kitchen. Maybe water would calm this jittery energy building under her skin.

She stopped dead in her tracks when she rounded the corner.

Manny sat at the kitchen table, his hand loosely grasping a glass of whiskey. He hadn't caught sight of her yet. His shoulders were taut, his jaw tight, making him look even more closed off than he usually was.

For a moment, she thought about turning around and leaving him by himself.

Then he put a hand over his face, and heaved a heavy sigh.

At that moment, he looked vulnerable, tired. He looked like the side of Manny she had always wanted to see.

She took a step forward. "Can't sleep?"

Manny glanced up, his face immediately becoming one that was closed off. His shields came up so fast it was nauseating.

"You should be sleeping," he growled, taking one big gulp of the whiskey.

Lisa ignored the dismissal and sat down in front of him. "So should you."

He said nothing. Just sat there with his glass as if it contained all the secrets.

She watched him, the tensing of his knuckles, the quick exhalation. "Manny…"

She broke off. "Why did Bob leave me with you?"

He braced himself, but his tone was aloof. "You should ask him."

"I am asking you."

A muscle in his jaw flickered. "I don't have the answers you want, Lisa."

Her anger soured. "You don't even know what I want."

Manny set down his glass with more force than was required. "I know you want freedom, Lisa. And I know that whatever you think of me, I'm not."

Lisa swallowed hard. "I never said you were anything."

His eyes locked with hers then, dark and unbreakable. "Good. Let's leave it at that."

Something in his words hurt. As if he were intentionally pulling her away, ensuring she didn't come close.

But it was too late.

She was already close.

She had not been aware when it happened, maybe it was the way he had grasped her arm previously, to make sure she was okay, maybe it was the way he had given her his flip-flops without a second thought. Or maybe it was while he was sitting here now, pretending not to care, while everything he did showed otherwise.

She was falling for him.

And he was trying his best to stop it.

Lisa inched closer, her voice lowering. "You act like you don't care, but you do."

Manny let out a dry, unfunny laugh. "You don't even know me."

"Then let me."

For an instant, just one, something flared in his eyes. Something true. But then, just as quickly, it disappeared.

He pushed back from the table and stood up. "Get some rest, Lisa."

She stood there while he picked up his glass and left the kitchen, back rigid, movements contained.

He did not look over his shoulder.

Lisa sat for a while after he was gone, heart full of hurt.

He was escaping.

And she was sure that she'd never catch him.