Just One Kiss, Please Daddy

Chapter 16

Livia’s POV

My heart swells with longing.

Taken away from here. By Ford.

Ford’s eyes are probing me. Never have I ever felt this bare, this vulnerable.

The truth that he wants from me hangs from my lips. How long have I wished for something like this to happen? For someone to just look me in the eye and ask for the truth with the full intent of believing me?

One word. One word is all it will take. I know that if I confirm just one day out of all the years of abuse, Ford will immediately take action.

And I let myself dream in that split-second.

Being taken away from here.

Being with him and Nadine.

But if that happens, no one will take care of my mother. No one will look out for her. She’ll be here all alone, taking all the abuse that’s supposed to be split between the two of us.

For this reason alone, I can’t say anything.

I look up at Ford, resisting the urge to melt against his touch and spill everything. Instead, I give him a soft smile and say, “Ford, thank you for your worry. But I really am okay here. Nothing bad happened.”

“Then what about your brother?” he asks. “Is he here? Why did he chase after you? Why did you fight him off? Nadine told me—”

“He’s just a jerk,” I say. “

“Come to my clinic,” he insists. “Let me see what’s wrong with you.”

The only thing he will see are my fresh bruises.

“That won’t be necessary,” I say.

“Then why didn’t you go back to school?” Ford presses. “Nadine told me you never do that.”

I force a laugh. “I got sick.”

There. Plain and simple.

Silence lingers. Ford’s eyes don’t leave mine.

“I really am okay,” I say again. “I will… I will go back to school next week. No worries. I just need to rest.”

“Livia.” His voice catches in his throat. His hands flex against my face. He comes closer. “Just… tell me.”

My heart jumps into my throat. I try to swallow hard and look away, but he holds my gaze and refuses to make me look elsewhere. He leans close, his eyebrows pulled together in concern. A strange energy hangs in the air. The warmth of his touch spreads through my whole body, concentrating between my legs.

I close my eyes for a moment.

It’s wrong for me to feel this way.

Surely he’s just concerned about me.

But why are his eyes sweeping all over my face, stopping at my lips?

“All you need to say is one word,” he whispers. “And I will get you out of here. You will come home with me.”

He steps forward, closing the distance between us. His body presses against mine.

Ford’s eyes get more intense. “Tell me. Tell me everything.”

I hesitate.

David starts to knock on the door.

“Everything good in there?”

I snap back to reality.

“Yes,” I say automatically, smiling as though he can see me. “Everything is good.”

Knowing that the talk is over, Ford just looks at me. “Walk me out? Nadine is out there to see you.”

Eagerly, I nod. Together, we go out. Ford goes first. I follow him.

Immediately, I can already feel a strange vibe in the living room even though David is alone. He grins at us as we approach, getting up from his couch.

“There she is,” David says, opening his arms to hug me. “I’ve been so worried about you. Come here and give your dad a hug.”

My entire body stiffens in protest, but David doesn’t care. He wraps his arms around me in a hug, smiling at Ford as he goes.

“We’re not rich, as you can see. But this home is full of love.”

What the hell is he talking about?

I push him off me. “I need to walk him to his car.”

Nothing stays amiss in Ford’s vision. He turns to David, smiling. “It’s good to know that your family is doing well. I was going to say, Livia is invited to my daughter’s birthday party tomorrow. She’s supposed to stay the night.”

David pauses. I can see the gears in his brain working: if he says no, it would be suspicious. But if he says yes, it will give me the chance to rat him out.

In the end, David swallows hard and musters a smile. “Of course. I hope you have fun tomorrow, Livia.” He turns to Ford. “Should I take her to the venue? Make sure she’s alright?”

“I’ll pick her up,” Ford says, nodding. “Thank you.”

I’m about to walk with Ford outside, but David stops me, his eyes still on Ford. “My daughter needs to rest. Maybe you can walk to your car by yourself, sir?”

Ford hesitates, glancing at me. I don’t know if I’m just imagining things, but there seems to be a hint of longing in his eyes. But he just nods and leaves, closing the door behind him.

“A party, huh?” David asks in a low voice as the car drives away in the distance. “You know what to do, right? You know what not to say?”

“I do,” I just whisper, about to head to my bedroom when the front door opens.

Mom arrives, looking confused. “Whose car was that?”

“Counselor,” David says gruffly. “Came to check on Livia. Apparently she’s invited to his daughter’s birthday party. Did you call them to our home?”

“No,” Mom quickly says. “But that’s good. It’s good that she’s going.”

“No, she’s not going,” David declares. “Tell them you’re sicker than you thought. There’s no f*****g way I’d let you out of here.”

My face heats up. Of course it’s too good to be true.

“Livia is going, David,” Mom starts to insist.

I shake my head. “No. I don’t have anything to wear anyway.”

To make sure no one sees me cry, I head up to my bedroom. But before I can even close the door, Mom shows up, reaching into her uniform pocket as she heads inside.

“Don’t tell David,” Mom whispers. “Go pick an outfit tomorrow.”

With that, she hands me a hundred-dollar bill and kisses my cheek.

And for the first time in a few days, I start to smile genuinely.