Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Don’ wan’ no help from you!” he shouted.
Glenn ignored him, looking past me to the car and Amory, who I’d heard just get out of it. I hadn’t turned back and asked him to wait inside because it wouldn’t have done any good. The longer I stood out here, the more my dad would have a chance to do or say something.
“Let’s go home, Dad,” I told him, reaching to take his other arm and relieve Glenn.
“He got here earlier than normal,” Glenn said. “I tried to keep a watch on him, but he’s not easy.”
It wasn’t Glenn’s fault. He had a bar full of people to serve and wasn’t my dad’s keeper.
“It’s fine,” I assured him.
Glenn didn’t look so sure.
“Stop talkin’ ’bout me like I ain’t here!” Dad snarled at me. “Jus’ get in the damn car and take me home, you good-for-nothing slut. Look at ya, dressed like a whore. Look just like your momma did when I met her, and she’s a whore too.”
I felt Amory behind me and took a deep breath before pulling my father’s arm so he would start moving toward the car.
“Heard it all before, Dad. Let’s go,” I replied calmly.
The shame of hearing his hateful words was hard with Amory standing there, listening. I’d thought I was immune to it, but the sick knot in my stomach that came this time told me I wasn’t.
Dad pushed me, and I stumbled because of the heels I was still wearing. Normally, I handled his aggressiveness without issue, but I wasn’t dressed for it tonight.
“Whoa,” Amory said, grabbing my waist to steady me as he glared at my father.
“I’m fine,” I told him. “It’s fine.”
Amory didn’t even glance at me when he released me, then grabbed my father’s other arm and jerked him hard enough that he was the one falling forward this time. His arm was snatched from my hold as Amory basically carried him by his arm to the car.
My father began cursing and crying out in pain. I glanced at Glenn, who stood there, watching. He raised his eyebrows at me, then nodded his head before turning to go back inside.
Hurrying over to the car, I got the door and opened it to put him in the passenger seat.
“Lean the seat forward,” Amory ordered. “He’s going in the back.”
“Don’ sit in the back in my own fucking car!” Dad told him.
“You do tonight,” Amory replied, then forcefully shoved him into the car, where he fell onto the seat face-first.
He didn’t wait for my dad to get straightened out before moving my seat back and squishing him into the small area. The things my drunken father was gonna say on the ride home were going to be bad. Especially now that he’d been handled this way by someone I’d brought with me.
“Get in,” Amory said to me in a gentler tone.
I lifted my eyes to meet his and expected to see pity or disgust. Instead, I felt a chill run down my spine from the enraged gleam in his brown eyes.
I didn’t try to soothe him, but then I had no idea what to do or say. I sat down, and he waited until I adjusted my dress before closing the door.
“You think I don’t know you’re spreading your legs for that man? Only reason he’s here, ain’t it? Your Grams would be ashamed of you if she knew.” The slurred speech was low and held the disgust that it always did.
When he was drunk, he made no attempt to hide how he felt about me. All my mother’s transgressions were blamed on me.
I said nothing, but kept my focus straight ahead at the poorly lit parking lot. Amory climbed back into the car, and I remained tense, waiting for my father to start in on me or possibly him next.
Amory fixed the rearview mirror until it was aimed at the back seat. “Say one more motherfucking word to her or about her, and I’ll pull this car over, jerk you out of it, and beat your sorry-ass face in.”
I sucked in a breath, staring at him. Surely, he was joking.
No words came from my dad. He grunted in response. If I was lucky, he’d pass out before we got home.
Amory started the vehicle and shifted it into drive before he reached over and once again coaxed my fist open with the soft brush of his fingers. My stomach went from the tight knot it was in to once again fluttering wildly from being touched like this. Simple, kind, and reassuring, all at once.
I opened my fingers, and his hand slid over mine. Then, he threaded our fingers together before firmly closing his large hand over mine with a sturdy grip. Just like before, my body began to relax. It didn’t feel lonely when his hand held mine. The desperation evaporated, and the world seemed less fraught with obstacles ready to leap out at me. I knew that wasn’t the case. I would wake up tomorrow with all the same troubles from today and more, but in this moment, I didn’t fear them because we had this connection.