Page 84 of Lilly

"You did too!" I say, raising my voice. "When you were my age, you just took off. Moved across the country. Moved in with your girlfriend. Got married. If I did that, Dad would kill me." I focus back on my dad. "Why is it different for him? Because he's a guy?"

"The two situations are not comparable," my dad says. "Now sit down."

"No. I'm not going to sit here and listen to you tell me I can't see my boyfriend. If I want to see him, I'll see him. Despite what you think, I'm not a kid and I'm tired of being treated like one."

"You are not being treated like a child." My dad shoves his chair back and stands up. "So stop acting like one and listen to me. Recently I've discovered some things about Reed's father that greatly concern me."

"Like what?" I ask, suddenly feeling nervous as I remember Reed's comments about his dad.

"Dean is involved with some very dangerous people. People who commit crimes. Very serious crimes."

"What do you mean?" I sink back in my chair. "Like drugs?"

"I'm not going to get into the details. The point is that I don't want you anywhere near his father. And until I can learn more about what Dean is involved in, I don't want you around Reed."

"What?" I stand up again. "Why is Reed being punished? He didn't do anything!"

"Are you sure about that? Do you know what he's up to when you're not around?"

"He works on his album covers. He goes to art exhibits. He isn't doing anything illegal."

"You don't know that. You're believing whatever he tells you."

"Because he wouldn't lie to me."

"Everyone lies. How many times have you lied to me when you've gone to see Reed?"

"I...I haven't lied." My heart's racing because I'm not telling the truth and my dad knows it.

"You lie about where you're going. What you're doing. And Reed goes along with it. So why would you assume Reed wouldn't lie to you as well?"

"He wouldn't do anything that would get himself in trouble. I know he wouldn't."

"Has he come across any large sums of money recently?"

"No," I say, avoiding his gaze.

"Tell me the truth." My dad crosses his arms over his chest.

Garret and Rachel are now looking at me, waiting for an answer.

"Okay, yes," I say, knowing they can tell when I'm lying. "Reed got some money, but it was a gift from his dad. He had nothing to do with it."

"That's what he told you?"

"Yes."

"And what was the amount?"

I hesitate, then say, "Ten thousand."

"Shit," Garret mumbles.

Rachel's eyes go to my dad but his remain on mine.

"I want you to take a break from Reed," he says, "at least until I know more about what's going on. I'm serious, Lilly. I don't want you getting involved in something that could be dangerous. You have no idea who these people are that Dean is working with, or if Reed is working with them as well. You may trust Reed, and maybe even Dean, but you can't trust the people they're doing business with."

I'm quiet as I think about this. It's not hard to believe that Dean is involved in something illegal, but Reed? It doesn't make sense. After his arrest back in high school, he's done everything possible to stay out of trouble. He doesn't even drink. But would he agree to do stuff for his dad if Dean asked him to? He might. Reed really wants to connect with his dad so if Dean asked for his help, it's possible Reed would do it. But maybe he doesn't know that whatever he's doing is bad.

---