Page 167 of Collided

I’m still thinking about him when I step inside the house and come face to face with Dad. He’s in a white tank top and jeans. A cigarette hangs between his fingers as he exhales the smoke in my face.

I wave my hand around to brush away the smoke.

“Where are you coming from?” He stands in front of me.

“I was at the library,” I lie.

He smiles. “Funny you say that. I was at the library earlier and Anastasia said you weren’t there.”

Air whooshes out of my chest. “I left early.”

Sweat builds on the back of my neck. I’m nervous. So nervous.

“Interesting.” He smothers the cigarette against the wall and throws it on the floor near my feet.

When I look up, he grabs me by my hair and drags me up to my room. His grip is tight, and he yanks my hair out of roots as his strides are long and mine aren’t. I can barely keep up with him.

Shoving me inside my room he slaps me so hard my ears begin ringing.

For a second there my brain stops working.

“You’re stupid if you think you can lie to me, and I’ll let you go.” Yanking me up by my arm he shakes me. The smell of alcohol is on him and his eyes are red.

“Where the fuck were you?” He raises his voice.

I try to cower away from him. But he’s too strong and big compared to me.

“Let me go, please,” I beg him with tears streaming down my eyes.

My cheek hurts so bad from the sting of his slap.

“I asked you a question.” He pulls my hair.

“Where were you?” he asks again, gazing at me with his dark, menacing eyes.

My lips tremble from the pain. I’m in so much pain.

“Dad, let me go.”

“I’ll get the truth out of you, bitch. I bet you’re whoring around the town thinking I won’t find out. But I will. And when I do I’ll kill him.”

Chills race down my spine at the thought of him hurting Heath.

My face must’ve shown my worry because a smirk splits on his lips.

“I knew it. There is an asshole you’re fucking.”

“No!” I fight him but he tightens his hold on my hair.

“I can see it in your eyes. There is a guy. Tell me his name.”

I shake my head. So hard and so fast I lose balance and stumble, but he keeps me in place.

“You’re a fucking cunt who spreads her legs for the first guy she saw. Do you need attention, Hope? Is that what it's about?”

“No.”

“Whoever it is, stay away from him, or else you won’t like the consequences.”

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