Page 72 of Take My Hand

“I think you’re right.” I dropped my feet to the floor and sat forward, on the edge of the sofa.

Our eyes trained on each other we couldn’t help but smile

“I should go,” he said, with a hint of disappointment.

“I suppose you should.” I was just as frustrated with the fact that he needed to leave. He was right, though, we had school in the morning, and the longer he stayed the more likely we’d get found out. “I’ll see you out.”

It was at that moment that I heard the floorboards move up above us. Instantly, both our heads swung back to look up.

“Ah fuck,” Zak groaned. “He’s awake.”

Panic stricken, I stood up and pulled at his arm. “Go out through the kitchen. Quick.” Snatching up his jacket, I thrust it at him and then pushed him towards the door into the hallway. As I opened it, a light came on at the top of the stairs from the bathroom, so I pushed Zak down the hall into the kitchen, rushing past him to the back door. The key wasn’t in it.

“Shit. Where’s the key?”

As my eyes scoured the kitchen counter, I heard a tread on the stairs. Dad was coming down.

“Here.” Zak pushed past me and shoved a key in the lock, turning it and then yanking the door open.

“Quick.”

He practically jumped out and then just as I was about to close the door on him, he leaned back in and kissed me hard on the lips.

“Night, gorgeous. Sleep tight. I’ll message you when I get home.”

The moment I turned the lock and threw the key on the side, Dad stepped inside the kitchen.

“What are you doing up?” he asked, rubbing at his chest and yawning.

“I just finished reading, so thought I’d get a drink before I go to sleep.”

He peered at the clock on the cooker. “It twenty to one, Mads. You should have been asleep ages ago. I don’t like you reading this late at night.”

“Why are you up?”

“Same. Wanted a drink.” He reached up into the cupboard for a glass and passed it to me and then took another one out for himself.

I ran the cold water tap and filled the glass, passed it to Dad and he handed me the other which I also filled. I turned, expecting Dad to be turning to go back upstairs to bed, but he was perched on the edge of the kitchen table.

“What?” I asked.

“Just wondering what you think of Maya.”

“Straight to the point, Dad.” I giggled and took a sip of the water that I really didn’t want. I could still taste Zak and wasn’t sure that I wanted to wash it away.

“You know me, sweetheart, I don’t like beating around the bush. So?”

I rolled my eyes. “I like her. She’s lovely, really lovely and I think she likes you, a lot.”

His smile was optimistic. “You think?”

I patted his shoulder. “Yes, Dad, I do. So, stop worrying.” He grinned broadly. “You can go back to bed now and sleep soundly.”

He narrowed his eyes on me. “You’re a little shit, you know that.”

“Yep.”

He pushed off the table, wrapped an arm around my neck, and kissed the top of my head. “Right, bed. And no more reading.”

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