Page 44 of Resist Me

She nodded. I tried to ignore the worry etched into her brow. She could probably read everything on my face, but she let me walk away. Once I was outside, I brought the phone to my ear.

“Hey.”

“Did your sister get in?” my dad asked gruffly.

No, ‘Hi, how are you?’ or ‘How’s school going?’ It was stupid to be disappointed at this point, but here I was, feeling just that. It was easier if I didn’t talk to him at all. This was our third conversation in three weeks and I wanted to go back to that six month stretch of time when we didn’t say a word to each other.

“She’s here,” I confirmed. “We’re at the gym.”

“Tell her to call me. She’s ignoring my texts.”

I laughed and shook my head. “If she wants to talk to you, she will. I won’t be a middleman between you two.”

“Goddamnit, West, why do you have to make things difficult?”

My nostrils flared. Moving around to the side of the building, I leaned against the brick. I stared up at the sky where the sun was trying to breach the clouds. The way it stung my eyes was better than the other burn that threatened them.

“I’m just trying to take care of her,” I sighed.

“Don’t start with that. We both know you’re doing this for you. It’s always about you.”

“Are you kidding me? I’ve always put her above me and I always will.” He started to say something, but I cut him off. “I was the one who held her hand when they examined her in the hospital because you were too afraid to touch her. I was the one who told her it was okay to talk to the police when they came. I held her together for the past ten years, Dad.Not you. Hate me all you want, but it doesn’t change that Willow is here with me because she trusts me.”

There was a long, tense silence. I almost hung up, but I heard him blow out a breath.

“I don’t hate you, West.”

“Oh, that’s good to know,” I replied sarcastically. “Ten-year-old me would’ve loved to hear that. In fact, I can name a handful of times when you said the exact opposite.”

“West-”

“No, fuck you, Dad. You’re weak and a coward. Don’t ever ask me to mediate your relationship with your daughter.”

After I ended the call, I blocked his number. I was glad we’d just started our workout because I needed an outlet.

If there was one thing I was sure of, it was that I could protect Willow. If anyone messed with her, I’d be there to make sure theyregretted it. And what my dad didn’t understand was that she was capable of protecting herself too. She made bad decisions sometimes, but she was strong. Like I told Kai recently, the things that hurt us in our lives sometimes made us resilient. I hated the idea that trauma made you stronger but sometimes, it did. It was a tragic way to become a warrior, but it sure got you there.

Chapter 17

Lincoln

Once I set the bar down, I yawned. It was probably the tenth time since I got here. Most of my days lately consisted of late nights, early mornings, and sore fingers. I’d need to take a break soon or I’d wear myself out, which wouldn’t help me improve.

“You haven’t been at the house lately,” Rick noted as he took my place on the bench.

“Been busy.”

“That music thing? What’s it for again?”

“I have to play for the panel that chooses who gets accepted into the program. It’s a big deal.”

“Take a day off, man. There’s a party on Saturday.”

There was always a party. Still, he had a point. At the very least, it would be good to hang out with my friends. It was too easy to get comfortable in my studio by myself. I loved to be alone, but humans were social creatures. It wouldn’t hurt to force myself to show my face this weekend.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

I guided the bar as he finished his set. He sat up and took heavy breaths, then let out a sound.

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