Page 73 of Where We Met

"Ok," my voice breaks.

"Was this professor a way of rebellion or something? Maybe you felt alone and were looking for someone to pay attention to you?" he asks, trying to understand.

I'm suddenly shocked and horrified. Is that what he thinks or me? That I would sleep with my professor for attention? The tears instantly stop.

"What are you saying, Dad?" I demand.

"It's just…not like you to do something like this," he struggles to get the words out. "I don't mean to offend you, sweetheart. I'm just trying to understand."

I try to calm down before I respond. I don't want the anger that's still coursing through me to make me say something I will regret. The three words that I haven't admitted to myself yet come to mind, and I blurt them out without even thinking.

"I love him," I cry. "Luke and me—we're so much more than what you're making us out to be. I've never met anyone like him. And it's killing me to hear you talk about us like we're some dirty little secret…like we need to be ashamed of what we feel."

He sighs. I get the feeling he doesn't believe me.

"Just give it some time. Focus on yourself and finishing school without anything getting in the way."

I don't like his response. It feels like he's completely discrediting my feelings.

"I'm not asking you to forget him right now. I'm just asking you to take a step back. It sounds like this all happened so fast, and at a pretty inappropriate time. No matter your feelings, you both know it's wrong. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

I nod my head. I'm too tired to fight right now.

"Good. I have to head home for work tomorrow. I wish I could hang around." He looks at me with concern. "You going to be alright if I go?"

Of course not, but I need him out of here. For the first time in my life, I'm struggling to even look at my father.

"I'm fine."

He sighs. "I'll call you tomorrow. One day, you'll see that this needed to happen. I love you, sweetpea."

Of course, he would use that nickname.

He gets up and walks out the door, leaving me alone to fall over in tears. I don't even know what any of this means. Luke and I were already doing what we needed to do. We haven't even kissed since we've been back.

Is my father ever going to look at Luke and see the man that he truly is?

From the couch, I can see the front door open, and the girls walk in laughing.

The moment they notice me, they drop everything and rush over. Aubrey and Shannon sit on my left and right, and Tricia sits on the floor by my feet. I'm surrounded by their love, but all I feel is shame. I don't deserve this; I lied to them and pushed them away.

"It's okay, Savi," Tricia says from the ground as her hand rubs my knee. "We're here."

"I'm—so—sorry," I cry out, my words getting lost through the tears.

Aubrey starts to rub my back. "No need to apologize."

They sit with me while I get out all the emotions that are pumping through me. After some time, the cries slow down before coming to an end.

I feel completely drained, so I lay my head back against the back of the couch. The girls sink into the couch as well, resting with me. Tricia leans her head down on my legs.

"Whenever you're ready to talk, we're here to listen," Shannon says.

"I don't even know where to start," I admit.

Silence falls among the four of us. I don't even know what exactly they are aware of.

"Let's start with why you didn't tell us you moved to one of the worst streets in the city instead of just telling us you needed help," Tricia says. "We could have each paid a little more rent. Anything to make sure you were safe and still with us. We were crushed to have you gone for the last part of our senior year."

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