Page 130 of Encounter

“I’ll be fine. I need you to be anywhere but around me—around all of this—right now. Your old man hasn't heard from you for almost two days. You’ve gotta bite the bullet and handle him for a bit, at least until I know we’re safe, alright? There’s no sayin’ how far those people could go right now.”

I felt like he was pushing me away, coddling me, trying to make me go back to the way I was when we met—weak and scared and useless.

My silent, defiant glare forced Chast to let out a deep sigh. He rubbed his forehead while Gregory crossed his arms over his chest.“I dragged you into this.” His eyes filled with a newfound spark of determination. “Do you really want me to have to fucking worry about you gettin’ hurt with all of this going on? Doesn’t matter that you hate it—you’ve got to go home right now, because it’s the best thing to do. I’ll take you there, sopleasedon’t fight me on this.”

I felt like a child getting scolded. Like I had no real choice. Chast’s eyes were unwavering, and his brows drawn together until the skin between them creased.I groaned. “Fine.”

“Come on then,” Chast murmured, grabbing his car keys. I tried to ignore the pressure in my chest and followed, placing the untouched coffee cup on the shelf next to the door. I heard Mia and Gregory’s murmurs as I went out of the door but didn’t turn to say goodbye.

Several times, Chast was about to say something, but would always sigh and turn his eyes back to the road. I had questions, too—why couldn’t I have stayed at Gregory’s and been a part of it? Why couldn’t I be there to support him?

For the rest of the ride, we remained silent.I wanted to throw up once we turned into my street. Instead of being careful like usual, Chast drove all the way in front of my house. Shifting the gear to park, he huffed anxiously and turned to me, but I was already on my way out.

Smacking the car door behind me, I dashed toward the front porch. If he wanted to drop me off like some worthless package, only to go and risk his life, he could help himself. Too much anger and powerlessness raged inside me to argue.

With hand on the handle, I heard him close the door behind me and when I turned, he was already halfway to me.

He stopped close enough to grab my wrist. “Don’t make me feel guilty for tryin’ to protect you.” Urged by that painful tinge in his voice, I begrudgingly met his gaze. “Cuz that’s all I’m trying to do. I’ve already lost Kit. My fucking actions put her in the harm’s way, and I won’t let it happen again. I care too much—”

“Why can’t someone else do it?!”It was all too scary, too uncertain. The second I took my life into my own hands, it was like it pushed against me, forcing me back into that same, agonizing spot.

“Ithasto be me.” Chast’s tone clearly told me it was one of those bullshit pride principles I could never understand. He cupped my cheek to prevent me from facing away, and brushed his thumb over it, trying to get me to relent. “And if something happens to me, you’ve got to be somewhere—”

“Nothingcouldhappen to you if you let that other guy take care of them!” I shouted, grabbing both of his hands and squeezing them with all my helplessness and panic masquerading as strength.

I wanted Chast to forget about all he thought he had to do and think only about us. About what it would mean if he got hurt—how I would be left alone. The cars passing on the main road, my family issues, the entire world didn’t matter—and every cell in my body longed for him to see that. “Please.Please, I’m scared for you.”

A part of me knew I was being unreasonable, but I was already spiraling. One victory—one moment of being in control—and I thought I would never have to deal with any insecurity, discomfort or worry ever again. I thought that sending Dad to hell, running to Chast’s, and winging it was going to fix everything.

Clearly, things were much more complicated than that.

We both jerked when the wheels of a car ran up the driveway, stopping abruptly. I widened my eyes, red lights beaming in my head like a nuclear reactor about to shut down.

“Oh no...” Driving my heart to a halt was Dad, stepping out of his car and glaring right at us with the fire of a thousand burning stars in his eyes.

“Shit.”

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