Page 44 of I Don't Need Your Protection
His eyes light up. “I can’t think of anything that would make me happier.”
Chapter Fourteen
Caleb
I really don’t like that guy.
Sitting at a table on the right side of the room, my eyes are narrowed as I watch him only a few inches away from Addilyn as they dance. Many other kids are around them, including her friends, and they’re all banging into one another as they shake their bodies around. Other people touch her briefly. But I have a problem with Warner Hearst. All evening, I’ve been trying to figure out what it is about that guy that irks me, and I haven’t been able to come up with a reason. Maybe it’s not right to accuse him when he hasn’t done anything wrong, but I’m not here to be nice to anyone. I’m here to protect Addilyn. And if I’m rude, so be it.
Addilyn’s eyes are on me as she dances. They tell me to cut it out. I know she doesn’t like me thinking low of him, but that’s not up to her. Like I said, she can kick and scream, butit’s my job to keep her safe.
When she realizes I don’t quit glaring at the guy she for some reason can’t forget about, she narrows her eyes. I narrow mine right back at her.
Warner must realize she’s bothered because he bends close to whisper in her ear. She doesn’t seem to hear because of the loud music, so he bends even closer. His lips are practically kissing her ear. I clench my fists, not liking this one bit. It’d be way, way easier if Addilyn would focus more on her studies and less on boys. But per our conversation, I can’t stop her from going after what she wants. I still don’t have to like it.
“Hey,” a voice says from my right.
I subtly glance in that direction and find a girl who’s dressed in a short green dress smiling at me. I keep my focus on the dancing kids, especially on one of them.
The girl pulls a chair over and settles down next to me.
“Drink?” She offers me her cup.
I ignore her.
“It’s Coke,” she explains. “I’m driving tonight.”
While it’s nice she’s being responsible and not drinking, I still pay no attention to her.
“Come on,” she urges. “Why do you have to be so mysterious? I mean, it’s sexy and alluring, but now that you caught me in your net, let’s talk.”
I turn my hard eyes on her. “I’d rather not.”
She pulls at my arm as she giggles. “You’re just playing hard to get.”
I grab hold of her hand and pluck it off my arm. She huffs,but doesn’t leave.
When my eyes dart to Addilyn, I’m surprised to find her watching me. I thought she was having a lot of fun with that guy.
She frowns as I keep swatting away this girl’s attention. It’s almost as though Addilyn wants me to have fun with this girl. Did she forget I’m at this school to protect her and not to have fun? I don’t know why she’s so obsessed with thinking this arrangement isn’t fair to me. I chose to do this.
At the same time, I’m a little touched that she cares. And I also can’t forget that she gave me a few chocolate bars yesterday and invited me to watch a movie with her. She didn’t do it because she was bored or felt bad for me. She has a good heart. Maybe that’s why I’m even more determined than ever to keep her safe. Because she’s a good person and deserves good things to happen to her.
The girl sitting next to me whines a few more times before figuring this is a waste of time and rushes over to her friends. The three girls huddle together, looking at me, then they walk away.
I hope this is the end of them chasing after me, though from the looks on their faces, it seems they like the challenge.
I try not to grit my teeth. The downside to this job is mingling with high school kids. Even though I’m their age, I don’t like it. And it’s true that I don’t have friends. I hardly had any growing up. In my line of work, friends are a liability. I understood that from a young age and was okay with it. At the end of the day, saving lives is what matters, not hanging out atthe mall or at the theater.
I focus on Addilyn and find that guy touching her in a way I don’t like. They and many others are still dancing, but they’ve moved closer to each other. He has his hands on her arms, pretending to help her keep balance when others crash into her, but I know that’s an excuse.
I get to my feet, waiting for her to notice me. Maybe she can feel my heavy gaze on her because she turns in my direction.
Tilting my head toward the exit of the mansion, I eye-signal her to meet me outside. Her body sags in irritation as she releases a frustrated breath. She says something to her friends and that boy.
As I make my way to the door, I glance behind me to check if she’s following me and that no one suspicious trails her.
We make it out of the house and I lead her far away from the other partygoers. When we’re alone, we face each other, her placing her hands on her hips. “What?” she demands.
