Page 36 of Falling for the Forbidden
“This is bullshit,” Ben barks.
Looking up at him, I see all the happiness and relaxation from our time together has gone. He’s once again full of anger, and as always, it’s directed straight at my dad. Frustration fills me that I have no clue what the issue is, but Ben’s made it very clear that he’s not going to share. I decide there and then that I need to start working on Dad. I need to get to the bottom of this if there’s even a slim chance of this working between us.
“I know but—”
“But what? You have some master plan that you haven’t shared that will magically make all of this okay?”
“No, but—”
“I can’t do this. I can’t sit around and watch you from a distance. I’m outta here.”
I don’t get the chance to respond, because he’s gone. The front door slams and his car squeals out of the driveway.
“Oh, has Ben gone?” Jenny asks, walking in with two mugs in her hand.
“I’m sorry, I’ve got things I need to do.” Biting down on my bottom lip so she can’t see it trembling, I race past her and up to my room.
The second I enter, his smell hits me and I’m reminded of every thoughtful and gentle thing he did this weekend. My eyes sting and a lump forms in my throat. It was all so perfect for those few hours. Falling onto my bed, I silently cry for what could be. For what Ben and I could have if the situation was different.
* * *
“What’s wrong?”Dad snaps when the three of us are sat around the dining table later that evening. Ben still hasn’t reappeared, and the messages I’ve sent him to ask if he’s okay have gone unread. I feel sick. How can things go from being so perfect to so fucked up so quickly?
“Nothing,” I mutter, shovelling some rice into my mouth.
“Could you at least sound a little grateful, Lauren? Not every kid has it as easy as you.”
“I’m not a kid.” My eyes find Dad’s hard and angry ones across the table, but they do little to douse the fire raging inside me. “I’m not a fucking kid.”
“Lauren, do not use—”
“What? Are you going to march me to my room and ground me like a child? I’m an adult. I can make my own choices and live my own life.”
“You’re eighteen. You don’t know what you want, let alone what’s right,” he roars.
“And you do? How could you possibly know what I want and need? You’re too busy controlling everything and everyone around you to have time to notice anything I do.” Throwing my fork down on the plate, I push my chair out behind me and race to the door.
“Oh, I notice, Lauren. I fucking notice everything,” he seethes as I round the corner.
I’m panting when I lean back against my bedroom door. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve stood up to my dad, and most of those have been since I moved in.
“Fucking hell,” I mutter to myself, pacing back and forth across my room. Knowing I can’t sit here stewing, I grab my phone. I’ve got two options.
* * *
“Over here,”I hear my best friend shout the second I step foot in our favourite bar.
Looking over, I see she’s got our favourite booth and there’s already a cocktail pitcher in the centre. “So, you want to tell me what this impromptu drinking session is about?”
“Not really.” Grabbing myself a glass, I fill it to the top and allow the cold, sweet margarita to slide down my throat.
“In my experience, it can only be two things. Your parents, or a boy. Now, knowing what your dad’s like, it’s probably him, but for argument’s sake, let’s say it’s a boy. Give me all the details. Make it up if you have to. I need juicy details to make up for my lack of a boyfriend.” My cheeks heat and Danni doesn’t miss it. “You’re blushing. So thereisa boy!” she squeals in excitement, clapping her hands together.
Groaning, I fold my arms on the table and drop my head down onto them. “Yes, no…maybe. I don’t know.”
“Tell. Me. Everything.”
I do—well the beginning, anyway, because the second she sees where I’m going, she stops me.
