Page 5 of Midnight
"I don't mean to be a burden.Sorry for bothering you, I'll find something to do," I whisper the last part as I head out of the kitchen in search of my clothes that should be clean and dry by now.
But something I said caused his head to snap up, and he reaches for my hand, pulling me onto his lap.
"Sweetheart, you aren't a burden, you're just underage until tomorrow and I'm trying to keep some distance between us because I want you so damn much.Without a shadow of a doubt, I know you are mine to love and protect.Whatever happens, I will do right by you and that means waiting until you are eighteen," he says, his eyes searching my face.
At his words, I'm stunned into complete silence and have no idea what to say.I sit there staring at him and open my mouth, but no words come out.His emotionless exterior has been broken and he offers me a small, almost shy smile.
"Let's take this time to get to know each other.I want to know everything about you so that I know how to protect you," he says once again shocking me.No one has ever cared to get to know me, really get to know me.
"I called in and took a few days off work so that I can stay here with you.I didn't want you to be alone," he says as he turns off his tablet and drinks the last of his coffee before gently lifting me to my feet.
"Let's go sit in the living room and talk some, okay?"he says and I follow him into the living room.
He sits me on one end of the couch and grabs one of the pillows and sits at the other end, holding the pillow in front of him.He's gripping the pillow like a lifeline and his knuckles are turning white.But I don't have the guts to ask why.
"Tell me about you," he says.
"I don't know where to start."I looked down at my hands in my lap.
"Wherever it feels natural.We can start with your parents."
"My mom died of breast cancer when I was eight.I went to live with my grandparents and her parents after that.My grandfather died when I was eleven and my grandmother passed away when I was fourteen.I was then sent to live with my birth father, who I had vague memories of as a little child but hadn't seen in years.He didn't hide that he blamed me for my mother's death."I take a shaky breath and look up at him.
He's watching me and there's no pity or disgust on his face, so I continue.
"He drank all the time, and he gambled everything away.Anything of value was fair game with the exception of his TV, which if I'm honest, probably wasn't worth much.I took odd jobs getting paid under the table just so that I would be able to eat and have everything I needed for school."
"While I hate that you lived like that, that's all in your past now.I need you to know that," he says with so much certainty I believe him.
Closing the distance between us on the couch, he wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his side.
"A few weeks ago, things started to get really bad.I guess he made some big bets on some sure things that turned out were not so sure and he owes people a lot of money.He knew I was almost eighteen, so to pay off his debt he was making plans to sell my virginity."I'm looking down at my hands again and I can hear his sharp intake of breath and I almost stop.But I know if I'm going to get this out I have to do it now.
"That's why I ran.With everything he made me do around the house, I stopped going to school because I never really had time to study.Also, I knew that he would report me missing and my teachers would send me back to him.I had no friends in school anyway and the teachers were always mean to me.It was no great loss.When you found me last night.I had been on the streets for roughly two weeks."
"You know what he was trying to do is illegal, right?"
"Yes, but who is going to believe me?I had no proof.I still don't.It would be my word against him.There’s no history of abuse, and no reason that anyone should believe me."
"That sounds like all the stuff he put into your head.I believe in you and will protect you no matter what," he says so sure and so determined that I begin to believe him too.
"What grade were you in?"he asks.He cringes because I know the age thing is an issue with him.
"I was in my senior year."
"You only have a few more months of school before you graduate.Having that high school diploma will open more doors for you in whatever you decide to do with the rest of your life.What if I brought in a tutor to help you finish school here at the house?Someone to work with you one-on-one so you can get the attention you need on the subjects you need help with?"
I never really had a good school experience.I jumped from school to school every time I switched households.Every school is different and teaches on a different level, so there's no telling how far I'll be behind here or if I'll even be able to catch up.But this seems important to him.
"I guess that would be fine," I agree hesitantly.
"What were your plans for when you turned eighteen?What do you want to do now?"
The answer to this is very simple.I just don't think he's going to like it.
"What I want is to lose my virginity so my dad can't sell it, and I want you to help me with that problem."
Chapter 5
