Page 60 of Saving Tracey
He uncrossed his arms, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his slacks. "She seemed to be doing okay earlier, Trevor. What happened? I don't want you moving out until you've finished school and have a decent job, meaning she would have to move in here, but that's something that has to be taken up with Angelina.”
I sighed, knowing I was going to have to talk to Kaleb's mom about this. I just couldn't stand to see my baby girl torn apart like that. My chest physically ached when I pictured her cries and her lost eyes when she almost went to that dark part of her mind.
"Her dad is out of prison on bail," I informed Dale, glaring at the floor.
Dale's eyes lit up in fury at my words. "How the fuck did he get out of jail, Trevor?"
I shrugged. "Gabriel just told me that his friend posted bail. I don't know why the judge would even let bail be posted." I looked up at Dale. For once in my life, I felt helpless. When I found out he had almost gotten Tracey a few nights ago, I felt like my world had almost fallen apart. I had to have her close to me—at least until this mother fucker was back in his prison cell where he belonged. "Dale, please,” I begged him, “I can't let her get hurt."
He nodded in understanding. "I'll talk to Glenda, and we'll all go talk to Angelina about this.” He sighed. “You know Angelina isn’t going to like this, Trevor."
I nodded. I knew Angelina was overprotective of Tracey. She could see herself in Tracey, and she just wanted to protect her, but I needed Tracey with me. I didn’t trust anyone else to make sure she was okay.
"She's everything to me," I whispered, pushing the toilet seat down so I could sit down on it. "I don't know how she came to mean so damn much to me, but I'm fucking in love with her," I told Dale honestly, raw emotion filtering into my voice.
Dale sat on the edge of the tub and rested his fatherly hand on my shoulder. I tensed up at first and then relaxed, reminding myself that he wasn't a threat. "She's the only person that can touch me without making me flinch,” I informed him. I shook my head. “I'm such a heartless bastard to everyone else, but the moment my eyes lay on her, I feel all of my barriers crumble. It’s been like this with her since the moment I first met her at Kaleb’s. If something happens to her, I'll never forgive myself."
"Kid, that's okay to feel,” Dale told me. I looked over at him. “You don't choose who you fall in love with, nor at what age. If she feels like the one, she probably is.” A small smile tilted his lips. “I met Glenda the summer before our senior year, and fromthere, we were inseparable. A lot of people said we would never make it, but we did. Granted our relationship was a lot easier than yours and Tracey's, but we've lasted this long, and I plan to be with that woman for eternity. So, I understand the need to have her close, and I understand the thought of losing her. Glenda and I will do what we can to ensure that you two are close to each other, okay?"
I nodded, sighing in relief. It was seldom that I opened up to anyone, so Dale knew when I did, I was pretty fucking serious about what I was saying, and I was thankful that he had considered what I was saying.
I stood up and walked to the dining room with Dale following behind me. Tracey was sitting at the table, picking at her food. She was staring blankly at it, and I felt my heart break a little at the sight.
I fucking hated seeing her like this.
Glenda met my eyes, her own eyes sad as she looked back at Tracey. I walked over to my baby girl and gently gripped her chin, turning her head to face me. Her eyes locked onto mine, and I wiped away a tear that had fallen down her cheek in my absence. "Chin up, baby girl," I whispered, leaning down to kiss her softly. "You're stronger than this."
She nodded silently, and I took the empty seat next to her, squeezing her knee under the table. "Eat, baby.”
She turned her attention to her plate with a small, barely audible sigh, but she picked up her fork and slowly took a bite. I gave her a reassuring smile, and she slowly returned it, making my small smile turn into a grin.
Fuck, I loved her smiles.
Once we finished eating, Luc grabbed my hand right when I was walking out of the dining room with Tracey wrapped up against my side. I smiled down at him. I was so glad to see him slowly coming out of his shell. Granted some things still scaredhim, but he was so much more open with me than he was when he had first gotten here. I knew some things would haunt him for the rest of his life, but he would be okay for the most part.
He was my brother, and Varner guys weren’t weak.
"Trev, will you watch a movie with me?" Luc asked me.
I let go of Tracey for a moment, leaning down to lift him up onto my hip. I wrapped my arm back around Tracey, and she cuddled into my side as we strode toward the stairs. "Yeah, kiddo. We'll watch it in my room since Trace needs a nap."
I called everyone by the nicknames he called them. It was comforting for him, and I wanted my little brother to feel safe—not afraid.
He grinned up at me. "Your room? I get to go in your room?" His eyes lit up.
I grinned back down at him. "Yep. What movie are we watching?"
I hadn't even realized he held a movie in his hand until he lifted it up, showing me one of theTransformermovies. I chuckled.
At least he had good taste in movies.
"I always wanted to see the robots."
Once we entered the bedroom, I set him on my bed and kissed Tracey's forehead. "Go ahead and change into some of my clothes so you'll be comfortable.”
She nodded, moving over to my closet and disappearing inside. She came out with a t-shirt on that almost fell to her knees. I smirked, loving the way my clothes looked on her. They swallowed her, making her look so small. I just wanted to tuck her into my pocket where the world couldn’t touch her.
I pulled her against me, leaning down to kiss her. She curved her body into mine. A groan crawled from my chest, and I pulled back from her, rubbing her bottom lip gently with the pad ofmy thumb. I couldn't help but let my hand settle on her ass, squeezing gently. I fucking loved how round and perky it was.
