The tenderness in her voice sent a chill through me. For the next few minutes, we fell into silence. Harlow was no doubt thinking about what she shared and how saying the words hadn’t killed her. Her gaze was softer now and I enjoyed the feel of it on me.
By the time the doctor arrived and declared her free to go, Harlow was plotting how to get her parents to agree with her decision to stay with me. I considered helping her plot. After all, I was a manipulative guy. Instead, I kept my mouth shut.
While Harlow was young, she was strong enough to stand on her own. Despite her capabilities, I insisted on carrying her to the SUV as an excuse to hold her close. I was exhausted after a long night and needed my dreamcatcher to keep the demons at bay.
Chapter Nine ~ Harlow
Saint carried me from the SUV to the porch of my house. Saying nothing, he set me down, handed my backpack to me, and left. The guy wasn’t about pointless chatter. I had a decision to make. He gave me my choices. The next step was up to me.
Limping into the house, I heard my parents talking in the kitchen. They only wanted the best for me. Tad and Toni Todds took me in when I was a mess. My family was dead and I was addicted to heroine. My body battered and my mind nearly destroyed, I wasn't sure I wanted to live anymore. Thinking back, I only stayed alive to repay Vaughn for what he gave up by saving me.
Stronger now, I wasn’t that lost girl anymore. With Saint’s help, I could be even stronger, but I didn’t know if my family could understand.
When I entered the kitchen, my parents looked up in unison and stared at me. I saw the questions in their eyes, but they remained silent. Even when they saw me limping, they said nothing.
“Twisted my knee running.”
“Are you okay?” Mom asked, struggling not to panic. “Want me to get an icepack?”
“I’m good. I need to talk to you. Is now a bad time?”
My parents looked at each other and shared a silent conversation. I waited for them to finish while I limped to the fridge to get a glass of sweet tea. When I returned, Dad and Mom had their game faces on.
“What’s up?” Mom asked breezily.
“Saint wants me to stay with him while he’s in town.”
“No,” Dad said immediately, game face replaced by fiercely protective dad face.
“It’s not a sexual thing.”
“Sure.”
“Let’s hear her out,” Mom said then added, “So when we say no, it’ll seem more reasonable.”
My temper insisted I challenge my parents, yet my love for them said to let the comment go. “Saint is like no one I’ve ever met and he pushes me to face things like no one else does.”
“He might be messing with you,” Dad said quietly. “Men like him have the power over life and death. It can get them twisted until they enjoy playing mind games on people.”
“Saint isn’t playing with me. I don’t know how I can explain it to you, but he shared things with me that a man playing games wouldn’t share.”
My mom opened her mouth to ask what things, but likely realized I wouldn’t spill his secrets.
“I was raped,” I said.
They both tensed, thinking I meant by Saint. Logically they knew I wouldn’t protect a bastard who hurt me.
“Saint helped me say that without wanting to hide for the rest of the day in my room. I don’t know how, but he inspires me to face things. I even told him how I hurt my knee and I never told any of my therapists that. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I want to stay with him. He gets me and knows how to push me, but he doesn’t push too hard. I wish I could explain better. I just can’t give up this chance. He’s only in town for like a week.”
“Are you asking to stay with him or telling us you’re doing it?” Dad asked in his scary father voice.
“Both.”
Sighing, Dad leaned back. “You know how we feel. I guess I could threaten Saint with what’ll happen if he hurts you, but I doubt he’d be impressed.”
“Why does he want you to stay with him?” Mom asked. “What does he get out of it, if it’s not sexual?”
“Small towns make him restless. For whatever reason, he likes me and I entertain him. I think it’s the part where I tried to kick his ass.”
“You know nothing about this guy,” Dad pointed out, not giving into the idea easily.
“I knew nothing about Vaughn either. He was a big scary stranger who saved me and brought me to you. When he showed up in Ellsberg, did you think he was a good man? Probably not. People think all kinds of stuff about you, Dad. Either you’re soft because you’re a pastor or you’re a thug because you’re in the club. Mom, you know people talked crap about Dad when you first met.”
“This isn’t really the same thing.”
“How do you figure? Saint could have hurt me in the woods when I freaked out on him. He just blocked my crap moves and waited until I was done being weird. Instead of thinking I was a loser, he offered to train me. In a few hours with him, I already feel stronger than I have after all those years in therapy. I’m doing this.”