Rise (18 page)

chapter 24

Riley, Chase, Tess, and I drove through the streets of Guthrie in complete silence. Due to the boys’ moods, it felt just as chilly inside the car as it was outside. Frigid, actually.

It was the night before Thanksgiving, and at the moment the boys didn’t feel they had much to be thankful for. As a matter of fact, I was fairly certain they regretted ever going out with us that night at all.

My aggravated boyfriend spoke up, finally breaking the silence. “Every guy in America just lost part of his girlfriend’s heart. I know I sure did.”

“That’s not true,” I objected. “Riley, honestly, it was a small sigh and nothing more.”

He looked over at me and scowled. “Small sigh? Charlie, you practically hyperventilated.”

“Did not.”

“Did too.”

Tess sat giggling in the seat behind me.

I watched Riley’s grip on the steering wheel tighten. “I’m not kidding,” he continued. “All the guy did was walk into the cafeteria and the entire theater exploded in ear-splitting screams. It was horrible.”

“I didn’t scream.”

“Not then, you didn’t. You waited until he said, ‘Hi, I’m Edward.’”

“Technically it was, ‘Sorry I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself last week. I’m Edward Cullen.’”

He glared over at me again. “Forgive the discrepancy. So I didn’t lose your heart in the first five minutes of the movie, it was the first ten.”

“You didn’t lose my heart.”

“Not until the restaurant scene,” Tess said. “That was when it was officially gone and the true hyperventilating started.”

“Shush, Tess. You aren’t helping.”

“Hey, you made it longer than me. I lost it before the movie even came out and I found out he was British.”

“Edward’s not British,” I said.

She leaned forward in her seat as Chase sat in a clump against the window behind Riley. “Rob is.”

“Who’s Rob?” Riley asked.

“The guy who plays Edward in the movie.”

“He’s British? Oh good grief, I can’t even imagine a British accent coming out of that face. Wow.” I didn’t hide my enthusiasm and regretted it instantly because all it did was add fuel to Riley’s anti-Edward fire.

“For cryin’ out loud!”

His yell caused the windows to vibrate, but I tuned out his tantrum and spoke directly to Tess. “I didn’t notice any sign of an accent. I’ll have to listen for it next time I see it.”

“Next time?” Riley groaned. “You’re gonna see it again?”

“Well, your mom wants to see it, and then I’ll have to take Tammy at some point.”

He moaned. “Of course you will.”

“What about Anne?” Tess asked.

“She isn’t allowed to see it.”

“Then she’ll be the only sane one left in the group of you. Maybe her parents are on to something,” Chase said, finally coming out of his disgusted trance.

I gave Riley’s shoulder a pat. “I promise I won’t see it more than three or four times. Five max.”

He didn’t speak. His jaw was so rigid I’m not sure he would’ve been able to even if wanted.

“Honestly,” Tess said, “I think it’ll take at least that many times to see it before we realize there are people in the movie other than Edward. I mean, did you even watch anyone else?”

“I don’t think so. Really, why bother? We’ve only got a set amount of time to watch him on the big screen. We can watch everyone else when it comes out on video.”

“Hello? I’m sitting right here,” Riley huffed. “Enough already.”

I slunk into my seat and looked at the gloomy weather outside my car window until we arrived at our house. Riley sat in the driver’s seat and mumbled a good-bye to Chase and Tess as I climbed out and gave her a hug. We made plans to take Tammy to see the movie with us as soon as humanly possible—although it was probably going to be necessary to do it in secret.

I walked over and sat on the patio steps until His Royal Sulkiness finally climbed out of the car after Chase and Tess had driven away.

With his hands shoved in his jeans pockets, he slowly made his way to me.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have acted like that over another guy, even if he is just a make-believe character that doesn’t have a pulse.”

“How would you feel if I did that over some girl while we were watching a movie together?”

“I’d hate it and probably wouldn’t talk to you for days.”

“At least you admit it.” He sat down next to me and leaned back onto his hands. “Really, what’s so attractive about him, anyway?”

“You really want me to answer that?”

“No.”

“Good.”

We sat in an awkward silence for what felt like forever before I finally realized that if the night were going to be salvaged, I was going to have to be the one to make it happen.

“Riley, you may have lost my attention for a few minutes, but you didn’t lose even the teensiest part of my heart. To some girls Edward might be the perfect guy, but to me the perfect guy is you.”

“Uh-huh.” He obviously wasn’t convinced.

“I’m being totally honest here. Is he drop-dead gorgeous? Uh, yeah, but there’s more to life than looks. And you’re right up there with him in the looks department anyway.”

“Keep going.” His mood was slightly improving.

“He’s freezing cold all the time, and who would want to cuddle with that? You’re nice and warm, and I love to snuggle with you, even if we are only allowed to do it outside.”

“Okay.”

“You’ve got a wicked sense of humor. He had no sense of humor at all.”

“And?”

“You look much more athletic when you run.”

“Well, thank God for that. Continue.”

“He had boundaries with Bella because he was afraid he was going to kill her. You have boundaries because you love me and you want to be respectful. I mean, come on, what’s not to love about that?”

“Well, if you would’ve been awake when I read you the books, you would know that he does respect her. He wants to wait for more reasons that not wanting to kill her. I’ve at least gotta give him that.”

“You aren’t helping me make your case.”

“Oh, sorry. Keep going.”

“You’re just as protective as he is. You saved me from some monsters too, and you managed to do it in a lot less violent way.”

“True.” He sat forward and grinned over at me.

“You’re sweet and romantic with just a few years of experience. He’s had over eighty years to work on his moves and come up with all those swoon-worthy lines.”

“I’m suddenly feeling better.”

“You’re the perfect boyfriend. No other guy, real or vampire, could ever come close.”

He leaned over and kissed my nose. “All’s forgiven. Just don’t let it happen again—at least not when I’m around, anyway.”

“I won’t. And did I mention that you’re probably a much better kisser than him?”

“You hadn’t mentioned that.”

“I bet you are, and seeing as how we’re just sitting here in the cold, maybe you should let me check.”

“And how would you do that?”

“By kissing you, of course.”

He shrugged. “I guess I could let you do that.”

“I’d just do it to prove a point. It’s not like I want to kiss you or anything.”

“I understand.”

“Keep in mind, you’re going to have to put on quite a performance to beat what I saw on that movie screen tonight.”

“I’ll give it all I’ve got. Or at least all I’ve got within the confines of what I’m actually allowed to do, which isn’t much.”

“See, there’s that sense of humor I love.”

“I wasn’t joking.”

“Oh.”

Grinning, he slid his hand along my cheek and into my hair as he pulled me toward him and kissed me.

Within just a few moments, Riley was well in the lead of whatever his name was and I didn’t pay any attention to the sound of the front door opening.

“Attie.”

Riley and I stopped midkiss. At first, I was confused. No man in my life called me “Attie” other than Joshua and …

I looked up, and sure enough, there he was. My father was standing in the doorway, and he didn’t look happy to see me. Or rather, he didn’t like seeing what he’d stumbled upon.

“I … I didn’t know you were coming.”

“I thought I’d surprise you. Evidently I did.”

“Yes, sir.”

His angry eyes settled on Riley, who backed away from me and stood. “Mr. Reed. It’s good to see you.”

“Why don’t you go inside and give Attie and me a minute?”

Riley and I exchanged nervous glances before he walked past my father and into the house. He left the door open.

I was left sitting on the top step, looking up at the man who’d shattered my life just a few months before. I hadn’t heard from him since August, yet here he was out of nowhere, and he hadn’t even given any warning. My thoughts and emotions were suddenly a jumbled mess.

“I’d heard you two were together, but I didn’t want to believe it.”

“How’d you hear?”

“Cooper told me.”

“Cooper Truman?”

“Yes.”

I shook my head to try to clear the cloud of confusion hovering in my mind. “What difference does it make if we’re together or not?”

“I left you here thinking you were in good hands. I never dreamt Tom would allow this to happen under his roof.”

Anger rose inside me. “First of all, you didn’t leave me here; you sent me here knowing you wouldn’t be coming. And second, Pops has been nothing but wonderful, and you can trust that he’s kept his eye on us.”

“Pops?”

“That’s what I call him.”

“It’s a little bit disrespectful, don’t you think?”

“No. He asked me to stop being so formal, so I gave him a new name.”

His body went rigid.

I stood. “Why are you here?”

“I’d heard rumors about what was going on here. I wanted to find out for myself. Evidently they were true.”

“Rumors?” My chest physically ached at his response. “So you aren’t here because you missed me or because you wanted to see me. You’re here because you wanted to check up on me?”

“I’m still your father, and you’re still my responsibility. It’s my job to protect you.”

Pops stepped out onto the patio. “Eddie, don’t stand out here and get on to Attiline for something I allowed. If you have an issue, take it up with me. I take full responsibility for what’s going on here.” He looked over at me. “Attiline, get inside. Let your dad and I deal with this.”

“Yes, sir.” I ran past them, up the stairs to the landing and into Riley’s arms. Marme acted like she didn’t see the rule violation.

“What are you thinking?” Dad yelled.

“Would you rather we told them they couldn’t date?”

“Yes.”

“And what would that have accomplished? You know as well as I do they could’ve ended up going out behind our backs. Wouldn’t you rather they be under our guidance and watchful eye?”

“I’d rather they not be anything.”

“That’s completely unrealistic. They’re in love. Whether you want them to be or not, that’s how it is.”

“They’re too young.”

“They’re seniors in high school, Eddie. Did you think she wasn’t going to date until college?”

Dad didn’t answer.

Pops turned back and glanced at Riley and I sitting on the steps, watching the showdown. He turned back to Dad. “They’re good kids, Eddie. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“Not from what I hear.”

“And what exactly is that?” I asked.

Dad walked into the house and stood at the bottom of the stairs. “I heard something troubling.”

“What?” I asked.

“I heard you were … I heard you two had a slip-up.”

Riley stood. “A slip-up?”

“Cooper’s mother mentioned something about … ”

“Spit it out already,” I shouted.

“Did you have an abortion?”

I felt like I’d been slapped across the face. I wanted to scream at him for being so cruel, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even get my mouth to move. It was numb.

I was numb.

“That was a rumor started by a psycho at school.” Riley’s voice vibrated with anger. “Attie would never, ever do that, and if you spent any time with her, you’d know that.” He placed his hand on the back of my head and rubbed it as he stood next to me. I knew he was trying to soothe my anxiety.

Pops spoke up. “You should be more upset by the fact that your daughter had surgery for something that could’ve been life threatening, but she didn’t bother contacting you because she didn’t think you’d care. That’s what should be troubling you, not pathetic rumors started by people who want nothing more than to destroy her life. What makes it worse? Those very people would be laughing if they could hear this conversation and see how much you’re hurting her right now.”

“Tom, you and Riley need to stay out of this. This is between Attie and me.”

“No, it isn’t. Attiline is like a daughter to me—”

“Don’t use my daughter to try to fill some sad void left by your daughter’s death.”

Pops practically fell backward. It was as if my father’s words had violently slammed against his body and caused him to lose his balance. He was stunned.

Seeing the pain in Pops’s eyes, I jumped to my feet, ran down the stairs, and shoved my father toward the front door. “Get out!”

“No!”

“Get out of this house right now. You aren’t welcome here.” I shoved him again.

“Attie, I’m taking you home with me.”

“No!” I shoved him again. “I am home, and you aren’t welcome here. Leave, or I’m calling Gramps.”

He grabbed me by the wrists and pulled me to him. There were tears in his eyes. “I’ve screwed up, Attie. I need you to come home. We can work this out.”

“No!” I yanked my hands out of his and shoved him again and again and again, until I realized that I wasn’t pushing him, I was hitting him. With closed fists, I was punching him repeatedly in the chest, and he was standing there letting me.

“Attiline … ” Pops came up behind me, wrapped his arms around my body, and pulled me away from the man I hated most in the world. The man I wanted to hurt more than I’d been hurt by. Even if I punched him for hours, his pain could’ve never matched mine. It wouldn’t have come close.

I slammed my eyes shut. “I can’t even look at you!”

“Attie—”

“Don’t say my name!” I covered my ears and shook my head. I wanted his voice to go away. I wanted him to go away and never come back.