Chapter 9 #2
I was impressed with how much progress she made with every lesson. She listened well and took everything Jax and I told her into consideration.
When it reached the time where she was eligible to go for her license, I had no doubt she was ready.
It took some extra work to get everything set up for her test since she was a minor without legal guardians, but once we were able to get over that hump, it was time for her test. I convinced her we should do one more practice drive mostly because I was going to miss them.
Eliza had grown much more comfortable with me throughout our lessons, and the drives were bringing us so much closer.
I had learned that she was a B student, but could probably get As if she applied herself more, she mostly hung out with the popular crowd, but a lot of them had pulled away from her after she got pregnant, and while she wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to do as a career, she wanted to do something that allowed her to be loud, social, and outspoken.
She was the type of girl who would have intimidated me in high school, but getting a behind the scenes look at her life showed me she wasn’t intimidating at all.
She rebelled against her parents because she felt like they never allowed her to be a kid growing up.
She wanted to believe in something, but had a hard time believing in the same God her parents did when they were filled with so much hatred.
She had even admitted that she cried herself to sleep most nights, because her house felt like a prison, and even though it was scary getting kicked out, there was a part of her that was relieved.
“I know you don’t actually think I need this last driving lesson,” Eliza said as she pulled out of the driveway the day before her driver’s test.
“Oh?” I asked, feigning innocence.
“Well, I don’t know for sure, but if I had to guess, I’d say you’re just enjoying doing this together.
” Eliza laughed as I opened and closed my mouth while trying to think of the best way to defend getting called out on my bullshit.
“I’ve really enjoyed it too. It’s nice, you know, having adults around that actually listen to me.
I honestly didn’t even know that was a thing.
I kind of thought all adults just automatically assumed they knew everything, and therefore, didn’t give a shit what kids like me had to say. ”
It broke my heart that she grew up in such a toxic environment that she had believed that’s how the world was. “Don’t ever let anyone silence you, okay? I don’t care how old, smart, or powerful they are. If they refuse to hear what you’re saying, they have a problem. Not you.”
Eliza didn’t say anything as she stared straight ahead at the road. The longer she stayed silent, the more I worried I might have said something wrong. My worries doubled when I saw a tear trickle down her cheek.
“I’m really sorry if I made you upset,” I said quietly.
Eliza shook her head and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “It’s not that.” She put on her turn signal and turned onto a random side street, then pulled off on the side of the road. “I’m not upset. I’m hormonal as fuck, and I think that was one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me.”
“Get out of the car.”
“What?” Eliza’s face became a mixture of worry and confusion.
I smiled so she knew she had nothing to worry about. “Just do it, okay?” I said playfully.
I got out of the car at the same time she did and walked around the front to get to her. As soon as I was standing in front of her, I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight. “I love you, kid.”
“Really?” Eliza asked as if she didn’t believe I could possibly mean it.
“Of course. Why would I say something like that if I didn’t mean it?”
“My parents said a lot of things they didn’t mean.” Eliza’s shoulders drooped as she looked toward the ground.
“Hey,” I said softly to coax her to look at me. Once she did, I gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m not your parents, okay? I mean what I say.”
A small, but sincere, smile returned to Eliza’s face. “I know. Sorry for comparing you to them.”
“It’s all good. I completely get it. Now, how would you feel about driving us for ice cream?”
Eliza smiled even wider now. “I feel really good about it. Ice cream sounds amazing right now.”
Instead of eating at the ice cream shop, we decided to pick it up, along with something for Jax, and took it to the cafe for her.
“For me?” Tim put his hand on his chest while coming over to greet us when we entered the cafe. “You shouldn’t have.”
Eliza held Jax’s ice cream away from him. “We didn’t.”
Tim crossed his arms and put his nose in the air. “Feels homophobic. This is a hate crime.”
“You’re right.” Eliza playfully pushed Tim’s shoulder. “I do hate you.”
I smiled as I watched their interaction. I loved how close the two of them had gotten since Eliza started working at the cafe. The way they teased each other reminded me of my relationship with my brother and sister.
“Is that for me?” Jax asked as she rushed over to us and grabbed the ice cream out of Eliza’s hand. “Bless you. I haven’t eaten anything all day.”
I looked at my watch to confirm that it was as late as I thought it was. “Nothing? You’ve been here for hours. You’re literally surrounded by food. How have you not eaten?”
“It’s been so busy. Apparently, everyone from the high school decided to come here today.”
The smile dropped from Eliza’s face. “Are they still here?”
Jax pointed across the room. “There’s a group of them over there. If you want me to kick any of them out, I’d be more than happy to. They haven’t done anything wrong, but I don’t care. One of the benefits of owning the place.”
Eliza looked in the direction that Jax was pointing in and her face became as white as a ghost. “No, I think we should go.” Her breathing became heavier, and it almost seemed like she might have a panic attack.
I reached out and rubbed her arm. “What’s wrong? Who’s over there?”
“It’s Brian.”
“As in dick-and-dash Brian?” Tim asked. “Oh, hell no. He can leave. No one wants him here.”
Eliza shook her head. “No. It’s me they don’t want here.”
“You belong here more than they do,” Jax said.
“It’s seriously okay. We should do some more driving practice anyway.”
“Of course. Let’s go.” I pointed a finger at Jax and Tim. “You two behave, okay? No fighting.”
As soon as Eliza and I turned around to leave the cafe, a male voice shouted her name. When I turned back around, a young guy with brown hair who was wearing a Pittsgrove Football shirt was looking at Eliza with a shit-eating grin on his face.
He nodded toward her while he chewed whatever was in his mouth like a fucking jackass. “You know what you and that baby have in common? Your parents don’t want you.” He tilted his head to the side, his grin even more wicked now. “Unless you decided to keep the bastard. That poor child.”
I tried to look at Eliza to make sure she was okay, but I couldn’t focus on her, because I was seeing red. I always thought that was just some weird expression until this very moment.
I had no control of my body as I whisked across the cafe to where the douchebag and his stupid little group of friends were sitting and laughing, as if what he had said was even remotely funny.
“What did you just say?” I was pretty sure I growled as I said the words, but I couldn’t be sure because my ears were ringing.
Brian lifted his hands in the air, but the smile stayed on his face. “Whoa, lady, chill out. I was just having a little fun.”
“A little fun, huh? Do you think it’s fun having your dick chopped off?
Because if you say anything else to her, that’s exactly what I’m going to do to you.
Honestly, I’m sure I’d be doing all of the girls at your school a favor.
A guy with a head as big as yours has to be lacking in other areas.
” I moved my focus to the girls who were sitting at the table with him.
“And you three… seriously? You’re women.
You should be supporting other women. Not laughing along with this asshole.
What do you think it’s going to get you?
One really disappointing lay with a guy who doesn’t know how to be a man? Have fun with that.”
I stormed away from the table and out of the front door of the cafe. Once I was outside, I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down. When I gained control of myself, I realized what I had just done. Shit.
I turned around to go back inside. Not to apologize, but to check on Eliza, which was what I should have done in the first place. As soon as I turned around, I bumped right into someone.
My face heated with embarrassment once I realized who it was. “Eliza, I’m so sorry.”