Chapter 40 Hope
HOPE
“Are you sure you want to do it?” Heath asks.
“Yes, but I’m nervous.”
“I can come with you.”
I quickly shake my head. “No. I don’t want them to see you.”
“Your mom already knows that you’re living with me. This information will be brand new only for that man.”
“You don’t call him my dad,” I say.
Anger burns in those blue eyes. “Because he doesn't deserve to be called that.”
I purse my lips, not knowing if I want to agree with him or not.
It’s late in the evening, and we’re parked at the end of the block, with a clear view of my house. The lights are on, and shadows dance behind the curtains drawn at every window. They’re both home.
Nerves hit me, and I can’t stop the tremors that race down my leg, all the way to my foot, which starts tapping on the floor.
Heath notices and puts his hand on my leg and presses hard. “Rose.”
I can’t make myself look at him. All I keep staring at is that house. My home.
“What will happen if I go in there?”
His hand tenses on my leg, and his gaze bores deep into the side of my face.
“I don’t know. That man is home so the outcome would probably be bad.”
I know what he means.
Clawing deep through me, I look for enough courage to face the wrath of my father when I walk in through the door.
I don’t find it because he truly terrifies me.
“Baby,” Heath calls, rubbing soothing circles on my thigh.
I avert my gaze from the house and look into his beautiful eyes that resemble a calm sea.
“I don’t think you should go in there,” he says.
I let out a shake breath and press a hand to my heart. “But…”
“We’ll come back later when he’s not home and you can talk to your mom alone.”
I nod, because if I go in there right now, I don’t think I’d make it out safe. Dad will hurt me or Mom for some stupid reason, and I can’t risk that. Besides, I don’t think I can stand still when he looks at me with those dark, evil eyes. That stare makes my skin crawl and heart race.
“Let’s go somewhere,” Heath grabs my hand and laces our fingers together.
“Okay,” I muster up a tiny smile and he leans over and kisses me.
I relax into him and ease up the tension swirling through my body.
With our joined hands on my thigh, he drives with the hand on the wheel, and music plays softly in the background. It’s a song by Chase Atlantic, one of his favorite bands.
Pulling my feet up, I curl up on the seat and watch him drive. He’s in full control, and his precision at making turns and smoothly switching lanes makes him look incredibly hot.
It takes me a minute to notice that he’s aimlessly driving around and not going anywhere specific.
I don’t say a word.
The quiet hum of the engine, the faint hint of his cologne and and the peaceful atmosphere in the car help me relax.
Before I know, I’m thinking of anything but home — it moves somewhere in the back of my head.
Heath is all I can focus on. He consumes my thoughts and senses.
He’s wearing a pure black hoodie, and he looks so good in it.
“You’re staring at me, Rose,” he teases when he stops the car at a red light.
I quickly look away, but he squeezes my hand, bringing my attention back to him.
The smirk on his lips makes my heart skip a beat. “You can stare all you want, because I do too.”
My cheeks heat up at his blunt flirting. I should get used to it, but I don’t think I ever will.
“I wasn’t really staring…” I lie.
His lips twitch like he’s fighting a smile. “What were you doing then?”
Now I’m trapped.
My lips pucker but no words come to my head.
Raising our joined hands, he kisses the back of my hand and puts them back on my lap. “I know you’re fucking obsessed with me, Rose.”
“That’s not — ”
“So you’re not obsessed with me?” He arches an eyebrow at me.
“I am,” I speak in a very quiet voice.
With a chuckle that sends butterflies soaring in my stomach, he presses hard on the gas and drives down the straight road I know leads to the hill.
When we arrive, he helps me out of the car, making me wear his thick, plain black jacket and zipping it up for me.
It’s mid-November, and winter has arrived. Each day, it gets colder and colder.
“Maybe we should sit inside my car,” he mutters under his breath.
“This is fun.” My teeth chatter together.
“Rose, you’re shaking a little,” he grumbles.
“I’m warm. I promise.”
“I’m fucking worried that you might get sick.”
I step closer to him and he quickly rests his hands on my waist and brings me closer to him.
“I’m fine, really.”
He sighs and fog curls around his breath.
I smile up at him and his features soften a little.
“I brought you here to look at the sky. During this time…” His voice fades as I turn my attention to the sky that is filled with stars.
It looks like someone has sprinkled buckets of glitter across the black canvas of the sky. The stars shimmer and blink, shining brightly in the night.
The sight is so exquisite it leaves me speechless.
My breath catches in my throat as I stand there, completely in awe.
“I used to come here a lot to look at it,” he explains as he looks at me.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, staring up at the sky.
“It is.” His stare is fully locked on me.
That makes me face him and the look in his eyes shakes my entire system. It’s so intense and real.
I find myself standing on my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his neck.
His hands tighten on my waist and he tilts down his head and lean our foreheads together.
“I want you to know that I’ve got you no matter what happens,” he says in a thick, gravel tone, as though he’s engraving each word into stone. “I’m not going anywhere. I want you, and nothing in the world will change how I feel.”
“I know,” I reply.
“And I love you,” he says with a smile.
Lately, I’ve noticed he smiles at me more often. I’m beginning to recognize the way his smile lines appear, or how his eyes brighten with joy. It’s one of my favorite things about him.
“I love you too,” I tell him with a grin.
“Good, because if you hadn’t, I would’ve done anything to make you fall in love with me.”
I raise a little and kiss him. He melts against me and gently pulls me closer until our chests are pressed and our hearts are beating together.
He kisses me slowly, sweetly, and with such tenderness that I can’t help but get lost in him.
Under the starry sky, we kiss until our lips go numb, and every nerve in my body tingles.
Breathless and panting, we stand so close that there’s no space between us.
“I got you an early birthday present,” he announces out of nowhere.
“What?” I blink.
Letting go of me, he strides to his car and grabs a box from the glove compartment. He jogs toward me, stopping in front of me, looking a little nervous as he runs his fingers through his hair.
“Here it is,” he whispers, handing me the small black velvet box.
A frission of excitement rushes through me, as I take the box from him and slowly open it. Inside sits a silver shiny necklace with a rose pendant.
“I got it custom-made,” he adds.
The necklace looks stunning.
I trace the rose charm and feel my chest tighten.
“It’s rose because that’s what I call you and what you mean to me — someone very important to me,” he speaks again.
My throat seems to have swollen up with the emotions. I force the words out. “I love it.”
“Really?”
I nod and look at him to assure him. “Yes, and knowing all that just makes it even more special to me.”
Gently, I take it out of the box and hold it in my hand. “Will you put it on me?”
“Uh, sure.” This is the first time I’m seeing him out of his element. He never loses his composure.
I hand him the necklace and turn around. I feel him close behind me as he brings the necklace around my neck. “Your hair, Rose.”
I shiver at his proximity. “Uh, yes.” I quickly gather my hair and lift it up.
Then he works on locking it, while my heart thumps furiously against my ribcage.
“It’s done,” he mumbles, his voice husky.
I touch the charm and the cold metal reminds me of him.
With a deep breath, I turn around.
Even in the dark, I can clearly see how his eyes lock on the necklace.
“It looks pretty on you,” he says, lifting the charm and caressing it with his thumb.
I smile. “Now I wear a chain just like you.”
“Yeah,” he murmurs, before leaning down and kissing me again.