Letting You Go (Stone Lake 1)

“Starting out maybe. I’d make sure you were safe, though. I’d get a job, two or three if I needed to. I’m not afraid of hard work, Luna. Even if it was sweeping floors and washing dishes, I will find a way to get money together so we could rent a nice place. I’d take care of you, I swear.”

“I can get a job too. I want to help, Gavin. It will be our future.”

“Ours,” he agrees.

“I love you,” I murmur as his lips come down on mine. He doesn’t give me the words back, but he shows me that he feels the same by the way he kisses me and that’s more than enough.

Chapter Thirty Five

Gavin

“Where have you been?”

Atticus looks up at my question as he closes the window. I had the glass cut for it and repaired it a couple months back. I think I did a pretty good job, considering I’d never tried anything like that before. I look at the clock on my table and it’s almost four in the morning. I didn’t get back from Jules until around two. I didn’t want to leave Luna. Jules came home, however, and I headed out. I didn’t expect to find my brother wasn’t home yet. It’s not that I care really, but it’s peculiar for him to be out this long. He’s up to something, he’s been way too laid back lately—especially about me and Luna.

“My how the tables have turned. I guess this is the part where I tell you that it’s none of your business.”

“Whatever,” I respond with a shrug. He wants to be secretive, I don’t give a damn. I’m actually just thankful he’s given up causing problems between me and Luna.

“Does Dad know that I’ve been gone?”

“You mean, did I rat you out?”

“Yeah,” Atticus presses, kicking off his shoes and throwing his coat on the floor.

“Nah, he’s been passed out most of the night,” I tell him. “He was still sleeping it off when I got home.”

“Nothing like being able to rely on dear old Dad.”

“Yeah. Can you remember Atticus?”

“Remember?”

“Was he ever different? When Mom was here, I mean? Or was he always…”

“A drunken lush?” Atticus supplies and I nod in agreement.

There’s silence for a while as Atticus gets in bed. I figure he’s not going to answer. I kind of regret that because this is the first decent conversation we’ve had in forever. It’s almost… nice. He doesn’t have the stored-up anger he always spews at me.

“Gavin?”

“Yeah?”

“You won’t keep Luna.”

“Let it go, Atticus,” I grumble. I should have known better. Atticus will never change.

“I’m not saying it to be a bastard. Well, maybe I am a little. I really care about Luna, but I’m just saying, whatever plan you’re cooking up in your head. It won’t happen.”

“Why is that?”

“Because Luna loves her parents. She’ll never go against them and her Dad will never accept you for his daughter. Never.”

“You’re wrong. Luna will always choose me. We’re going to go away together.”

“She may talk about it, but she’ll never leave Stone Lake. This is her home and…”

“Just say it and get it over with, Atticus.”

“If you convince her to leave, she’ll end up hating you for it. Luna’s not like us. She doesn’t know how hard life is. If she goes away with you, that’s all she’ll ever have. You’d do better to let her go now.”

I don’t respond. In my heart, I’m arguing he’s wrong. He doesn’t understand. The love that Luna and I share is special. It’s strong enough to survive whatever life throws at us. I’ll work hard to make sure nothing touches her. It won’t be easy, but nothing worthwhile is.

In my head, however, there’s this little voice that nags Atticus is right.

Fuck.

Chapter Thirty Six

Luna

“Crap, Gavin, duck!” I urge him as quietly as I can, pulling on his arm, and we dive behind his truck.

“What in the hell?” Gavin asks, looking at me like I’m completely crazy.

“Dad’s walking into the school,” I hiss, peeking over the rim of his truck bed.

Gavin releases an angry breath and then, he stands up. I panic immediately and jerk so far down that my butt hits the ground.

“What are you doing? Get back down here,” I order him in an angry whisper.

“I’m not hiding on the ground like an idiot, Luna.”

“He’ll see you!”

“Maybe. He won’t see you though, unless you want to just stand up and face him like I’m willing to do.”

“Gavin, stop. Why are you talking like this? You know what will happen if Dad finds out we’re still seeing each other.”

“Do I, Luna? We don’t really know do we?”

“What is wrong with you?”

“I’m tired of hiding the fact that you and I are dating. I’m tired of being your dirty little secret,” he growls, looking down at me with anger, and I feel the hurt I’ve caused him. Guilt washes over me.