slowly, making him wait for her even though she had to know that
he was vibrating with adrenaline. She stepped close to him and
looked up into his face. Her elegantly sculpted lips were pulled
tight in a thin line of warning.
?Stay away from Hector.?
Tuesday morning, Helen ran out of the house and toward Lucas?s
waiting car before Jerry could get it into his head to come out and
?have a talk with that young man,? as he had been threatening.
Helen wasn?t entirely sure if her dad was serious or if he was just
trying to get a rise out of her, but she wasn?t about to take any
chances. It wouldn?t be fair to put Lucas through the traditional
parental screening when they weren?t even officially dating.
?Ready?? she asked quickly, trying to distract Lucas.
?Should we wait?? Lucas asked when he saw Jerry standing in the
front door.
?No, just drive. Quick! I don?t know if he?s really going to do it or
not,? Helen responded desperately as she waved good-bye to her
father.
?Do what?? he asked. He put the car in gear and drove out.
?Try and talk to you, man-to-man,? Helen said, relieved.
?Well, in that case,? Lucas said. He hit the brakes and shifted into
reverse.
?What are you doing?? Helen put her hand over his to stop him
from shifting.
?I?m going to go inside and talk to your dad. I don?t want him to
feel like he can?t trust me with his daughter.?
?Lucas, I swear to whatever god you think is holy that I will get
out of this car and walk to school if you go inside and talk to my
dad.?
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