The Lyon's Cub Caitlin (Lyon The Next Generation 1)

It wasn’t very nice of me to turn the tables on her this way, but I can’t fight her and myself, one of us has got to keep our heads on straight. I wasn’t prepared and that’s why she keeps catching me out there.

This is a Caitlin I never knew existed. But I should’ve known that she’d have some of him in her, should’ve expected it. “Stop being mad at me. Is this how you want my first day home to end?” I hugged her because she looked like she was going to cry.

“We’re going to be okay. Just because I’ve learned to control myself around you doesn’t mean that I don’t want you. I just want to do things right because you’re worth it; we’re worth it. This isn’t us against him baby, you gotta stop thinking like that.”

“Think of it this way; your mom and dad are responsible for you until you leave their home. They’re not gonna let you leave and go off unless they’re sure that you’ll be taken care of. I’ve been doing everything I can to be able to take care of you in a way that they can live with.”

“Wouldn’t you want the same for your kids in the future? Would you send them out into the world to face who knows what? Or would you want to make sure that when they leave home they’re going to be with someone who can take care of them just as well as we can?”

I felt her body start to relax and knew the crisis was over. Whatever had hit me during our walk hadn’t missed her. It’s going to be a fun summer. “Now let’s go get that stuff from the store and head back home; we’ve barely got enough time to make it.”

“Then you’d better drive then!” She was still sulking but the wind had gone out of her sails. We maneuvered around each other until I ended up in the driver’s seat and I breathed easy once again. I have to get to the bottom of why her dad really refused to let her graduate a year early and prove to him that I can handle whatever it is. Maybe it’s good that Mancini’s here after all. Maybe he can put in a good word for me.

CAITLIN

He’s so mature, I always knew he was more advanced in his thinking than most boys his age, but I’ve never heard him speak quite like that. And he’s right, just what has gotten into me? Have I been kidding myself all this time, telling myself that I was fine with the way things are?

Or am I subconsciously afraid? Is that why I’m acting out? Because I’m afraid that I don’t know how to be around him now that we’ve both grown up? It’s one thing to talk on the phone, when he’s not there to touch me, or look at me with those eyes that seem to melt.

Am I testing him, is that it? I don’t want to go against daddy any more than he does, so why in the last few hours have I been pushing him to? I need to get away from him so that I can think clearly. I’m so confused, all these new emotions are playing havoc with my mind, not to mention what they’re doing to my body. My hormones seem to have been awakened all at once.

He reached over wordlessly and took my hand as he drove. It was he who remembered what mom and aunt Cierra wanted from the store once we got there, he who answered questions from people who knew or remembered us as he held my hand in the store.

I didn’t miss the looks of surprise we got from people who knew daddy and had never seen me with a boy before. Someone even whispered something about me being all grown up now. Does the whole town know?

“Such a nice looking young couple. You’re the Henderson boy aren’t you? Haven’t seen you around these parts in ages. How’s your mom and dad?”

“They’re fine Ms. Agnes, I’ll tell them you asked.” Ms. Agnes is the cashier who’s worked here for ages and knows everyone and everything.

“And you Caitie? How’s the family?”

‘They’re fine, everyone’s fine.” She smiled knowingly at me and I couldn’t wait to get out of there. It’s the first place Todd and I went where everyone seemed to know us and know all about our situation. Granted everyone in this town knows daddy and his reputation when it comes to his kids.

Back in the truck I was stuck thinking about their reactions and the things they’d said. Now our town is one of those small towns where things haven’t changed much over the last half century, or so I like to joke. People here get married right out of high school and no one bats a lash.