I use to worry when I first moved away that someone else would come along and take her away from me, but I guess I have her dad to thank for keeping her safe for me. I’ve had a lot of time to think in the last day or so since I came home, and now with things easing up between us I find that I have a whole lot to thank my father in law for.
She was her usual shy self, sitting a respectable distance from me on the blanket and I wondered where the siren from the night before had disappeared to. “Why are you all the way over there?” I tugged on her arm until she fell into my side and put her head on my shoulder. This is the Caitlin I remember, soft and sweet.
“I’m glad you’re home.” I turned my head enough to kiss her hair.
“I’m glad I came home too.”
“Do you think daddy will ever change his mind?” I didn’t answer right away. Although I know what’s going on, I still would like for her to come with me, but I understand why her dad is holding out.
I feel confident that I can protect her, and now the idea of living in Saunders’ building has even more appeal. I doubt he knew about her situation when he made the offer, but it fits right in.
I haven’t told her dad about that yet, not wanting to put the cart before the horse as my mom likes to say, but when the time is right I’ll drop that little nugget so he knows that there’s one more layer of protection in place.
After my talk with Mancini today I’m holding out hope that we can take care of things before the end of summer. I just have to find these people wherever they are. I plan to put in a call to Track who should be leaving for California by the end of next week and see what he can get me.
I don’t have the kind of equipment needed here with me and Mancini would have a cow if I tried doing that shit on my personal computer. So instead of raising her hopes or dashing them all together, I just answered her the way I always have where this is concerned.
“If he doesn’t let you go now there’s always next year.”
“A whole year.” I ran my hand down her hair to comfort her. I know something’s bothering her I can hear it in her voice, and it’s not that crap she fobbed me off with earlier.
But I can’t bring up any of the things I think might be bothering her because then I’d have to explain a whole lot to her that I was not ready to yet. “Think positive babe, who knows, maybe I’ll take a year off and wait for you.”
She picked her head up and looked at me in surprise. “You’d do that?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
“You can’t, I’d feel guilty, like I was holding you back.”
“You wouldn’t be, I can always take classes online….”
“No Todd that’s nuts. You’re not going to disrupt your life because of me, what will your parents say?”
“Why would they say anything? It’s not like I’d be dropping out.” I hadn’t thought of that until I said it to her, but if push comes to shove it’s a solution. It’ll also mean that I’d be here to protect her.
“I love that you thought of doing that for me, but I’d be a very selfish person if I asked you or allowed you to do that. You’re right, if I can’t come this year there’s always next year.”
Her lips were saying those words but the truth was in her eyes. I hate seeing that look on her face and it’s no easier dealing with it here than when we’re on Facetime.
I forgot about the people who were a few yards away and drew her in for a kiss. I hadn’t kissed her since our early morning smooch and was amazed at my control.
Ever since I came up with the idea of her spending time with her dad I’ve been on a secret mission. Knowing that his refusal had more to do with the danger she was in than with his personal dislike of me had given me ideas.
So I’ve made up my mind to focus more on getting his approval and proving to him that she’d be safe with me, while still making her feel loved. I’m playing the long game. That’s why I’ve been able to go all day without tasting her. Because I know if I play my cards right, we’d both get what we want.
But now as our lips met that same swell of emotion threatened to consume me as she opened her lips beneath mine, letting me in. I cupped her head and laid her back gently across the blanket, as our mouths remained fused together. I didn’t touch her anywhere else just my lips on hers and my arm caging her in. I wasn’t about to make a spectacle of her.