Micah
Raking my teeth over my lower lip, I consider what Daphne’s just said. She’s told her parents how she feels about me … and they hadn’t gone ballistic. “You really think they’ll be okay with me coming over?” I let out a rough chuckle. “Even though they know about ‘Daph’s Dream Dick’ and the video? And fuck, all the bullshit with Alora?”
She eyes me from across the console. “Yes. I told you, I explained everything that’s been happening. Including us. Including our past.”
I blow out a breath. “Your parents are good people.”
She nods. “They are.”
A few minutes later, we pull up at the curb in front of her house. When I don’t immediately move to exit, Daphne reaches over, squeezing my thigh. “Hey. It’s fine.” She jerks her head toward the house. “Come on.”
Daphne takes my hand as we walk up the driveway. I don’t know how she’s so calm. My parents were complete assholes in front of her. And now she’s bringing me home to hers, and they know how much I’m into their daughter as well as all the sordid details of our crazy history. How is she not freaking out?
Following the sound of the TV, she tugs me down the hallway behind her.
Her parents glance up from the show they’re watching, and her dad immediately hits pause.
I raise my hand in greeting. “Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Davis. Sorry to intrude on your evening.”
“Hi, Micah. It’s fine.” Her mom looks from me to Daphne. “What’s going on?”
“Micah’s parents”—she squeezes my hand—“came home. There was an argument. He needs somewhere to stay tonight.”
Dad’s brows furrow, but then he nods. “Of course. We don’t have a guest room, but the couch is comfy. I fall asleep on it all the time.”
When I look up at Micah, his teeth have dug into his lower lip. “I, uh … I appreciate it.”
Mom gets up from the couch. “I’ll find some blankets and a pillow for you.” She pats his arm on the way out of the room.
Dad stands up. “You two want a snack? We have leftovers. Daph, why don’t you help your mom for a sec? I bet Micah could use a towel and washcloth, too.”
Daphne glances up at me, a slightly nervous smile on her face. Uh-oh. I think I’ve just been roped into an awkward conversation with her dad.
“Okay. Be right back.”
“Micah, come with me.” He waves his hand over his shoulder as he walks from the room.
“Yes, sir.” I follow him into the kitchen where he gets out leftover pasta and starts heating it up. Standing quietly, I shove my hands into my pockets and wait for him to say whatever he intends to.
“I still remember the day Daphne came home crying hysterically about some mean boys at the park.” He shakes his head, pressing his lips together tightly. “We had no idea what happened to her that day. Not until she told us this week. She’s kept quiet about it for seven years.” The microwave beeps, interrupting him. He pulls out the dish, gives the pasta a stir, and pops it back in for another thirty seconds. Finally lifting his gaze, he looks me straight in the eye. “Thank you. If you hadn’t stepped in … well, I don’t want to think about what would have happened to her. She’ll always be my little girl.” He sighs heavily, giving me a smile. “But I’m glad to know there’s someone else looking out for her. Someone else who cares.”
“I’d do anything for her. She’s everything to me.”
He nods. “I felt the same way about her mother at your age. I hope that’s a good sign. Look, Micah, I don’t know what’s going on with your parents, but I can promise you, we’ll help however we can.”
When his gaze meets mine, I know he means it. And it feels … good.
Daphne’s parents were fucking awesome. They’d sat down with me and Daph that night and helped me talk through my options. They even offered to let me stay with them—with certain rules in place, of course—while I figured out what to do, but after a few phone calls, I came up with a plan. I’m staying with Beau’s family until graduation. I’m actually kind of excited about it.
This morning, I went to pick up Daphne for her first day back to school and her parents served us a home-cooked breakfast. I haven’t had one of those in forever, and I made damn sure to let her parents know how much I’ve appreciated their support.
As we walk through the main door of the academy hand in hand, it’s obvious that something is going on. I glance at Daphne to get her read on it but she’s busy up on tiptoe straining her neck to see what’s going on ahead of us.
We stop at my locker first. The commotion stems from a crowd farther down the hall. People surround one of the lockers, and there is a good amount of laughter and commenting, which only becomes more boisterous as more people join in.
Max comes from that direction with one eyebrow hiked up on his forehead and when he stops in front of us, he shakes his head. “Damn, that was good.”
My eyes narrow. “What’s he talking about?”