Page 214 of Always Love You More

“I’m sorry,” I force out.

“Doesn’t sound like it,” Carson shoots back.

I grit my teeth, meeting his eyes. “I’m sorry, Carson,” I tell him, my voice barely sounding like my own.

He nods, and our father backs up, finally giving me room to stand.

“School, work, and community service, that’s it for you. You hear me?”

“Yeah,” I answer, feeling myself shrink as he looms over me. “I hear you.”

“I catch you sneaking out to see him and you’re done.”

I don’t know what me beingdonemeans, but I don’t want to find out.

Before I can answer, my phone rings, and my father tips his chin, telling me to answer it. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he mutters.

“Hello,” I breathe, careful to keep my tone neutral, but it doesn’t fool Jameson.

“What’s taking so long?” he asks. “You all right?”

“I’m fine,” I tell him, my eyes meeting my father’s. “We’re just talking.”

“You don’t sound fine. Are you being watched or something? You sound weird.”

“Everything’s good,” I press, but again, he doesn’t buy it.

“I’m coming in.”

My father keeps his gaze pinned on me, a silent threat.

“No, no. Seriously, Jamie, I’m fine.”

“Sam.”

“I’ll call you later, okay?”

Please just hang up.

“Are you bullshitting me? You’ve gotta tell me, baby, if you are.”

“No,” I answer, “I’m not.”

He’s quiet for a minute before he blows out a breath. “You’ll call me if anything changes?”

“Yeah.”

“All right,” he gives in, and before he can push for more, I hang up.

My father steps out of my path, giving me permission to leave. “I’m doing this for your own good,” he says as I move for the stairs. “Things have gone too far. He’s no good for you.”

I don’t know how to tell him that Jameson is theonlygood thing for me. That he’s sometimes the only reason I get up in the morning. The only good part of my day.

So, I say nothing and walk up the stairs I was dragged down just yesterday.

Into the room I had to lock myself in.

And I break.