Chapter Twenty-Seven

Addie

We walk back in the house, and I glance up at Cliff, wondering what his plans are now. I’m dying to try out the bathtub.

“Mind if I take a bath?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“I’ve got some phone calls to make,” he says, and I nod before rising up on tiptoes to give him another kiss. His lips are gentle on mine, and I find myself hungry for more of what we’d done last night.

But I’ve got a date with the bathtub first.

Cliff takes his phone out of his pocket, and I almost ask him if I can use it to call my parents. But I just don’t feel able to face them right now. I love them dearly, but I just can’t right now.

But he pushes it into my hands and closes his around mine so I’m cradling the phone. “Call them,” he says, but I shake my head.

“I can’t yet,” I say, looking up at him and pleading with him to understand. “I will, soon. Give me some time to think about what to say.”

I pull my hands away, leaving the phone cupped in his hands, and head up the stairs toward the master bathroom. It was a sweet gesture on his part, but I just need a little time to figure out how to swallow the embarrassment I feel.

Because everyone else is so sure my parents will still love me and not be ashamed, but I have to come to terms with the thought of them seeing naked pictures of me. I’d told them I wasn’t going to be that kind of model. That it was a legitimate job. I’d screwed up. And now I have to face that, and I’m just not ready.

I run the water and undress with shaking fingers. While part of me is certain it’ll all work out just fine, I can’t turn off that nagging doubt in my mind. And the embarrassment is going to take time to fade, I’m sure.

When I settle into the hot water, I feel the pain and worry subside and I sink in deep and relax.

***

I wake to find Cliff nearby with a book in his hands. He looks up at me as I sit up a bit more. “Just making sure you’re okay,” he says. “But you were sleeping, so I just sat by to make sure you didn’t drown.” He gives a smile that softens his words.

“Thank you,” I say, and he nods.

“You must have needed it.” There’s a gentle concern in his voice that brings me fully awake.

“I’m okay,” I say, smiling at him as I lift my hand and make a face at my wrinkled fingers. “Except for looking like a prune.”

I let the water out and stand up as he walks over and wraps me up in a towel. With him holding on to me, I step out of the tub, and he grabs a second towel and places it over my head before twirling it around my hair. With his help, I dry off, and he hands me fresh, clean clothes. I can’t help but smile at him. He’s thoughtful.

When I’m dressed, I head out of the bathroom with him in tow. I hear voices downstairs and freeze. But he steps in front of me and takes my hands and leads me down the stairs.

I see my parents sitting on the couch, talking quietly as he walks me toward them. And I’m furious. “How could you?” I ask. He glances over his shoulder at me, but his expression is unreadable.

My parents look up and see us. Mom stands up and brings her hands to her face. I see tears in her eyes as I walk up to her. Then she pulls me into a tight hug as Dad stands up and wraps his arms around us both.

“You’re okay,” Mom says, her voice breaking as Dad whispers that he loves me.

“I’m okay,” I say, feeling my voice choke up around a painful lump in my throat. “I missed you guys,” I say, and their arms tighten around me.

“We missed you,” Mom says, and she looks over my shoulder. I follow her gaze to Cliff, who’s watching us with a slight look of satisfaction. But I still feel anger. He shouldn’t have done this. He should have listened when I told him I needed time. He should have respected my wishes.

But I’m glad to see my parents.

When we finally let go, Mom and Dad sit down and I take another seat with Cliff standing and watching careful, like a guardian. And I realize the embarrassment I thought I’d feel is nonexistent.

“I’m sorry.” The words burst out of me, and I feel them and tears coming as I speak. “I’m sorry for everything—”

But Mom holds up her hand, and Dad begins to nod as if he agrees with her even though she hasn’t said anything yet.

“Don’t apologize for that monster!” Mom sounds mad, and I see anger in Dad’s face.

I feel confused. This isn’t what I expected. And Dad seems to see that. “Look,” he says, his face turning a little red. “We know what happened. We know that what happened between you and Arlo was supposed to be private.” He and Mom exchange a glance that tells me more than I’d like to know about similar things they must have done.

Mom takes over. “We’re not upset at you for trusting him. We’re upset at him for betraying that trust and trying to harm you.”

Relief. That’s what I feel. Relief that they understand. But I’m not about to let all the responsibility fall on Arlo’s shoulders like that.

“I let him take the pictures,” I say, my cheeks stinging red. “I’m responsible for that.”

Mom nods. “But did you give him permission to make them public?” she asks, and I shake my head no.

“Okay, then,” she says. “It’s behind us. We’re glad to see you.”

Dad nods and adds, “And we hope next time you’ll trust us to understand rather than hiding from us too. If Cliff hadn’t told us you were safe weeks ago, we’d be ripping our hair out.”

I glance over my shoulder at Cliff, both mad and relieved. It’s a strange mix. “Who didn’t you tell?” I say, unable to keep the jab to myself, and I see his eyes narrow.

“Arlo,” he says simply, and I feel a grin coming. Smart-ass.

I turn back to my parents and move in closer to hug them again. My mom is quick to change the subject. “So who’s this guy?”

“Some jerk that keeps following me,” I joke, and she laughs. “No, seriously, he’s amazing,” I say, keeping my voice low.

“I figured that,” Mom says. “You’ll have to tell me everything one of these days, okay?”

I nod. “We’re going to go,” Dad says. “We don’t want anyone to follow us out here, so we’re keeping it short. We love you, honey. Don’t be a stranger.”

I nod and stand up. They rise and I hug them again, so glad that everything is working out okay.

Cliff was right. But I’m not about to let him off the hook that easily.