I'm Sorry (Northgate Hellions Book 1) by Leighelle Stone

Author:Leighelle Stone [Stone, Leighelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-27T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

LENNOX

This night went to shit real fast. The news from G has nearly crippled us. A grave silence douses the room once we hang up the phone. Lauren and her boyfriend say their goodbyes after about thirty seconds of the awkwardness. Uncle Eric cautiously ventures out of Daddy’s office when Benny’s frustration gets the best of him. A moment later, he leaves as well.

“Are you okay?” Benny asks, dropping beside me and taking my hand in his. Thankfully, it’s become easier to have everyone around me, to have people, especially Benny, touching me.

“I’m bummed out. And–and maybe a little scared, but I’ll be okay.” A solemn nod shows his understanding while also showing me he isn’t okay.

“You’re going to be okay, baby. I promise. Everything is going to be fine.” He conveys conviction, but I don’t believe it.

“I feel like there is a but coming. Benny, what the hell is going on?” I whisper, trying not to draw the attention of my parents, who have started a hushed conversation that doesn’t look like it’s going well.

“I just need a moment to process, you know? I think I’m gonna head out to the guest house and get some sleep.” This is one of those moments I don’t push. Benny doesn’t ask for much often, so I know when he does, he needs me to acquiesce and not push him.

“Okay. I understand.” His shoulders lower with his gentle exhale of relief. What in the world is going on? He rubs his hands up and down my arms.

“Thank you. I’ll be just outside if you need me at all, okay?” So he doesn’t need too much space. That’s good because I don’t want him to go as much as I want to push him on how he’s feeling. Benny has become my strength and too much lately he hasn’t been okay. I’m not okay if he isn’t. That’s silly, unfair, and probably not a healthy dependency, but I don’t care. He’s that person for me.

Benny kisses me on the cheek, says good night to my parents, and makes his way out to the guest house for the night. My parents aren’t prudes and have no problems knowing that I’m not a virgin, but Benny respects them too much to stay in my room when he sleeps over while they’re home. So he stays in the guest house. It annoys the piss out of me because we don’t get nights together often, but I get it.

My parents break up whatever conversation they’re having, frowning as they look from my boyfriend’s exit to me. Ma stands with her arms crossed, expression vexed, and Mama Mallory stays quiet, moving to lean her hip against the couch. She isn’t happy either, which means whatever conversation we are going to have isn’t going to be a good one.

“Do I have your attention?” Daddy asks sternly. His jaw pulses, the veins in his forearms telling us he means business.

“Yes, sir,” we say together, though our answer is hesitant, filled with the impending doom of whatever it is he is about to put on us.

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