Christian (The Mitchell/Healy Family #3)(22)
Author: Jennifer Foor

I started to turn to climb back in my car when I heard him respond. “Hold on a minute. Why would Christian say she was comin’ home? Is she alright?”

I threw him the most convincing smile I could. “Sure. Like I said, it’s probably a miscommunication. I’m certain she’s probably back at her place by now. Come to think of it, I’m sure she said she was catchin’ a movie with some friends.”

He cocked his brow, as if he didn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth. This was a man that people didn’t lie to. He was powerful and a force to be reckoned with if he was crossed. I was lying to him about his daughter; someone he’d most definitely protect with his life.

“Colt, your mom called earlier. She said Christian is spending the night at the main house. She didn’t give me specifics.” Christian’s mom turned to look at me after addressing her husband. “Ethan, did something happen at school? Is that why you drove out here tonight? Were you worried about our daughter?”

Since I’d just been caught in a lie I didn’t know how to reply. “Honestly, I don’t know. We had a fight yesterday and she hasn’t talked to me since. I stopped by the house earlier and they said she wasn’t there. You know I always look out for her, so I came here to make sure she was safe.” That part wasn’t a lie. “If somethin’ happened she didn’t tell me.”

“You best be gettin’ back to school now.” His stern order wasn’t meant to be a suggestion. I nodded and climbed into my car, only to be stopped from starting it by Christian’s mother.

“Ethan, you should stay on the ranch tonight. It’s late, and the deer are going crazy lately. I’d hate for you to hit one and get stranded or worse. We’ve got plenty of room. It’s no trouble, right, Colt?”

I refused to look his way, because I knew what he was thinking. He was under the assumption that I’d not only lied about his daughter once, but also about why she’d come to the ranch. He couldn’t understand that I’d driven all this way because I was ready to confess my love to his daughter.

“Just make sure you have your ass back to school in the mornin’.”

I often wondered if the man liked me at all. His stern demeanor left little to the imagination. “Yes, sir.”

I followed the two of them inside the house and let Miss Savanna show me the guest room. The whole time I wondered if I could sneak out and make my way to the main house, even though it was a terrible idea. Just as her mother was stepping out of the room she turned to me and smiled. “I’m glad she has you, Ethan. I’ve never understood why she struggles. That girl is beautiful inside and out. I just wish she’d see that.”

“She’ll always have me.”

She walked out of the room after I’d said it, and I wondered if somehow she knew my feelings for her daughter were stronger than I’d admitted. I was resolved to hoping that by morning Christian would get over whatever was bothering her. The anticipation of coming out to her was killing me.

Lying in a bed in her parent’s house made me feel close to her. I knew she wasn’t there, but it still gave me that connected feeling I longed for. I’d lied for too long, and feared it had cost me my chance of being with her. There was still concern about screwing it up, but I couldn’t sit back and watch her seeing other people. I’d learned my lesson feeling the pain of knowing she’d been with another guy besides me.

I’d experienced what it felt like to be jealous of another person, and was hell-bent on making sure it never happened again.

Chapter 14

Christian

It would have been nice to be able to sleep without interference. God knows I needed the rest. What I required more than sleep was to find resolution to my current situation.

In the middle of the night I got up and headed to the kitchen for a glass of water. While standing alone in the dark room I took notice of all the little sounds the old house made. Each time something creaked I felt the need to jump and look around, making sure there wasn’t anyone there. Finally when I knew it was my nerves I headed back up to the bedroom and locked the door behind me.

Never in my life had I felt more alone. This wasn’t about having friends anymore. I’d been violated and couldn’t comprehend what I was supposed to do next.

For the rest of the night I sat there in that room with a small light on, crying, fighting with my reservations, and struggling to understand what was to come.

In the morning I heard my mother’s voice even before she knocked. I sat up realizing that I’d dozed off. The sun was beaming through the light colored curtains as I climbed out of the bed to unlock the door.

From the moment I looked into my mother’s eyes I knew I had to lie to her. It was impossible to look that woman in the eyes and tell her that someone had hurt me in a way that I wasn’t sure could be repaired. As determined as I became to keep it a secret, the moment her arms reached around me I lost it. She held me tight, never asking me a single question until I let it all out.

After time had passed she handed me some tissues from the nightstand. “I wanted to come over last night, but dad and I didn’t get home until late. Then Ethan showed up and-.”

“What? Ethan was here?”

“I thought you knew he’d come looking for you. Honey, please tell me he isn’t the reason for all of this.”

I shook my head and looked down at my legs, covering an obvious bruise before she could spot it. “He’s not. Ethan had nothin’ to do with my problems. Trust me, if he did you’d be the first to know.”

She moved the hair away from my face, but I still refused to look in her direction. “Please talk to me. I can’t have both of my girls miserable like this. It’s killing me. Your dad and I are here for you, no matter what you’re going through. I hope you know that. Nothing is more important to us than you kids.”

“I know, mom. I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”

“Are you sure? You know, I had a terrible time in college. It’s when I was dating your uncle Ty, and he had his accident. I had one friend, who ended up not being that great after all. Anyway, I just want you to know that I get what it’s like for you. You’re not alone, Christian. I’ve seen the way Ethan looks at you. He was worried last night.”

“Mom, Ethan and I are just friends, if we’re even that now. It’s a long story and I can’t think about it. Please tell me he left already.”