Daddy Issues

23|Caring

My eyes spring open. I tap around to feel the familiar comfort of my blanket and take a breath of relief.

When I realise where I was and that Alex was no longer beside me, I slowly sit up. I reach for my phone and as I do, Alex walks into his room. He was completely dressed and ready for the day.

"We're busted." He says and I raise an eyebrow. "My mom came home early." He says and I look to his window. "I can go out the window?" I suggest and he rolls his eyes. "Don't be stupid." He says handing me my dress.

"Turn around." I say to him when I climb out of bed. "You didn't mind me looking last night." He teases and I roll my eyes. I take his sweatshirt off and put my dress back on.

He hands me my shoes which I quickly do. I look in a mirror and wince at how rough I look.

"What's the plan?" I ask looking at his door. "Don't have one, just gonna hope for the best." He groans.

I follow Alex as he runs downstairs.

"Hey Alex, I was thinking- oh..." Lucy says rushing out into the hall and catching us as we were so close to the door. "India." She says and I smile. "Hi." I say awkwardly and Alex just runs a hand over his face.

"It's not what you think." Alex says and Lucy nods her head, unconvinced. "It's really not." I add and Lucy raises an eyebrow.

"He was just taking care of me. I really need to learn to drink alcohol." I say and she turns to Alex. "It's true. You should've seen her. She couldn't walk properly. I didn't want her to get in trouble." Alex says and I nod.

"Okay, but I don't care if you guys were here doing the opposite." She says and my eyes widen and my cheeks flare up. "I was a teenager once too. Just be safe." She says and I choke. "Okay thanks mom." Alex says leading me to the door.

"India." Lucy says making me turn back to her. "I heard it was your birthday soon." She says and I nod. "It is." I say smiling. "Alex, get hints out of her for what she wants for her birthday." Lucy says and he nods. "You don't have to get me anything." I call as Alex drags me out of the door.

I climb into Alex's car and he immediately jets off.

"Are you gonna explain last night?" I ask and he scoffs. "Explain what?" He asks amused. "The fact you begged me to leave that party." I ask and his face tightens. "You shouldn't of been there. You screwed up my night completely." He says. Ouch.

I turn to face the window when Alex groans. "That isn't what I meant." He sighs. "I meant that I was so focused on you that I couldn't focus on what I was actually there to do." He adds and I turn to him.

"Why'd you kick me out of there?" I ask and he sighs. "Because Jason is a massive dick." Alex says and I raise an eyebrow. "I know. Hunter told me." I say and he whips his attention to me.

"I already know that, Hunter told me." I say. "Well he is. He had all his guys there and it wasn't safe." He says and I raise an eyebrow. He is making no sense. "Why?" I ask.

"Because." He yells frustrated. Why tell me he's gonna explain if he's gonna yell. There was no need for that.

"Because." He says more calmer. "There was so many drugs there India and you're not careful. Then I had to listen to half the guys talk about how fucking sexy you looked and I didn't need that shit happening to you again." He says and takes a deep breath.

"Don't you understand?" He asks glancing at me. "I'm trying to look out for you. That's all I've fucking ever done. I guess I fucking care about you, okay? And I don't like it. I don't care about anyone other than mom. But now you've been thrown into my life, quite literally, and I feel like I have to protect you because you can be so fucking stupid." He says and I roll my eyes. I'm not stupid.