𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 | B.E

PART 26

026; faithful

tw: mentions of abuse.

katherine's pov

"tell me this is real" i whispered softly. billie's delicate skin brushed against mine as she gently cupped my cheeks within her hands, as i rested my forehead on hers the heaviness of her tender breath lands against my cold lips that longed for her.

"seriously, you're too good to be true" i added while interlocking my fingers into the material of her shirt. after several arguments, we've had billie's remained by my side, everything hurt without her and i couldn't imagine reliving that again.

billie's innocent eyes gazed lovingly into mine with a cute little smile as she lightly shakes her head, "you asked me once if i thought you were a bad person..." she paused reminding me of the conversation, i nod in response wondering where she was going with this.

"that little voice inside your head, i see right through it. so it better know for certain that when i say i love you, i fucking mean it" billie explains. a beam strides across my lips feeling my heart flutter inside my chest at the choice of her words, she couldn't have said it any more beautifully.

"are you sure you're okay with this?" i double check knowing everything we've worked so hard for could blow up in our faces at what we're planning to do. "it was my idea kat" billie reminds me, "oh yeah." i replied nervously.

"from what you've told me, he's changed now, but don't try to hold me back from demolishing him if he starts anything" billie added in a casual tone.

"my father is a hard man to please." i informed, "really? i had no idea" she replied sarcastically. my insides curl up at the thought of this heading up shits creek which caused me to panic, "remember you're my friend, not my girlfriend" i stated.

introducing a single person to my dad was already so difficult, i didn't want to make it ten times harder on myself by coming out of the closet on the same day. especially, if me being into girls hit the wrong nerve it could trigger him back to the man he was before.

"you ready?" billie questions, i shake my head immediately regretting her idea. we had a long and rather eventful talk, in conclusion, no matter what happens we want to be consistently moving forward not backward. it took a lot of convincing, reassurance, and patience for me to agree to that. nothing in my life had ever been this positive before, no one had ever taken the time to help me build for confidence for situations like this.

"kat..." she says quietly while smoothly running the palm of her hand up my thigh. billie's eyes soften as she lightly smiles, "you're safe with me. you know that" she assures. i nod slightly feeling a little better knowing she'll be right beside me.

if the worst outcome happens and this somehow blows out of proportion, i don't think i could go back to the way it was before. living with my abusive father had been the most sinister nightmare of my entire life, and it pains me to think that one little introduction could revert his ways and mindset.

holding hands with billie probably wasn't the best idea, so i sneakily removed my fingers from hers it didn't bother her since we both knew it'd be the most suitable way to enter. the heaviness is released from my chest as i sighed closing my tired eyes for a moment before turning the door handle.

"dad?" i yelled out his name, billie closes the front door behind us and i hear rummaging in the kitchen. the dishwasher is rumbling against the floorboards, the faucet's running, and the television is playing an old eighties show.