Daddy Didn't Love Me // Lawlorff

Eight

He placed the grocery bags and his keys on the table.

"Help me unpack this, then we'll go to the beach." I nodded, taking the Ben & Jerry's and putting it in the freezer.

He turned on his spotify and placed it in a cup to magnify the volume.

"Nice song," I laughed, seeing as his shuffle led it to Fergalicious.

"Oh shit, uh," he said as he tried to press numerous buttons to get rid of the catchy yet annoying lyrics.

It played a the 1975 song next and he smiled. "Better."

I placed the last of the groceries in the pantry and threw away the bags.

"That was fast. Maybe you should work at Wal-Mart."

"Oh, hell no." I snapped. He laughed and grabbed his keys and let me out the door first.

We got in his pickup truck and he synced his phone to the car so his good taste in music could be even louder. He rolled all the windows down and saw my frowning out the window, lost in reflection of what I was going to do when my father came to. Could he trace me? Was he tracking my phone.

Kian placed a hand on my shoulder. "He's not going to find you. I'm gonna keep you safe."

I nodded sarcastically. "No, really. I mean, I don't intend to brag or anything, but as a mere twelve year old, I was a motherfucking yellow belt in karate. So..."

I laughed and he ruffled my hair.

We arrived at a cliff. I was starting to see how Clearwater Cliffs got it's name. This cliff was so immense, if you fell from it, you could probably recite the Declaration of Independence before plummeting to the cold looking ocean below.

"Watch your step," he said, holding my hand and pulling me along the edge toward what looked like a hiking trail.

He stepped ahead of me, taking the lead. The steps were slippery slabs of wood, probably from the thunderstorm the night before. I almost fell, but he pulled me into his arms, reacting quickly.

"Woah there, cowboy," he joked, in a country accent. I smiled up at him and he looked at my lips. Just when I was certain he would kiss me, he set me down and trailed down the path further.

Nice going, Sam.