Safe With Me |18+

Making Promises.

I set the mat down on the grass and I placed the basket on top. I called out to Elora and she ran to me and jumped up, excitedly.

"What are we gonna eat?! I'm hungry!!"

"Calm down, hyper girl. Settle down. I got you a meatball sub, fries if you want, juice-"

"You're spoiling your child, Cora."

"Suck my dick, Kelsie." She laughed and rolled her eyes. I handed El the sandwich and she grabbed it with her small hands, careful not to drop the contents.

We all settled down and ate quietly as the cool breeze swept across our faces, brushing our hair to the side.

Kelsie kept staring at me. "What?" I asked. "You look fucked up." "I'm aware." I grunted and continued eating.

"When we get back I'll fix you up." She said. "I'm fine. I don't need fixing up." "Cora." "Kelsie." I glared at her and she looked away, eating her cake.

"Cora, what happens after you finish high school?" Elora asked.

"Well, there's college for me. If you want to come along, I'm taking you." I smiled at her, drinking the juice.

"What about dad?"

"Who gives a fuck about dad? If I leave you there you know what happens, kid, you're old enough to know."

"She's not." Kelsie interrupted.

"I know. But after what she's witnessed for the past five years, I think she's got a handful of knowledge." I clenched my jaw and closed the bottle of juice.

Elora set her sandwich down and sighed. "I don't wanna be alone." "You're not gonna. I'm gonna stay for as long as you want me to, kid." She smiled. "Promise?" "I promise." She grinned and continued her snack.

Kelsie stared at me and I shrugged. "I have to. The only way out is escaping." She nodded. "You're not alone." I smiled and nodded. "I know."

After a while, we got up and headed back to the car. "Can I sit in the front now?" Elora asked. I looked at her then I looked at Kelsie. She shrugged and I chuckled. "Come. You get to sit on my lap."

We got in the car and Elora grabbed the steering wheel. "Alright. Don't do anything. I don't wanna crash and die, okay?" She nodded.

I started the car and I drove to Kelsie's home and dropped her off. I pulled over and Kelsie hugged me and Elora. "I'll see you tomorrow." I nodded.

"If you need anything, call me."

"You too, babe." She smiled and walked out of the car. She closed the door and walked away. Elora climbed to the front seat and she looked at me.

"Are you okay?" She asked. I looked down at Elora and I pursed my lips. "I'm fine, kid. Are you?" "I just wish you were okay, really."

I turned away and I started the car, driving back home. I pulled over by the house and I paused. I glanced at the house and I grabbed the steering wheel tight, knowing my knuckles had turned white.

"Cora?" I loosened my grip and I cleared my throat. "Yeah, Kid?"

"Where's mom? I didn't see her the whole day." She tilted her head and looked directly into my eyes.

Fuck.

I swallowed hard and I licked my lips wet. I sighed. "Listen kid." I placed my hand on her shoulder and I looked at her.

"You're a big girl now. You know the bullshit we go through. You want the truth about mom? She left."

"What?"

"That's a good thing." I leaned back on my seat and I kept my eyes on the road. "She left?"

"Dad is too much for her. She's gone to her parents house." I lied. How could I tell her that mom was fucking some other dude?

"Will she come back?" I clenched my jaw and I wanted to lose my mind. And I did.

"No! Listen kid, she's a bitch. She doesn't care about you or me. The way our daddy doesn't. It's just you and me. If you trust me enough, I can give you a much better life than what we have now."

I could see the tears in her eyes welled up and I sighed. "I'm sorry I snapped. You know what we go through. I just wanna be strong for you. And if I'm strong for you, I need you to be strong for me. Please?" I begged.

She nodded and wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry that this turned out this way. After I'm done with school, it's just gonna be you and me. We're gonna run away together and chase our dream. Sounds good?"

"Yeah." She said, her voice trembling.

"Look at me, kid." She looked up at me, with her moist eyes.

"I'm never gonna let anyone take you away from me. Just you and me. I love you, you know that right?"

"I love you too." I smiled and wrapped my arms around her tiny structure. "Fuck everyone. Just you, me, Kelsie. Family." Fucking Dom.

She nodded.

We got out of the car and we headed inside the house. She went to her room and I headed to mine, locking my door and taking out my laptop. Assignments. Homework. Shit.

"You good?" Kelsie texted.

"I'm good. You?"

"Worried about you."

"I'll be fine. I promise." "Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I'm damn sure I can keep this one."

I smirked and continued with my work. How fucking exhausting could this get? I knew I was losing my mind and I had to be strong for her. But as days go by it gets to me. And I didn't want it to get to a point where it broke me. I'm damn sure as hell hoping to never let that happen.

*****