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Turns out the plan to get Bella and I safe was going to go something like this: Bella was going to absolutely break Charlie's heart and leave for phoenix and I was supposed to do the same to Billy.
Yeah, not happening. There was no way I'd break Billy's heart like that, and to worry him and Jake to the point of a stroke was so not worth it. Also, if Paul heard he'd definitely stop me. I wouldn't put it past him to chain me to the house or something. So, I decided to amend my part by instead going after Bella.
I pulled up in front of my house alone, Emmett waited at the treaty line for me to return. The lights were on in the kitchen so I knew Billy was still up. I quickly rushed into the house in a panic that wasn't hard to fake.
"Liv?" Billy asked as I breezed through the kitchen and went straight to my room. "Olivia!" He hollered when I was out of sight.
I quickly grabbed clothes, throwing them into a duffel bag. I grabbed my phone charger and then went to the bathroom. Jake was at the sink brushing his teeth while I started grabbing my toiletries. "Are you going somewhere?" He asked through a mouthful of toothpaste.
I cringed at the sight but nodded at my brother, "I'll be back soon though."
I left the bathroom and made my way back out to the kitchen where Billy was looking at me worriedly. "Olivia, what is going on?"
"I need to go," I breathed, my heart racing the same way it did every time I lied to this man.
"Go? Go where?" He asked, his brows furrowed in a suspicious kind of way.
I took a breath before repeating Bella's part of the plan. "Bella freaked out. Her and Edward broke up or something and now she says she's leaving for Phoenix and never coming back. I need to go with her and talk some sense into her, okay? She's making a huge mistake and it's going to break Charlie's heart if she doesn't come back."
Billy stared at me for a long moment, not saying anything, "you think you can get her to come home?" I nodded. "And you promise me you'll be safe?" Again I nodded, but it was another lie that had me aching in my chest. "Okay. I trust you."
It occurred to me then, as I stood in the kitchen, staring down at my adoptive father, that I realized I may never see him again. They may never catch James, which would mean it's not safe for us to return. Or James could catch us, and then I'd never come home. I felt tears burn in the back my eyes, guilt flooding them.
I dropped my bag and lunged forward, pulling him into a tight hug, my face buried into his long hair. "I love you, dad." The word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
I'd never called Billy 'dad', but that's what he was, wasn't he? He's been the only constant male figure in my life, other than Harry and Charlie, but they weren't there for everything. Billy was. He's raised me for the last six years and I know that no matter what he'll always be there for me.
