Against All Odds?

5. Tempting Danger

       -♡♥︎♤♥︎♡⁃

"Please don't go. You always leave us. Stay just this once," he mumbles again, releasing my hand while his eyes remain closed. From his words, I can only assume he's dreaming about his parents.

Knowing how they've been neglectful of their children for as long as I can remember, I feel a wave of sympathy for him and his little sister. Since their divorce, his father has been constantly away on business trips, while his mother has started a new life somewhere in the city.

Dismissing these thoughts, I turn to get my phone. Perhaps not waking him would be best, seeing how peaceful he looks in his sleep.

After getting my phone, I glance at him once more, debating whether or not to cover him with something, even though it's not cold. After a few moments of contemplation, I decide against it. Instead, I turn off the TV and write him a note to thank him for letting me stay for a while.

Since I don't have his number, a note is my only option.

Once I'm done, I leave the note on the table, and just as I'm about to leave, a soft voice causes me to turn in its direction.

"Aleesha?" he calls out again, his voice soft like silk. "You're leaving?"

"Hey, yeah. I didn't want to disturb you, so I decided to just leave instead."

"I don't know how I fell asleep," he says, yawning and stretching his arms. "What time is it?"

"11:40," I reply after glancing at my phone.

"And you think it's okay to go home alone at this time of night?" he asks, concern lacing his voice.

"Why not?" I shrug as if it's not a big deal. "As far as I know, this place is safe for me to walk home alone."

He looks at me like I'm talking nonsense and gets up from the couch to grab his car keys. "C'mon. I'll drive you home," he says, tossing a mint into his mouth.

"Oh no, it's fine, you don't have to."

"I insist," he asserts, leaving me with no chance to object.

"I'm just worried about what my brother will do if he sees me with you," I say, my concern evident in my voice.

"That's my problem to handle," he replies, closing the distance between us. His brown eyes lock onto mine, his tall figure looming over me as he speaks in a low, deep voice. "The only thing that matters to me right now is getting you home safely, okay?"

Unable to find the right words, I simply nod, my gaze never leaving his.

With that, we get into his pickup truck and drive off. The streets are quiet, almost deserted. I see a few people lingering by the liquor store, and as we drive further, a group of guys and girls are enjoying music from their car radios, having a good time.

"So much has changed, huh? I thought nobody would be out this late," I remark, turning my attention back to him.

"Or maybe you've never been out this late until now," he replies, his words reminding me of the days when my parents were too strict to let me stay out past curfew, even after I turned eighteen. Corey, on the other hand, would always find a way to sneak out.

When we reach my neighborhood less than ten minutes later, he parks his car across the street from my house, after I convince him to do so, worried that Corey might notice.

"I think I'm safe from here; you don't have to walk me home," I say, seeing that he's already stepped out of the car, determined to walk me to my door.

"Still stubborn, huh?" he asks, his tone a mix of amusement and admiration, making my heart race.