The Clinch

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

"What are you so dressed up for?" Kaleb asks, running his eyes up and down me in barely concealed disgust and confusion, before he tips back his crisp packet and empties the crumbs into his mouth, then precedes to give a belch right in my face.

Curling my lip, I waft his crisp burp out of my face and take another bracing step backwards. "Nice. And for your information I've got a date." I don't disclose that it's only Gabriel and that I'm basically being strong armed into it; but he doesn't need to know that.

"You've got a what, now?" My father's booming voice interrupts whatever it was that Kaleb was about to say, and we both spin around in the front room to look at our father.

Let's just say that daddy does not look impressed with my attire. My dress is a very modestly cut navy pleated skater dress that doesn't display so much as an inch of my chest and falls gracefully just above my knees; there is not much he can complain about.

Walking to his side, I try not to tower over him; but in my heeled boots, I easily top my father's six foot frame. I have no idea why Kaleb and Reagan are just naturally tall; they must be the result of mutation, or maybe dad was drinking protein shakes when they were conceived, either way it's still weird. Slipping my arm into the crook of my father's elbow, I give him a beaming smile.

"A date, dad. And don't worry; I've already told mum where I'm going and who I'm with, so if I turn up in a ditch a few days later, you'll know who did it." At my father's furious look, I quickly concede and back away, holding up my arms in surrender whilst Kaleb just about manages to smother his snort with his hand and a well timed cough. "It won't happen. Honestly dad, I'm a grown woman, I can look out for myself now."

"She's right dad" Kaleb inserts whilst patting my father reassuringly on the shoulder "we taught her well, she's ready to go out into the big bad world all on her lonesome, there's nothing more we can do for her now."

Kaleb makes to wipe a feigned tear from his eye and I harrumph in amusement. That boy is more dramatic than an episode of The Vampire Diaries.

Before my dad can put his two cents worth in, Kaleb leans forward and ruffles my nicely made hair - much to my disdain- it took me ages to put that together. "Besides, I think I know who it is anyways, and he's a good kid."

I snort and bat his hands away, landing a punch to his abdomen that has him keeling over with a grunt of pain. "A kid? He's older than you, you pillock. And I'm pretty sure he can knock you on your ass."

Don't ask me why I'm suddenly feeling very defensive of Gabriel, because I really don't feel like analyzing that right now.

"A-Ha!" Kaleb calls out in success. "Now I know who it is! The good old process of elimination; You're going on a date with Gabriel!"

Busted. I have to admit, Kaleb sure is good at all this detective stuff; it must be all that time he spends in front of the TV watching CSI re-runs, something must have stuck in that good for nothing brain of his. But then again, with the obvious way in which Gabriel has been staking his claim on me; it wasn't that hard to deduce.

"Props to you Sherlock. And yes, it is Gabriel; happy now?" Sorting my hair, I toss my neatly arranged fishtail braid back over my shoulder.

A glance at my father reveals that his previously ill humour is suddenly replaced with a light smile. Oh no, the one thing I don't want; family approval. "I like Gabriel, he's a nice boy. Well, I say boy loosely, he's 24; a man." The smile quickly leaves his face as he spins on me with a frown. "He's too old for you, Darryl, I'm not sure I like your first boyfriend being a man."