Letting Him Save Me || ✎

Chapter 7

Clayton Reid POV

"Interesting." I mutter under my breath looking at the pictures of a boy from the orphanage holding Stellas hands. 

I throw the folder filled with the photos of him touching her, as far from my sight as I could. I had to get her out of that house and away from him. I'm gonna have to put my plan in motion a little earlier than intended.

I will achieve my goal.

I will get her.

I pick up my phone from my desk and dial Maryanne's number.

"I'm not waiting for some teenage boy to get in her head, time to put the plan into action now." I yelled into the phone.

"Clayton, I'm not ready." She responds.

"Well, you have a week to get ready." I say before hanging up.

I open my laptop and wire Maryanne more funds to help her move things along faster. Once it's been approved and sent, I pick up my phone and dial her number again.

"That should be enough to get everything done in a week."

"Clayton, don't you think this is really rushed? How old is she?"

"No, I don't. I refuse to let some teenage boy give her some temporary love that will be gone before they're even old enough to legally live on their own. She needs a man. She needs me." I respond. "I'll send you her file. Study it well, you need to know it like the back of your hand in 72 hours." I say before hanging up.

I close my laptop and lean back, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

I look back down at my desk and try to focus back on work.

"Shit. Stella, you're gonna be the death of me."

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Stella POV

We finished dinner and it's just Lukas and I clearing off the table.

There's an awkward silence between us, the only sound coming from the dishes being moved from the dining table to the sink. I'm careful not to make too much eye contact, not wanting to initiate any romantic actions from him. I don't know if my heart could handle it. I don't know what it is about Lukas, but he just makes my heart race whenever I'm around him after this mornings events. 

I moved to the sink and started washing what was already there, trying to put some space between Lukas and I but when I felt arms snake around my waist I stopped immediately. I was frozen in his embrace. I felt weird, wrong. My heart was racing but I'm unsure if it's with infatuation or fear. Could I like Lukas? Or am I afraid of letting a man in? No guy has ever stayed, so why would Lukas? 

I turned in his embrace and his hands rest on my lower back. I placed my hands on his chest and looked into his eyes. What I saw in his eyes were years of hurt, and emotional cover-up, something I'm sure he saw in mine as well. We both stood there for who knows how long before, Haley walked in and chuckled.

"You know it's against the rules for foster siblings to date, right?" She said with a smirk.

Lukas cleared his throat and took a noticeable step back. "What does it matter to you Haley?" He asked, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes.  

"It just makes me feel so uncomfortable to see my dear foster siblings making out over the sink when I'm just trying to get myself some water." She says, her voice laced with threat.

"Mind your own business Haley." Lukas growls, which surprised me.

Haley steps towards him to where they're inches apart, "And what are you gonna do if I don't?" 

Makayla steps into the kitchen and breaks the thick tension in the room, "What's going on?" She questions.

"Haley was just grabbing her water and going back upstairs to study." Lukas responds without looking away from Haley's eyes. 

"Hm." Haley says before spinning on her toes, her gold locks spinning behind her and walking back up the stairs empty handed.

Lukas and I finish the dishes in silence with Makayla's supervision. Once all the work was done, Lukas and I headed our separate ways. When I got to my room I went straight to the bathroom to shower, wanting to avoid Haley and anything she'd have to say right now.