DAWNING POINT (AgeTabooRomance)

Chapter 9

I barely slept last night. Raven eyes kept working their way into my dreams and I'd startle awake, sweaty and exhausted, feeling as though I hadn't fallen asleep in the first place.

After the consistent heavy rainfall last night, the day began overcast, more rain waiting to pour as forecasted later today.

I'd gotten out of bed, dressed, eaten breakfast and then came back to lie on my bed, feet at the headboard, staring out the window.

My room sported the same view as the front door, with fluffy trees along the side fences and the gravel drive that led to the sliver of street in the centre, and I'd stared outside at the scene for the past hour, having given up on cleaning, reading and mindlessly scrolling through my phone. Nothing was freeing my mind, so I gave into it.

After the vehement friction between Manning and I last night, we'd driven here in silence. Nothing passed between us other than the street number he'd asked for; I didn't even mumble a goodnight or a thank you when I'd left the truck and powered away. Besides, what the hell did I have to be thankful for?

I had every reason not to trust the man.

And I certainly didn't need handouts.

Manning dropped me to the to the street number I'd told him – which wasn't the number to my house – and as I walked across a neighbour's lawn toward their front door, I'd changed direction last second and bolted through the trees around to the backyard, facing the street parallel. I'd sprinted down the footpath with newfound adrenaline pumping through me as I'd checked over my shoulder to make sure he didn't watch or follow, and barrelled in my backdoor. The door had shut with a soft slam, and I'd leant against it for an age until I'd caught my breath. Gladly I hadn't had to worry about waking my mother on account of the noise; like usual, she was already three sheets to the wind and out cold by that time of the night. And once I'd finally calmed down and failed to hear any engines drive by or knocks on the door, I'd made for my bathroom.

Yes, it was childish of me, but I felt better knowing he didn't know for sure where to find me. That, and having imparted a small measure of defeat on him after he'd forced me back into the truck – much against my better judgement and fault of my softened resolve – and especially after he'd affronted me the way he did.

Like hell I was going to leave a breadcrumb trail to my front door, asshole.

Fuck that.

But I knew I'd been ridiculous. It wasn't like he was going to track me down as if he cared that much. Was he a hot-blooded, vile, arrogant man? Yes. But he promised Andrew to get me a ride safely, and to Manning, he was just out to get the job done.

By any means necessary, apparently...

There was a part of me that regretted leaving the truck and walking into the rain, merely because I probably could've avoided the whole conflict that rippled out from that one choice I'd made without thinking. Evidently I wasn't in my right mind with the alcohol in me – or at least that's what I've been telling myself today. Although, by the same token, if something so insignificant could cause such rash behaviour from Bruce, what did that say about the bloke in the first place?

I could've made my own way home, no harm done. I knew this town; I knew where I was safe and where I wasn't. I'd never needed a parent or a chaperon for my safety thus far, and I didn't need one now.

Having been too wired with anxious energy to sleep, I'd taken a bath for over an hour until the heat returned to my body, thoroughly icy after so long in the wet. I was sure I'd wake with a cold but to my surprise my only hinderance this morning were my memories of him.