When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(94)

“What are you thinking about, baby?” Graham breaks the silence. God, I love it when he calls me baby. I lean down to kiss him, like really kiss him. Once I say what’s on my chest, I know that I probably won’t get another chance tonight. He returns the gesture in just as much urgency. I love how he reacts to the smallest of things.

“I’m going to say something and you can’t get mad at me. I just need to say it, okay? I know you aren’t going to like it,” I explain. “I really don’t care though.”

Graham pushes up sitting his back against my headboard. I stay still in his lap afraid to move. “Okay,” he smiles reassuringly.

“What if at some point your dad kills you or your mother? I know that it’s not my spot to say anything to you, but I kind of feel like I’ve earned a right to be worried about you. It kind of is my problem because I love you and I’m afraid. I’m pretty sure that I’ve only seen the lighter side of all of this. At some point I’m afraid that I’m going to be around to see the worst part,” I brush my hand up his arms onto his neck as I continue.

Tears are welling up in my eyes attempting to deceive me. It’s the last thing I want. I don’t want Graham to think that he isn’t capable of taking care of himself. Graham cuts me off before I can say anything else.

“You’re right. You have only been around to see the easy stuff. I can take a punch here or a slap in the head there. It’s been worse, but I don’t think that it will ever get bad enough for him to get that out of control,” Graham explains brushing a tear from my cheek. “I don’t want you to have to worry about me.”

“It’s your secret to tell and I get why you don’t want the whole town knowing, but haven’t you ever thought about telling someone? Anyone?”

“I’ve thought about it, but I’m going to be going off to college soon. It won’t matter then.”

“Where does that leave your mom then? I know the reason why you don’t fight back is because of her. You take everything on your shoulders. It’s admirable, but she’ll be left alone soon.”

“You don’t think I haven’t thought about that. I have, but…” he lets the thought trail off.

“Just know that if you ever need anything or need to tell someone else besides me that I’m more than happy to stand by your side. That’s all I need you to know.” I smile at him hoping that this will be the end of the conversation.

He should let someone else in about the abuse. It sounds bad and selfish, but it’s a lot for me to carry around too. When Violet asks me about the split lip or any other wound he may show up to school with I don’t know what to tell her, so I don’t say anything. It’s becoming a burden, a burden I’m willing to take on because I love him. I think we both know that at some point it will become too much.





Chapter FortyFour



-Graham-



The next night, we are lying in Kennedy’s bed pretending that she isn’t secretly checking me over for bruises.

“Will you quit doing that? I know what you are doing and I don’t like it,” I sit up forcing Kennedy to sit up along with me.

Kennedy’s straddling my lap. She does this because she knows my mind goes hazy whenever she’s this close to my dick. She’s sly, that one. Her parents are out to a movie, so we have a few hours to ourselves. Of course, we intended on using the time differently but once Kennedy shoves my shirt over my head I know what she’s doing. It’s the way she runs her hands over my ribs to see if I’d give a reaction. I love her for it, but it’s sort of hard to get into being with her when she’s more into giving me a check-up instead of getting me up.

“I’m sorry,” she apologizes forcing a smile.

Kennedy has been making a habit of checking me over for any signs of my father’s wrath. It’s been a few weeks since she made her fears known in her bedroom. Her inspections are driven from a place of love. There’s no way to be upset with her for that.

I put my shirt back on pushing her off of my lap. I jump off the bed to grab a movie showing her the cover to The Proposal knowing it’s one of her favorites. The girl has a thing for chick flicks. She nods in agreement and grabs her blanket from the foot of the bed to cover up. I climb in next to her once I put the movie in wrapping my arm around her letting her cuddle in next to me.

“I love you,” Kennedy whispers.

“I loved you too, baby,” shaking my head and laughing I kiss the top of her head as she melts into me.

“Did you ever think you’d be saying that a few months ago?” She looks up at me with the sweetest smile that nearly melts my heart. This girl makes me such a pussy.

“Not at all,” I answer honestly.

Kennedy sits up abruptly sitting back on her shins watching me for a few moments. “Sometimes I can’t help but be happy that you hit me with your car that night,” she shrugs her shoulders as if she should be ashamed of that revelation.

Opening my arms to have her fall back into them where she belongs I have a hard time stopping the smile that forms on my lips. “I feel like a dead beat fuck up for saying it, but me too, Ken.”

We spend the rest of the night watching movies until her parents come home with pizza. We meet them in the living room once we hear the garage door opening. They know I’m here. Kennedy wouldn’t be dishonest with them, but we like to give them the illusion that we aren’t up to no good. We usually are though.