I got up to walk out of the room, but Glen reached his hand out and placed it against my chest.
“You’ll stay here,” he said.
I looked over at Hollis. He furrowed his brow. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew it wasn’t good. Had they figured out we snuck out a couple of nights ago? It was just a stupid party. There wasn’t even any beer. The girl’s fucking parents had been upstairs the entire damn time. It was lame.
Just the type of party Laura and Glen would’ve wanted us at.
“Now I’m going to ask you a question, and I expect you to answer it,” Glen said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you leading Theresa on?” Glen asked.
“Wait, what?” I asked, genuinely confused.
“Have you touched our daughter?” Laura asked.
I balked at the woman before I started to laugh.
“You can’t be serious. Theresa?” I asked.
“Yes!” Glen bellowed. “Theresa! My daughter!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down.”
“Don’t you tell me to calm down, boy. You tell me right now, have you touched our daughter in any way? Have you laid your hands on her?”
“No, Mr. Glen. I would never do that to her. Or to you,” I said.
“You’re lying to me.”
“No, sir. I’m not. I haven’t ever touched Theresa.”
“Do you believe him?” Glen asked as he looked back at his wife.
I looked over at her and saw the hesitation in her eyes. What was going on? Had something happened? I mean, I knew I stole glances at her every now and again.
Thersa was a special girl. A great personality and a killer smile, despite all her awkward teenage-ness. But after what they had done for me? Taking me in after my parents kicked me out.
I would never betray their trust like that.
“Look, you guys have to believe me. I don’t know what’s going on, but you guys have been my saving fucking grace.”
“Language,” Laura said.
“Sorry. Sorry. I would never do that to Theresa,” I said. “And I would never break your trust like that, Mr. Glen. You’ve gotta believe me.”
“Maybe I misunderstood what she said, Glen,” Laura said.
I swung my eyes her way. Had Theresa said I’d done something to her?
“I’m not a bad guy, Mr. Glen. I would treat Theresa with respect like she deserves.”
“So you do admit it. You have a thing for my daughter,” he said.
“No, I don’t. But you’re making it sound like I’m some sort of predator.”
“Daddy?” Theresa asked, coming into the room, a look of horror on her face. “What’s going on?”