“I think this was moving too fast for me,” I said quietly. “I’m not really the fast kind of girl, you know?”
Andrew sighed. He reached for my hand, twining his thick fingers with mine and squeezing gently. The comfort was reassuring, but I knew that I couldn’t back down. Unless Andrew was willing to be with me and me alone, I couldn’t keep playing these dangerous games. I knew that somehow I’d wind up getting hurt.
“It’s your decision,” Andrew said stiffly. “I respect that.”
We pulled into the train station and I shifted awkwardly in my seat. Part of me wanted to throw myself across the seat and kiss him, but I knew I couldn’t do that – it would be betraying Victor.
“Well, thanks,” I said softly. “I’m really sorry, Andrew. I didn’t know this would happen.” I sighed. “I just…I don’t want to get hurt. You can respect that, right?”
Andrew nodded slowly. “You know you don’t have to leave, right? You can stay, Kristin. You don’t have to go back there – back to that den of wolves.”
I wrinkled my nose, nodding. “I know.”
“And when you’re really ready to leave again, you can come and stay with me,” Andrew added. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m upset with you for leaving.”
I blushed. “I know,” I said softly.
A train whistle blew loudly from the station, making me jump and squeak with surprise. Andrew laughed.
“You’re so cute,” he said. He leaned forward and my heart skipped a beat. He’s going to kiss me, I thought in excitement. He’s gong to kiss me goodbye – he really does like me! But instead of a passionate kiss on the lips, Andrew’s mouth gently pressed against my forehead.
“Bye,” I whispered. Tears filled my eyes as I grabbed my bags from the backseat and slammed the door. I kept wanting Andrew to follow me, to chase after me.
But he never did.
The train ride home was enough to fill me apprehension. I didn’t want to go back with my parents, but I knew that I really didn’t have another choice. After all, this was my fault. I was the one who had lied to my mom, regardless of how ridiculous the circumstances had been, and I was the one who was going to have to face the consequences of my actions.
Hell, to be honest, I was surprised that she was letting me come home at all.
Mom picked me up at the local station, an hour later. The air in the car was icy, and her lips were set in a tight line.
“Mom, I’m really sorry I lied,” I said softly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Mom heaved a huge sigh. “I know, honey,” she said. “But what you did was wrong. It’s a sin to lie to your parents.”
For a brief second, I had the strangest urge to laugh. I knew that it was wrong – I knew, deep down, that Mom was right. But it was almost like my few days with Andrew had taught me something…that my mom was actually ridiculous.
“Kristin?” Mom asked sharply. “Are you listening to me?”
I blushed and sank lower in the seat. “Yes, ma’am,” I said quietly. “I’m listening.”
The odd urge to laugh didn’t fade for the rest of the day. When Mom and I got home, I carried my stuff up
stairs and without thinking, shut the door behind me. An hour later, Mom was beating on my door and screaming angrily.
“Kristin, if you don’t open this door right now, I’ll break it down! You won’t be allowed to have a bedroom door, do you hear me, young lady?”
I got to my feet and yanked the door open just as Mom started beating both of her fists against the white-painted wood. She came stumbling into my room, gasping for air, her face bright red with anger.
I couldn’t explain why, but suddenly, I had to bite at the inside of my cheeks to keep from bursting out into laughter. It was ridiculous!
“You treat me like I’m a little kid,” I said pointedly, staring at my mom. “Weren’t you ever allowed to close your bedroom door when you were a kid?”
My mom’s eyes flashed angrily at me. “Kristin,” she spat through clenched teeth. “You need to learn how to act like a proper young lady if you’re going to stay in this house,” she said angrily. “And respecting your parents is the best and first way to do that.”
I frowned, narrowing my eyes. “It’s just a door,” I said blankly. “What the hell do you think I’m going to do in here by myself? Listen to music with curses?”
The sting of my mom’s hand across my cheek was enough to make me cry out in pain.