Chasing Abby by Cassia Leo

call me around ten o’clock to make sure I was okay and that I’d taken my nightly meds. But other than that, my sleepover with Caleb went off without a hitch. It’s almost frightening how easy it is to lie to my parents. Maybe I can lie to them about living off-campus with Caleb.
    No, I could never pull that off. The stress alone would kill me.
    And speaking of stress, here goes nothing.
    “Mom, Dad. Caleb and I are going to share an apartment off-campus this fall.”
    “What?” my mom and dad bellow.
    “That is not even funny, Abby,” my mom says, her mouth hanging open as she waits for me to tell her this is a joke.
    “Your mom’s right,” my dad agrees. “The porn joke was funny, but this is not.”
    “It’s not a joke!” I shout as I push up from the sofa. “I’m eighteen years old. I’m allowed to live with whomever I choose and I want to live with Caleb. He knows me better than anyone. He knows when I’m stressed. He knows when I need to take my meds. He knows how to take care of me better than any random roommate ever will.” I look at Caleb and he has his head down, but I can see a shadow of a smile on his lips. “And we love each other.”
    “Was this your idea?” my dad roars.
    Caleb raises his head and I’m pleased to find he looks more surprised than scared. “No, sir. This was not my idea, but Abby’s right. I can take care of her better than anyone. I’d rather have her with me where I know she’s safe.”
    My dad narrows his eyes and nods his head. “Where she’s safe? Sure, that’s exactly why you want to live with her. Do you two really think I’m that stupid?”
    Caleb and my mom stand from the sofa at the same time, but I speak first. “We don’t think you’re stupid, Dad. We thought you’d be more understanding.”
    “You thought I’d understand that my eighteen-year-old daughter and her eighteen-year-old boyfriend want to live together?” His glare is seething with a rage I’ve never seen on my father. “You thought I’d understand that you seem determined to repeat your parents’ mistakes?”
    The room is so quiet after my father speaks these words, I can almost hear the tears welling up in my eyes. Everyone in this room knows what “parents” my father is referring to. And this is the first clue about their story that I’ve ever been given. And it only saddens me more that he used this piece of information to hurt me.
    “How could you say that to me?” I whisper.
    “Abby, you don’t know what you’re proposing. This is bigger than just picking a roommate,” my mom says, reaching for my arm, but I push her away. “Your father’s right. Accidents happen and you’re not physically or emotionally prepared to deal with something like that. You two need to finish college first before you start a life together.”
    “I’m not emotionally prepared? I’m too fragile?” I shake my head. “You two don’t know me at all. Maybe I am more like my other parents.”
    “Your father didn’t mean that.”
    I grab Caleb’s hand and pull him toward the front door as Amy follows behind us. “That’s okay, because I think it’s time for me to find out for myself.”

CHAPTER TEN

     
    I CARRY THE STACK of photos for Abby as we cross the bank parking lot toward the ’Cuda. Her hands were shaking while we were inside that vault and the last thing I need is for her to drop the pictures in the middle of the parking lot and get hit by a car as she tries to pick them up. Yeah, I know it sounds totally far-fetched. But I’m in charge of keeping Abby safe now. And I can’t rule out the possibility of her being mowed down by a car, now that every possible thing that could go wrong today has gone wrong.
    I knew her dad and mom wouldn’t take the news about Abby and me moving in together well, but I didn’t expect them to deliver such a low blow. Though I know her father said what he said out of desperation, it doesn’t excuse the fact that he hurt her. If he