agitated. “So how long have you known him?”
I winced because of how little time I’d actually known him, and saying it out loud make it sound worse. “Four weeks.”
Her eyes resembled an owl. “Four bleeding weeks? And he’s got further with you than I ever have? Well, praise the Lord for Wade Parks. I should kiss the handsome bugger’s feet.”
I chuckled, thinking deeply about her comment. “You know, it’s not just because he came into my life that I’m accepting help. I can’t go on like this, Chez. When I first started gaining feelings for Parks, I was confused. I still am. But trying to deny him is killing me. It’s easier if I let him in. I know that now.”
“Are you going to move in with him?” she asked, ignoring her phone ringing in her bag.
I rubbed at my face. “For now. Steph doesn’t want me, and I can’t go back to my parents’ flat.”
“What?” Her tone sent chills down my spine. “You went back there?” My embarrassed grimace told her yes. “Are you crazy?”
Dipping my head down, I admitted, “I know it was stupid, but my parents are my weakness, and I don’t know how to break free from them. But what I crave from them is something I will never get. Craving their love is something else to add to my list of why I fuck up in life.”
“But unless you cut them out of your life, you will never start to rebuild.” She went to hug me, but I put my arms up.
“Don’t. I’m fine.” I knew if she wrapped her arms around me, I would have cried again, and I couldn’t deal with more tears. “She’s back on drugs.” I sighed. “I found her high as a kite. When she came around, we had a fight. I ran into one of her dealers, and my mind just blew, Chez. How much am I supposed to take?”
Her hand slowly crept to her mouth, the blood dispersing from her cheeks. “Trevor?”
I shook my head. “It was Gabe. Trevor isn’t out yet.”
Cheryl knew all about Gabe and Trevor because I went to her house for two months in hiding, living in fear until I knew for definite he was behind bars.
“Did he hurt you?” She edged towards me.
“Just threatened me. Don’t worry. I can handle myself against Gabe.”
“Who’s Gabe?”
Both our heads shot up to see Parks standing in the room with his arms crossed. I quickly shook my head to Cheryl as a warning. She acted quickly. “Oh, no one to worry about.” I was grateful for her lie. Parks did not need to know more of my dark past.
After studying us carefully, he clasped his hands. “Okay, if you’re good to go, I will take you straight home.” Then he turned to Cheryl. “Cleaver will gladly take you home if you so wish.”
Cheryl flapped her hand. “There’s no need for that. I quite like the train journey. Gives me some peace from the kids.” He nodded on a smile, which made her smile and cup his cheek. “I don’t know you, Wade, but I have a good feeling about you. Evey kept you quiet, but then she keeps everything quiet.” She scowled at me before focusing back on Parks with a pointed finger. “I want you to promise me you will look after my niece or—”
Parks placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Cheryl, you have my word. As long as Evelyn is with me, she is in safe hands.”
She patted his hand that was resting on her shoulder, then walked over to where her handbag had been placed. “Right, I need to head off, Evey. I will call you tonight, okay?” She kissed my forehead, then turned back to Parks. “Maybe we could get to know you a little better. How about dinner at mine next weekend?”
I butted in hastily. “That’s not necessary.” Was she insane? I couldn’t go to her house with Parks and pretend we were a happy couple. I’d hoped Parks felt the same, but I was wrong.
“Thank you for the offer. It’s one I couldn’t refuse. Just let me know a time and day, and myself and Evelyn will be there.” Parks smiled wryly, and Cheryl chuckled like a girl.
“I’ll call you.” She smiled and
I winced because of how little time I’d actually known him, and saying it out loud make it sound worse. “Four weeks.”
Her eyes resembled an owl. “Four bleeding weeks? And he’s got further with you than I ever have? Well, praise the Lord for Wade Parks. I should kiss the handsome bugger’s feet.”
I chuckled, thinking deeply about her comment. “You know, it’s not just because he came into my life that I’m accepting help. I can’t go on like this, Chez. When I first started gaining feelings for Parks, I was confused. I still am. But trying to deny him is killing me. It’s easier if I let him in. I know that now.”
“Are you going to move in with him?” she asked, ignoring her phone ringing in her bag.
I rubbed at my face. “For now. Steph doesn’t want me, and I can’t go back to my parents’ flat.”
“What?” Her tone sent chills down my spine. “You went back there?” My embarrassed grimace told her yes. “Are you crazy?”
Dipping my head down, I admitted, “I know it was stupid, but my parents are my weakness, and I don’t know how to break free from them. But what I crave from them is something I will never get. Craving their love is something else to add to my list of why I fuck up in life.”
“But unless you cut them out of your life, you will never start to rebuild.” She went to hug me, but I put my arms up.
“Don’t. I’m fine.” I knew if she wrapped her arms around me, I would have cried again, and I couldn’t deal with more tears. “She’s back on drugs.” I sighed. “I found her high as a kite. When she came around, we had a fight. I ran into one of her dealers, and my mind just blew, Chez. How much am I supposed to take?”
Her hand slowly crept to her mouth, the blood dispersing from her cheeks. “Trevor?”
I shook my head. “It was Gabe. Trevor isn’t out yet.”
Cheryl knew all about Gabe and Trevor because I went to her house for two months in hiding, living in fear until I knew for definite he was behind bars.
“Did he hurt you?” She edged towards me.
“Just threatened me. Don’t worry. I can handle myself against Gabe.”
“Who’s Gabe?”
Both our heads shot up to see Parks standing in the room with his arms crossed. I quickly shook my head to Cheryl as a warning. She acted quickly. “Oh, no one to worry about.” I was grateful for her lie. Parks did not need to know more of my dark past.
After studying us carefully, he clasped his hands. “Okay, if you’re good to go, I will take you straight home.” Then he turned to Cheryl. “Cleaver will gladly take you home if you so wish.”
Cheryl flapped her hand. “There’s no need for that. I quite like the train journey. Gives me some peace from the kids.” He nodded on a smile, which made her smile and cup his cheek. “I don’t know you, Wade, but I have a good feeling about you. Evey kept you quiet, but then she keeps everything quiet.” She scowled at me before focusing back on Parks with a pointed finger. “I want you to promise me you will look after my niece or—”
Parks placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Cheryl, you have my word. As long as Evelyn is with me, she is in safe hands.”
She patted his hand that was resting on her shoulder, then walked over to where her handbag had been placed. “Right, I need to head off, Evey. I will call you tonight, okay?” She kissed my forehead, then turned back to Parks. “Maybe we could get to know you a little better. How about dinner at mine next weekend?”
I butted in hastily. “That’s not necessary.” Was she insane? I couldn’t go to her house with Parks and pretend we were a happy couple. I’d hoped Parks felt the same, but I was wrong.
“Thank you for the offer. It’s one I couldn’t refuse. Just let me know a time and day, and myself and Evelyn will be there.” Parks smiled wryly, and Cheryl chuckled like a girl.
“I’ll call you.” She smiled and
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