Chapter 18
It still rained hard as Fang drove me home. Then he had to stop for gas. He had to go inside, to pay, since the machine isn't working. I looked behind me and I noticed a flashlight with red liquid. Blood, I thought. But I ran my fingers through the dry liquid, I noticed it left a red mark on my finger. Not something dry blood would do…but paint. I shined my phone flashlight on it and saw it was paint. I sighed in relief.
I saw Fang coming out of the building, pump was into the car, and slide into the driver's seat once again.
"You okay?" he asked. My head was resting against the headrest, tipped back, with eyes closed.
"Yeah, just stressed…"
"Wanna tell me about it?" he asked, sincerely. I looked over a him, and smiled. Tell or not tell? I don't think I can tell him about the events that have been haunting my mind…
"Just home issues…" I whispered. His hand came up and stroked my cheek. I looked into his midnight black eyes and saw them soften.
"Like?"
"My mom's never home…" I said.
"You have a housekeeper don't you?" he whispered.
"It's not the same, though. She's too busy…but I know she wants to keep the farm house." He nodded. It felt good to tell someone this. I tell Nudge a million times, and she says I'm welcome to her house, telling me her mom could adopt me. Then she hugs me, telling me she's there for me.
"But I have Nudge," I smiled.
"Is that her real name? Nudge?" he chuckled.
"It's Monique, but she talks so much you have to nudge her to shut up," we both laughed.
"I should get home," I said, after looking at the time on my phone.
"Yeah…But you know…I'm here too," he said. I looked over at him and saw him give me a hopeful expression. I cupped my hand behind his neck, and leaned in…But my phone chimed, a text from mom asking where I was. I cleared my throat and looked down.
"Damn distractions," Fang muttered under his breath. I giggled and leaned my head toward the window. I closed my eyes until we reached my house.
I opened my eyes and found mom walking toward the jeep.
"Shit," I hissed.
"Don't talk. Not one word," I said. Fang got out and opened my door. We met my mother before she made it down the driveway.
"You didn't tell me you were going out," she said giving me a tight smile.
"It was last minute," I said.
"Who's this?" asked mom.
"This is Fang," I indicated.
"I'm Valencia, Max's mother," she told him. They shook hands. I cleared my throat.
"Where did you two go?" asked mom.
"It's getting late," I said loudly.
"I took her to eat dinner," lied Fang. I smiled at him gratefully.
"That's nice. Would you like to come inside?" asked mom.
"Sorry Valencia, I have a few errands to run. Maybe next time," said Fang.
"Well have a good night," smiled mom.
"You too…bye," he whispered the last part.
"Bye," I whispered back. He leaned in and kissed my cheek, before leaving. My eyes widened a bit and I smiled. I blushed after he winked, as he got inside the Jeep.
"I'm glad he didn't seem harmless like you think boys usually are," said mom after we got inside. I smiled at her, but thought, If you only knew.