The Enemy - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,75

back and forth. My mom brought me soup that I only ended up flushing down the toilet. At least that way she thinks I ate it.

I don't know what's getting to me more—the fact that Lennon won't talk to me, or that I need her to talk to me in order to get any information on her dad. Everything I want right now depends on her, and I had it in my grasp, until a stupid fucking hurricane went and ruined my plans.

At least if they had come home next week, I could have been closer. Maybe then she wouldn't have been able to push me away so easily. But with us only exploring things between us for half a day? It's basically no harm, no foul at this point.

There were so many times over the last few weeks that I thought about giving up, but I hadn't. I held on because I needed to, and this should be no different. I sit up with a newfound determination. If she wants to end this before it's barely even begun, fine, but she's going to tell me that to my face.

I slowly open my door and peek out it, looking around to see if anyone is still awake. There's no sign of life from what I can see. I close the door behind me and creep down the hallway. Halfway up the spiral staircase, I can already see that Lennon's light is still on.

My knuckles rap lightly against the door, but I don't say anything. When she opens it and her eyes meet mine, they instantly soften. To my relief, she steps back and opens the door further to let me in. She runs her fingers through her hair and sighs frustratedly.

"What's going on? What happened?" I ask as I close the door.

She looks like she's on the verge of crying, but she's still holding on strong. "My dad doesn't want me around you."

I pull back. "The fuck did I do?"

"Oh, I don't know. Threw like fifteen house parties in the course of a month maybe?"

Shit. "How does he even know about those?"

"There are cameras in the backyard," she reveals.

I laugh dryly. "You couldn't have given me the heads up?"

She shrugs. "I thought they were fake. I've never seen any actual footage from them."

"So obviously they must be fake." I roll my eyes.

She crosses her arms over her chest. "Don't get smart with me."

"Well, what else do you want from me?" I ask defeatedly. "I finally get you in my arms, only for your dad to come in like a goddamn dictator and forbid you from seeing me, and I'm supposed to just be okay with it?"

By the look on her face, I can tell that she doesn't want this, but her words say otherwise. "I don't see any other choice."

"I do," I argue. "You're eighteen years old. Fuck what he says. Do what you want for once."

"It's not that easy!" Her tone is loud, but her volume is low, careful not to wake anyone up. "My dad is all I have."

I walk closer and hold her face in my hands. "He's not. You have me, Lennon. I'm right here."

A tear escapes and runs down her cheek, only for me to quickly wipe it away. I lean forward and press a soft kiss to her forehead. The only thing I'm grateful for right now is that she's not pushing me away, because I don't know if I could handle that. Not again. Not after we finally got through me almost ruining everything...twice.

"I don't know what to do," she whispers.

I nod and take a step back, letting her go. She follows me as I slip past her and over to the door.

"You're leaving?"

Instead of walking out, I put two fingers on the knob and turn the lock. "It's okay not to be sure, but I'm going to be in here, every night, holding you, until you are."

She exhales in relief and goes over to get in bed. I flick off the light, and the two of us get comfortable, with her head on my chest, right where she belongs. It doesn't take long before her breathing evens out and she's sound asleep, but I spend hours lying awake.

Fuck Kensington Bradwell for constantly trying to take things from me. First, he takes my mom from my dad, and now he's trying to keep Lennon from seeing me? No. Fuck that. Not if I have anything to say about it.

THE MORNING COMES SOONER than