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"Donottry and see her until I reach out," he warned me.

I inclined my head, ready to agree to anything as long as he brought her back. The sooner he left for Koby Plains, the sooner Lucy would be home.

With me.

Chapter 12

LUCY

I loved coming to my uncle's farm. There was something cathartic and comforting about being out in nature, surrounded by the braying cattle and the clucking of hens. I didn't even mind getting up at the crack of dawn to help with the daily, endless chores. Nothing like good, honest, hard work, and fresh air to rejuvenate you.

Just then, Bessie lifted her tail and deposited her breakfast with a wet slop. My nose wrinkled, and my lips twisted in a wry grin. Well, it wasalmostfresh air.

I sighed tiredly as I picked at the hole in my jeans. As much as I tried to get into the day-to-day living of farm life, it couldn't help lift my morose spirit.

I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.

Dad had been waiting downstairs for me, my phone tightly clutched in his hand. His face was like thunder, the rage still evident in how he held his body tightly.

Usually, when Dad and I fought, I would wrap my arms around him and apologize for being a brat, unable to stand any strain between us. He would place a kiss on my head, apologize for his tone, tell me he loved me, and then we would go out for ice cream. Since I was practically an adult and had grown out of juvenile behavior, Dad and I hardly ever had any major blow-ups.

Butthis.

This went beyond missing curfew or him catching me stealing his liquor. This wasn't even in the same league as him catching me with a boy in my room.

Not only did he catch me with someone almost two decades older than me, but he was also his colleague - myteacher. I understood why he was pissed off; he had every right to be. But that didn't mean I had to like it.

Dad had held my phone out to me, and my heart lifted, unable to believe he was actually giving it back. But he held it just out of my reach before I could snatch it.

"I've deleted his contact and blocked him. You're eighteen, so I'm trusting you not to contact him."

Before I could open my mouth to lie that I wouldn't dream of contacting him, he continued. "Until I decide what to do next."

My mouth opened and closed. Hope blossomed in my chest at his words. "You - you mean you won't...?"

He sighed deeply, rubbing at his eyes in fatigue. "I'm not making any promises, Sweetheart. As I said, my main concern is you."

After he dropped me off at my uncle's farm, I searched my phone for our messages and burst into tears when I saw that he had indeed deleted them. It took everything in me not to emailRoman. The only email I had of his was his faculty one, anyway. Dad already insinuated that he might not report Roman based on what happened. I couldn't contact him. I couldn't do anything to jeopardize his future. I just hoped he knew my silence didn't mean I was giving up on us.

"Hey, cous."

I glanced up, smiling in welcome at my cousin, Tyler. He was two years older, so we grew up pretty much as siblings. With Dad being a single parent, he relied heavily on his brother and my aunt for help, especially during my younger years.

"Hey, Ty. How's college?"

He sat beside me, taking off his cap and running a hand through his ash-blonde hair.

"Going good. Can't wait to finish."

"Hmm. I thought you'd love college life. Parties, girls, and whatnot."

"Nah." He slapped his cap against his knee before putting it on backward. "Wanna start earning a living. Becoming responsible and all that."

That fit Tyler's personality. Even though he had been quite popular in high school and was involved in many social and sporting clubs, he had always been a solemn and studious kid. He always came across as years above his fellow peers. He had a life plan mapped out early, shunned drunken parties, and despite his classic good looks, I had yet to have seen him date or go steady with any of the willing girls.

I nodded at Ty in understanding. Boy, did I understand. If only Roman and I had met when I was a few years older. No one would have batted an eyelid.

"So..." Tyler bumped my shoulder with his. "You've been busy up in the Big Smoke, huh?"