Page 19 of I Don’t Need Your Protection (Harrington Bay Academy #1)

Caleb

I really don’t like that guy.

Sitting at a table on the right side of the room, my eyes are narrowed as I watch him only a few inches away from Addilyn as they dance.

Many other kids are around them, including her friends, and they’re all banging into one another as they shake their bodies around.

Other people touch her briefly. But I have a problem with Warner Hearst. All evening, I’ve been trying to figure out what it is about that guy that irks me, and I haven’t been able to come up with a reason.

Maybe it’s not right to accuse him when he hasn’t done anything wrong, but I’m not here to be nice to anyone.

I’m here to protect Addilyn. And if I’m rude, so be it.

Addilyn’s eyes are on me as she dances. They tell me to cut it out. I know she doesn’t like me thinking low of him, but that’s not up to her. Like I said, she can kick and scream, but it’s my job to keep her safe.

When she realizes I don’t quit glaring at the guy she for some reason can’t forget about, she narrows her eyes. I narrow mine right back at her.

Warner must realize she’s bothered because he bends close to whisper in her ear.

She doesn’t seem to hear because of the loud music, so he bends even closer.

His lips are practically kissing her ear.

I clench my fists, not liking this one bit.

It’d be way, way easier if Addilyn would focus more on her studies and less on boys.

But per our conversation, I can’t stop her from going after what she wants. I still don’t have to like it.

“Hey,” a voice says from my right.

I subtly glance in that direction and find a girl who’s dressed in a short green dress smiling at me. I keep my focus on the dancing kids, especially on one of them.

The girl pulls a chair over and settles down next to me.

“Drink?” She offers me her cup.

I ignore her.

“It’s Coke,” she explains. “I’m driving tonight.”

While it’s nice she’s being responsible and not drinking, I still pay no attention to her.

“Come on,” she urges. “Why do you have to be so mysterious? I mean, it’s sexy and alluring, but now that you caught me in your net, let’s talk.”

I turn my hard eyes on her. “I’d rather not.”

She pulls at my arm as she giggles. “You’re just playing hard to get.”

I grab hold of her hand and pluck it off my arm. She huffs, but doesn’t leave.

When my eyes dart to Addilyn, I’m surprised to find her watching me. I thought she was having a lot of fun with that guy.

She frowns as I keep swatting away this girl’s attention. It’s almost as though Addilyn wants me to have fun with this girl. Did she forget I’m at this school to protect her and not to have fun? I don’t know why she’s so obsessed with thinking this arrangement isn’t fair to me. I chose to do this.

At the same time, I’m a little touched that she cares.

And I also can’t forget that she gave me a few chocolate bars yesterday and invited me to watch a movie with her.

She didn’t do it because she was bored or felt bad for me.

She has a good heart. Maybe that’s why I’m even more determined than ever to keep her safe.

Because she’s a good person and deserves good things to happen to her.

The girl sitting next to me whines a few more times before figuring this is a waste of time and rushes over to her friends. The three girls huddle together, looking at me, then they walk away.

I hope this is the end of them chasing after me, though from the looks on their faces, it seems they like the challenge.

I try not to grit my teeth. The downside to this job is mingling with high school kids.

Even though I’m their age, I don’t like it.

And it’s true that I don’t have friends.

I hardly had any growing up. In my line of work, friends are a liability.

I understood that from a young age and was okay with it.

At the end of the day, saving lives is what matters, not hanging out at the mall or at the theater.

I focus on Addilyn and find that guy touching her in a way I don’t like. They and many others are still dancing, but they’ve moved closer to each other. He has his hands on her arms, pretending to help her keep balance when others crash into her, but I know that’s an excuse.

I get to my feet, waiting for her to notice me. Maybe she can feel my heavy gaze on her because she turns in my direction.

Tilting my head toward the exit of the mansion, I eye-signal her to meet me outside. Her body sags in irritation as she releases a frustrated breath. She says something to her friends and that boy.

As I make my way to the door, I glance behind me to check if she’s following me and that no one suspicious trails her.

We make it out of the house and I lead her far away from the other partygoers. When we’re alone, we face each other, her placing her hands on her hips. “What?” she demands.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean against the door of what looks like a shed. “I think you needed a break, that’s all.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “A break? I was having fun.”

I nod slowly. “Fun is the problem. You weren’t paying attention—”

She steps closer to me, poking her finger in my chest. “You told me I can have fun, didn’t you? That it’s your job to watch over me so I can live my life. I know you’re having a miserable time, but you can go home. I’m fine.”

“I’m not leaving you. ”

She glares at me. “Oh my gosh. It’s Warner, isn’t it? You just can’t let it go, can you? I’m going back inside.”

I take hold of her wrist, yanking her back to me. “Wait.”

She pulls free. “I’m not putting up with this BS. If you have a problem with Warner, take it up with someone else. Leave me alone, Caleb.”

I scan her eyes, noting how ticked off she is with me right now. How do I explain that I have a bad feeling about that guy when I don’t have any proof? In all my years on the job, I’ve never been wrong. How do I tell her to be careful when I want her to live a normal life?

Maybe I just need to accept that the guy will touch her. He’ll get closer to her, if she wants it. And I’ll be there watching his every move to make sure he doesn’t step out of line.

“I was…” I glance at her, then away. “I just want to make sure you’re okay, that’s all.” I know she was looking at photos of her parents yesterday. I didn’t want to push because I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

She blinks. “What? I’m fine. Or I was until you pulled me away. Do I have your permission to go back now?”

I nod.

She turns to go.

“Addilyn?”

She faces me.

“Just be careful. And listen to your instincts.”

She squints, as if thinking, then nods. I keep some distance between us as we make our way back inside .

She returns to her friends and Warner who haven’t left the dance floor.

Warner bends close to ask her something, and I look away because I can’t stand it.

But then I push through and force myself to watch her flirt with him for the next half hour or so.

Addilyn looks like she has an unlimited supply of energy.

I just can’t look away from that bright smile on her face. It makes something shift inside me. But that feeling quickly vanishes when I find Warner smiling back at her.

This is how it goes for most of the night. Addilyn barely glances my way, only once or twice before putting her full attention on that guy. Maybe it’s for the best because as much as I don’t trust that guy, I still want her to enjoy herself.

After they’ve been dancing for a bit longer, Warner fetches more drinks for Addilyn and her friends, which they appreciate. Warner leaves to hang out with his friends, while Addilyn and her friends chat in a corner of the room. She seems a little disappointed that Warner walked off.

Her friends nod to each other before they head for the exit. Addilyn’s eyes meet mine and she motions that it’s time to leave. I can’t jump to my feet sooner, eager to get out of this place. Once we’re outside, she searches around, possibly for Warner, but she can’t find him anywhere.

“You’ll see him at school,” Sophie tells her.

She nods, though she still looks disappointed.

I don’t let Addilyn out of my sight as I get in my car and follow Carly’s back to campus.

I wait for them to enter the girls’ dorm before I sneak inside, making sure not to get caught.

I hide in the shadows and behind plants or statues as I make my way to Addilyn’s room. After unlocking it, I slip inside.

Only to find the place empty. Immediately, I search every part of her room. I know she came in here because I heard the door shut. Did someone climb in from the window and…?

The bathroom door is shut and I can hear her inside, muttering to herself as she wrestles with her dress. I release a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, the bathroom goes silent. “Caleb, is that you?” she calls.

“Yes.”

“Okay. I got scared for a second.”

I don’t like the thought of her being scared. At all.

“I’m going to take a shower and then go to bed,” she informs me.

“All right. I’ll be out here.”

I sit down on my chair and survey the room a few times to make sure nothing is out of place and that no one was in here. Everything looks in order.

Addilyn emerges from the bathroom a short while later, dressed in pajama shorts and a matching top. The design has different kinds of characters on it, ones I don’t recognize.

She glances down as she catches me staring at it. “What? It’s from SpongeBob .”

I lift a brow. “Never heard of it.”

“It’s a TV show called SpongeBob SquarePants . Mom and I used to watch it all the time when I was little.” She gets a forlorn look on her face, most definitely thinking about her parents .

“I’m sorry.”

“Thanks. Anyway, isn’t it cute?” She spins around. “I think they’re my favorite.”

“They have a certain charm, yes,” I say. “Though I’d say the person wearing the pajamas is what makes them cute.”

She freezes and stares at me. “What?”

I stand. “I’ll be back in exactly five minutes. Don’t open the door for anyone.”

“Um, okay…”

I nod and disappear from her room. I’ve mastered the skill of leaving undetected and entering the boys’ dorm quickly.

I reach my room, take a shower, and dress into my pajama bottoms and a tank top.

Like Addilyn, I don’t have a roommate. Then I’m back in the girls’ dorm.

I keep myself hidden as I head to her room.

She’s in her bed, snuggled under the covers. Her head lifts as she glances at the door.

She clicks her tongue. “That was six minutes, Mr. Big Muscles.”

I peer at the time. “No. It was five.”

“Nope. Six.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “I didn’t expect you to time me.”

She throws her hands up. “Sheesh, dude. You’re only human. It’s okay that you were a minute late.”

No, it’s not. I blame it on being distracted by the events that took place this evening, especially Addilyn dancing and the bright smile on her face. Darn it. I’m slipping and that’s not good .

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks.

I blink my thoughts away. “Good night, Addilyn.” I pull the tank top over my head and toss it on my chair.

I feel her eyes on me—specifically on my chest—as I walk to the second bed and drop down on it.

When I glance at her, she quickly looks away.

Then she faces me once more, her eyes sprinting to my chest before she yanks them away again.

“Good night, Caleb,” she says and rolls onto her other side, her back turned to me. I sit on the bed, waiting until she’s fast asleep. Then I go into the closet and update Dad on what’s been going on.