Page 12 of Schooling Lucy (Off Limits #1)

L UCY

I was sobbing uncontrollably as Roman left the room. I knew I was in deep shit. I knew my Dad was angry. Disappointed. Horrified. I know he thought that Roman had taken advantage of me. That I was some naive girl who fell for an older man's manipulations.

I wanted to get it together, to plead my case with him—our case. Plead for Roman's job. But all I felt was devastation at being separated from my love. And anger.

Once I heard the door close behind Roman, I turned fierce eyes at my Dad. Despite my embarrassment at being caught half-naked with a guy by my Dad, I was pissed off at him as only a teenager could be.

"How could you, Dad?" I accused.

The lack of Roman's presence calmed my Dad down a bit. He turned saddened eyes at me and sighed. "Sweetheart, what did you expect? What he's done is wrong."

"No! You don't understand. I love him!"

His face darkened in fury. "Stop it! You barely know him. He's your teacher, for Christ's sake!" He ran a hand through his hair as he turned around in uproar. Without warning, he slammed his fist into the wall.

I flinched and fell back, whimpering in trepidation.

He turned and noticed my retreat. His face turned remorseful, and he took a few steps to me.

"I'm not mad at you, Sweetheart. I'm mad at him .

Everything is fucked up. It's my fault you got taken advantage of.

I should never have moved us here. I should've taken up your Uncle Rob's offer to help at the farm until I found permanent work. "

"No! Dad, no. I know you're mad, but please," I begged as fresh tears poured down my face, "please don't blame yourself. If we hadn't moved here, I would never have met -"

" Don't say it," my Dad warned as his face shifted in rage. "You're not going to change my mind about this, Lucy. What he did was wrong. You don't love him; you don't know what love is."

"Yes, I do!" I yelled. "I love him, and you can't stop us from being together!"

My Dad sighed, almost as if he felt pity for me. "Lucy -"

"If you hurt him, I'll never forgive you! I'll run away, and you'll never see me again!"

My Dad's face pinched in distress at my words, but I was too heartbroken to feel guilty. With a shaking sob, I turned and ran to my room.

Two hours passed when I heard my Dad's hesitant knock.

He didn't come after me when I took off, wisely knowing that I wouldn't have been receptive to his presence.

And it was good that he didn't follow me, too, because I hadn't changed my sheets or aired my room.

The evidence of our lovemaking was still lingering heavily in the air.

I immediately changed my sheets and opened my window before curling in a ball on my bed.

I couldn't even call or message Roman because I had left my phone on the coffee table in my haste to escape my Dad. I doubt my Dad would've given it back to me.

The door slowly opened, even though I had never invited him in. The truth was, I was too distraught and tired to go to war with my Dad again. No doubt he probably already reported Roman to the superintendent.

I felt him sit on my bed, but I didn't move a muscle. I tensed when his comforting hand touched my back before he started to rub it gently. My face crumpled as a sob escaped. My eyes felt sore and tired, and I had a headache from crying so hard.

"Sweetheart," he started, "I'm sorry to do this, Honey, but you need to pack a bag."

I jerked up at his words, glaring at him through swollen eyes. He flinched at my appearance, but I could also see that his eyes were red-rimmed.

"What?" I croaked. "Why?"

He sighed and hung his head. I felt a brief moment of guilt for what I was putting my Dad through. The rational part of my brain knew that my Dad was entitled to his reaction; frankly, I would've been surprised if he had been chill with it.

"You're gonna stay with Uncle Rob and Aunt Gina for the week."

My face crumbled again as I took in his words. "You're sending me away?"

"At least for the week. I - I have things to sort here. I can't leave the job being so new here, but I can't, in good conscience, keep you here knowing that you'll try and see... him ." I could hear the distaste in his voice, and I tried to taper my anger down.

"Please, please don't do this, Dad," I pleaded.

"I-I won't try and see him," I lied.

My Dad saw through it, too, sending me a cynical look. "We both know that's not true, Sweetheart," he gently chided. "Even if you were sincere, I also don't trust...him to not try and reach out to you."

My lip trembled, but I was so exhausted, and my eyes were so sore that I didn't have the energy to cry anymore. I also knew that as gentle and calm as my Dad appeared, he was also trying hard to restrain himself.

I ran through all my options and realized I had none.

Yes, I was eighteen, but I only had a little money saved; I didn't know anyone else in the city.

Although I'd made a few friends, I was far from feeling comfortable enough to crash at their place.

My first thought, of course, would be to go to Roman's.

But with him being my teacher and one of his neighbors being a staff member at school.

..word would spread fast. Even though I knew he'd take me in in a heartbeat, that he didn't care about his position at the school. ..I couldn't do that to him.

But I could try to protect him.

I licked my dry lips. "Did - did you report Roman?"

My Dad's face clouded in anger, but I held firm, needing to know where we stood.

"I haven't reported Mr. Drake ," he emphasized. "Yet."

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Dad...I'll - I'll go back to Koby Plains. Willingly. If you promise not to report Ro - Mr. Drake."

My Dad shook his head and sighed. "I can't promise that, Sweet Pea."

"Please," I begged. "I won't contact him. I'll leave him be. Just please, please don't ruin his life. I'm eighteen; I'm legal. He didn't do anything wrong in the eyes of the law. He's a good teacher. Just please, please don't do anything to him."

My Dad rubbed at his eyes, and when he looked at me, tears gathered before they ran down his cheeks.

"I know you hate me right now, but everything I do is for you.

You might not understand - hell, I don't understand what's going on, how this even happened - but I won't apologize for trying to protect you.

" He shook his head, his face twisted in turmoil.

"He's not my concern right now. You are.

And keeping you safe. You're eighteen years old, and I know you think you know yourself right now, but I'm still your Dad and your legal guardian. I need to do what I think is right."

I hung my head as he fixed me with his 'Dad' stare. It meant no arguments; what he said goes. And since he held our fate in his hands, I had no choice but to listen.

"Pack your bags," he said firmly. "We're leaving in one hour."