CHAPTER FOURTY-FIVE

JAKE

My leg bounces as I wait for her to bring up the topic of her father again. I’d rather deal with her outburst than the silent treatment she’s currently giving me.

I fiddle with the radio just so there’s something to do. There’s a soft country song playing when I finally leave the poor radio alone.

With one hand on the wheel I open the first button on my shirt, I was beginning to feel suffocated, choked up, and it was all because of the woman beside me.

“You’re really not going to ask me anything?” I say to her when I stop at a red light.

She shifts in her seat but doesn’t say anything.

“If you’re going to be this way then I’ll just…”

“Why did you defend me?”

My head whips to her, “What?” And here I was thinking she was angry that I discussed something with her father and kept it from her.

“When he spoke to me like I was some kid who had no idea what she was saying, why didn’t you defend me.” Her voice is quiet and at this moment she looks like a little girl who just needed s