I fed my girl some apples and crackers- don’t yell at me, it’s what she wanted- and now we’re back in my bed. We’ve been here for about twenty minutes, lying as if we were asleep even though I know we both aren’t.
‘What’s on your mind?’ Florence finally asks, raising her head from my chest so she can look at me.
Such a beautiful girl.
‘Are you scared of me?’ I ask silently, searching her eyes. She nearly recoils.
‘No! Of course not!’ she insists. ‘Why would you think that?’
‘Earlier when I raised my arms you flinched and tried to get away from me really desperately. I understand that what your parents did must’ve really messed with your mind but I hope you know I’d never hurt you. No matter how angry I am, I swear.’ Florence looks at me sadly and shakes her head before cuddling up to me again.
‘I’m not scared of you, Eli. And I know you wouldn’t. I don’t even remember what you’re talking about, the whole evening is a blur,’ she tells me. I’m so relieved I could cry. It’s like a weight has been lifted now that she said that.
‘Your turn. Why are you not asleep?’
‘Thinking about what I’ll do.’
‘What have you got so far?’ I ask her, stroking her hair softly.
‘I don’t think I want to go back to my parents,’ she says first.
‘I agree 100%.’
‘So, I’ll try to get a job somewhere. In the meantime, I can live off the trust fund my aunt left me. It’s been mine since I turned eighteen and there’s a lot of money in there. Enough for me not to worry any time soon. I’ll start looking for a place to live or whatever. Just don’t know how to tell my parents yet,’ she mumbles.
‘What about doing this together? I told you we’ll figure it out but we have school tomorrow so turn off that pretty little head of yours and go to sleep, okay? Your plan is good so far, we have time to figure out the details.’
‘Yeah, you’re right. Okay, good night,’ she tells me hugging my middle tightly.
‘Good night, my love.’
–
‘That is so messed up,’ Benji says through gritted teeth. The guys, Florence, and I are having lunch in the park- the other girls couldn’t make it today- and Florence just told the guys about her parents. A really vague version, just that things haven’t been good lately and that she’s moving out.
I’m proud of her for telling them. Squeezing her arm softly, I pull her tighter against me and kiss the top of her head.
The guys are very supportive as well. Like her own little squad of murderous puppies looking at her as if they’re expecting any commands.
‘What’d you say their address was? I just want to talk,’ Marcus seethes. Looking this pissed doesn’t suit him. He’s usually more laid back and calm. Not when it comes to my girl, it seems.
I look to his right where Orion is sitting. He’s strangely quiet but I know why. He himself grew up in an abusive household until he finally ran away at sixteen. He’s been staying with the rest of us for a while and now he has his own place. He had to work his ass off and is still working two jobs besides school but he still made it this far.
He’s looking at Florence with a mix of pride and obvious affection. There’s the anger and sadness as well, of course.
‘Let me handle them. My lawyer will make them wish they had never even looked at you the wrong way,’ Liam chimes in. I’m still surprised by how I can look at him without feeling any resentment anymore. Quite the contrary, right now I’m glad he’s here.
‘Your lawyer my ass. Just call him dad,’ Jamie chimes in. Then he turns to Florence. ‘It’s good you’re leaving those bastards. Besides, you know what that means, right?’ His signature grin is lighting up his whole face as he yells, ‘We’ll all be roomies. My parents have been stressing me out lately, Orion already lives by himself, Benji’s too high to know where he is half of the time, Marcus is only ever at his place to see his sis, Eli would follow you about anywhere and we could use a sponsor like Liam. It makes sense on so many levels,’ he announces.
‘Fuck you,’ Liam mutters at the same time as Benji says, ‘Fair.’
‘Of course, we’ll need a giant place considering most of you will have your girls over all the time. Oh, please say yes! It’ll be so much fun!’ he squeals while Orion is looking at him like he just hung the moon. If Florence looks at me with half the affection, I’ll die a happy man.
Speaking of my girl, she’s currently looking at each of our friends, trying to figure out if we’re for real. We are, apparently. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.
I’ll have to tell my parents and it might be hard to leave home but even thinking about living with Florence and my best friends has my pulse racing in the best way possible. Besides, I’ll still see my parents whenever I take care of the twins. Our place would have to be nearby because of school so it’s not that big of a deal.
‘Really? I mean, you guys would do that?’ she asks slowly.
‘Don’t say it like it’s a chore. We’ve been dreaming of living together for years,’ Marcus chimes in.
‘Let’s do it, then,’ my girl laughs.
