Free My Heart for Yours by Jolene Perry, Stephanie Campbell Page A

dumb stunt while taking Tobin back to his bed. That had only happened a couple of times. The morning I got caught, Tobin was with me.
     
    I stopped in the woods, in the faintest beginnings of dawn, and Dad’s anger radiated from that porch like nothing I’d ever felt.
     
    “ Oh, Shit. Delia, I’m sorry. I’ll come up with you.” His hand squeezed mine and the other touched the ends of my hair.
     
    I’d almost laughed. If I hadn’t been so scared, I would have. “I don’t think that’ll help.”
     
    Dad hadn’t seen me yet, probably wasn’t sure which direction he should be looking. I hated our vast lawn right then. If the trees were closer to the house, I might have had a chance to sneak onto the back porch and claim to have slept there all night.
     
    “ A kiss then, and call me when you can.” Tobin’s fingers slid around the top of my jeans sending a shiver through my body.
     
    I turned to kiss him, and as usual, he was already waiting for it. He could never get enough of me, he’d always said. Just another reason that I felt invincible with Tobin. Dad’s voice split the silence just as our lips came together.
     
    “ DELIA GENTRY, YOU GET UP TO THIS HOUSE RIGHT NOW!”
     
    I jumped out of Tobin’s arms and started running without a glance back. Dad was not to be messed with.
     
    My heart pounded so hard that I could hear the thump-thump pulsating in my ears, I had no idea what I’d say to him. He’d really caught me in the worst possible way.
     
    “ Not you!” Dad yelled again. “Get out of here, and go home!”
     
    I turned to see Tobin following me.
     
    “ Please go,” I whispered, desperately afraid for what Dad would do to him.
     
    “ I’m not letting you take the fall for this, Delia.
     
    I was so torn then. The love in Tobin’s eyes versus the anger in my dad’s.
     
    Dad was between us before I knew he’d moved, grabbing us each by arm, pushing Tobin away and pulling me behind him in one quick, fluid movement.
     
    “ I’m only going to tell you this once, son.” I could barely see Tobin behind my dad’s large frame. “You keep your hands off my daughter. You’re a piece of shit in a small town, and no part of you is worthy of her. Got it?”
     
    Even Tobin didn’t have anything to say to that.
     
    My heart broke at both my dad’s words and the expression on Tobin’s face.
     
    I opened my mouth and tried to speak, tried to defend him, but Dad was too scary. Still is.
     
    Dad grabbed my arm and led me inside. I stared at Tobin the whole way, just praying he wouldn’t let me go. Wouldn’t let my dad stand between us.
     
    He didn’t.
     
    Dad was gone enough that we still managed to find time. But I sometimes wonder what my dad’s words did to him. Or if they ever talked when I wasn’t around. Tobin never mentioned it, and neither did I.
     
    ***
     

     
    I actually have to wipe away tears from the memory. Tobin deserved better than that from Dad, and I should have said something. Done something. Fought harder for Tobin.
     
    The trail he and I used is still here, but overgrown, which makes me sad. Not that I could have expected anything different. There isn’t another head-over-heels-in-love girl staying in my room in need of this trail right now. The night is so much quieter here than in D.C. Dad wanted to be downtown—where the action is. Our place is huge and has an incredible view of the National Monument. I love and hate that home. Love it because everyone loves it, and probably I hate it for the same reason.
     
    When I hit the railroad tracks, my stomach tightens. Eamon died along here somewhere. Maybe I don’t want to be here. Once I get to the bridge over the creek I follow it toward the lake. I can lose myself there for a while instead. I just have to make sure I’m back before everyone’s awake.
     
    I know I might just be torturing myself, but all I can think about is getting to our favorite spots. Seeing them again – the things I miss