61. Misunderstandings
“You felt it,” I repeated incredulously.
“Yes, I felt that something upset you. And I want to know what it was so I can decide whether I need to turn this plane around and come back to you.”
Always. So. Dramatic.
I groaned into the sky. “You make absolutely no sense sometimes, you know that?” I grumbled.
“Dating you is like being on an episode of The Twilight Zone. ”
“Don’t change the subject. I felt you get embarrassed or worried about something.
Someone at school said something that made you upset.”
“I-it’s really not a big deal.” I swallowed. “Basically, just the whole school finding out we had sex last
night.”
Ace paused.
Several seconds passed.
“How?”
I couldn’t tell from his tone if he was angry or not. Would he be upset if I told him I told Marta?
“Don’t be mad, okay?” I begged.
Ace once again said nothing.
“I was sort of talking to Marta about it,” I explained.
He still didn’t speak even though I waited several seconds for him to reply.
“Ace?” I asked. “Are you mad?”
“Mad? About you talking to Marta? No, of course not. You can tell Marta whatever you want. She’s your best friend. I’m just waiting for you to get to the part where the whole school finds out.”
“I took your virginity, too, you know.”
“Not the point, Doe.”
I rubbed my hand down my face. “Well, I, uh, kind of didn’t realize that people around us could hear what we were talking about.”
I cringed. “Did you know that I have, like, terrible hearing? I mean, I always thought I had average hearing, but then Madoc came over and told me he could hear me talking from across the room.
“And, well, he thinks everyone else in the cafeteria could, too, and now I’m starting to question everything about my auditory processing skills.”
Ace let out a sigh. “So, it was Madoc who upset you.”
How was that the conclusion he came to? “It was Madoc who saved me from going into a very detailed description of our sex life. I mean, you should’ve heard the questions Marta was asking me.”
I lowered my voice. “She wanted to know if you made me cum. I don’t know about you but I for one am very grateful the whole school didn’t hear the answer to that.”
Ace laughed slightly. “That’s all? Is that everything that upset you?” he said, like it wasn’t one of the
more embarrassing moments of my life.
“Um, yes?”
“Good. You had me worried for a second.”
“So, wait, you’re not the least bit upset about what happened?”
“Am I upset that every male in the school now knows that you belong to me completely now? No. Not in the least. In fact, it brings me a great deal of satisfaction.” whether I need to My jaw dropped in disbelief. “You sound like a caveman.”
“Good.”
“It’s not very becoming.”
“Don’t care.”
I rolled my eyes.
“How are you doing otherwise?” Ace continued. “I miss you. A lot.”
The unexpected sincerity in his voice made my heart melt a little. “I miss you too. A lot.”
Ace growled. “You have no idea how on edge I’ve been. It’s killing me not being there for you, making sure you’re okay after what we did last night. I’ve almost turned around countless times.”
“You act like I’m not almost an adult. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“I know you’re capable of taking care of yourself. I would just much rather do it for you.”
I hated the way my stomach fluttered at his words. How could he make me fold so easily?
“But, really, how are you feeling?” he asked. “Are you sore?”
A hot wave of embarrassment passed over my neck. I quickly looked around for Madoc, feeling relieved when I saw he was even further away than before, almost a football field’s distance away from me.
There is no way he can hear me from over there.
“I am not answering that question over the phone,” I replied.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Ace muttered. He cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry, baby.
I’ll ask Madoc to get you some ibuprofen from the nurse’s office. That should help.”
I shook my head despite knowing he couldn’t see me. “Please don’t do that. I’ll die of embarrassment if Madoc gets me pain meds for my…my…”
“Well-used pussy?” Ace provided, sounding smug.
“Ace! Aren’t you on a plane right now? Can’t people hear you?”
“No one can hear me, Doe.” He laughed. “Don’t worry.”
“Are you sure about that? Because I was pretty sure earlier and look where that got me.”
“I’m sure,” he drawled.
“Anyway, I keep ibuprofen in my backpack. I’ll take some if I think I need it.”
Ace usually carried pain medication in his bag so he could give it to me if I got headaches, but I madeo a very detailed sure to leave home with some, too, just in case.
“Do me a favor and take it even if you don’t think you need it, okay? I’ll have Madoc buy you some water. What about food? Do you have lunch?”
“Yes,” I lied.
I hadn’t packed a lunch that day and had been too worried about escaping Madoc to get in line to buy food. But Ace didn’t need to know that. He went berserk when he thought I wasn’t eating enough.
“Don’t lie to me, Doe. Madoc already told me you don’t have anything to eat.”
“What? When?”
“I texted him when lunch started.”
I unleashed another groan. “Why did you ask if you already knew the answer?”
“To see if you were going to lie to me. And you did. Not very trustworthy, are you?”
Oh, he did not~ just say that to me.~ “As if you don’t lie to me all of the time,” I shot back. “I’m pretty sure you have a second, secret life. If anybody is untrustworthy, it’s you.”
Silence followed, and I knew that I struck a chord with Ace.
“I’m going to fix everything, Doe.” His tone was unyielding. “As soon as I get back.
I’m going to earn your trust back. And then I’m never going to lie to you ever again.”
I’ll believe it when I see it.e for you, making Madoc’s phone started to beep in my ear.
“Ace, I have to let you go. Someone is calling Madoc,” I said.
Ace let out a disappointed sigh. Honestly, I felt the same way. There was something so comforting and grounding about his voice, especially after the day I was having.
“Okay, that’s fine,” he replied. “My plane is about to land anyway.
“I have to deal with my father, so you might not be able to get a hold of me for a while. Madoc will take care of you if you need anything. Promise me you’ll eat something and take some ibuprofen.”tance away from “I don’t need ibu—”
“Promise me, or I’ll get Madoc on your ass.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I promise.”
“Good. I love you, Doe. I’ll be back to you as soon as I can.”
“I love you too. Be safe.”
After hanging up, I looked down at the name of the person calling Madoc.embarrassment if
Joe Kennicott.
My stepdad.
I frowned. Why would my dad be calling Madoc? They barely even knew each other as far as I was aware.
My curiosity got the best of me, and I brought the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Dorothy?” my dad asked. “I thought I called Madoc.”
“You did. I have his phone. Ace was trying to get a hold of me, but I didn’t answer so —”
“Never mind that,” my dad interrupted. “I need to talk to Madoc. Can you give him the phone, please?”
I blinked in surprise. “Um, okay, I guess.” I turned, searching for Madoc. “Why do you need to talk to him?”
I couldn’t see Madoc. He must have wandered into the woods while I was talking. I walked in that direction.
“This is a bit of an emergency,” my dad replied in a clipped voice. “Can you please just give Madoc the phone?”
Wow. My dad hardly ever took that tone with me. Something must have happened.
“Jeez, fine,” I muttered. “I’m looking for him. I’m just not sure where he went.”
“What do you mean? I thought Madoc was supposed to be looking after you today since Ace is gone.”
I stopped walking. “How did you know that?” I never told him about Ace’s abrupt trip across the world. ond, secret life. If“I don’t have time to explain,” my father growled. “Will you tell Madoc that your mother and I have to
go away for the weekend?
“We need the two of you to pick up Wes and Felix from daycare today and to be at the house when the other five get off the bus from school.”
It suddenly all made sense. Once or twice a year, my parents mysteriously disappeared for a few days for what they called a “romantic weekend” somewhere in the Rocky Mountains.
They always went without warning, and it was never well planned. I would just come home from school one day, and they would be gone without any explanation.
And when they came back, they were always reluctant to explain what they got up to or why they had to leave so unexpectedly, and, honestly, I was a little afraid to ask.
All I knew was that my dad had a little more pep in his step after returning from his romantic weekends
away with my mom.
Gross.
When we were younger, my grandparents—or step-grandparents, I suppose, since they were my stepdad’s parents—would stay at our house and watch me and my siblings during these weekends.
But over the previous two years, it had gotten harder for my grandparents to make the eight-hour drive to come see us, so Ace and I took over babysitting my brothers.
I usually looked forward to it. We fed my brothers junk food, played games until late into the night, and basically got to play house for a few days.
“You and Mom are going to the Rockies?” I asked. “Are you going to leave the minivan? Because then I can just go get Wes and Felix and babysit myself.”
I got my license when I was sixteen but never drove often since Ace insisted on chauffeuring me everywhere. It would be nice to drive again.
“No,” my dad responded, “I don’t want you taking care of the boys by yourself tonight. Grandma and Grandpa will be there to help you by tomorrow morning, but I want Madoc with you tonight.”
“Wait, what? You want Madoc to help me watch the boys? I’ve taken care of them by myself countless times. Why is this so different?”
“Please don’t argue with me right now, Dorothy. I cannot have you by yourself tonight. Just promisee phone, please?” me you will ask Madoc to stay the night and help with your brothers. Please.”
“You’re being ridiculous. I am perfectly capable of—”
“No, Dorothy!” my dad suddenly snapped. “This isn’t about you or what you ~think~ you’re capable of! Stop being fucking immature and just do as I say!”
My stomach dropped. My dad had never spoken that way to me before. I didn’t even know he had thest give Madoc the word fuck in his vocabulary.
Despite my best efforts to stay in control, I felt tears welling in my eyes.
Hearing my dad yell at me like that made something deep inside of me, some part of me I didn’t fully comprehend, shrivel into a ball and retreat to the back of my consciousness like a wounded animal.
“O-okay,” I croaked, barely able to speak over the thick emotion in my throat. “I’ll tell Madoc.”
I was sure he would be happy to help babysit. Even though he barely spent any time with my brothers, her and I have toMadoc loved them almost as much as Ace did.
“Thank you,” my dad breathed out.
“Yeah.” I swallowed. “I’ll talk to you later. I hope you have a fun weekend with Mom.”
I hung up before he could respond.
Is it just me or is this turning out to be the worst day ever?
There seemed to be a common theme occurring in my life: a lack of trust in me. Ace and Madoc didn’t trust me to know the truth or to be on my own, and Dad didn’t trust me to take care of my brothers.
Maybe I really was immature, just like my dad said.
I scanned the trees one more time for any sign of Madoc. He was still nowhere to be found. I looked back at the school. Maybe he had gone back inside while waiting for me to finish talking to Ace? mantic weekendsSo much for my unwavering bodyguard.
I looked over the forest one last time before making my way back to school.
nto the night, and
an? Because then
myself countless
Despite my best efforts to stay in control, I felt tears welling in my eyes.
Hearing my dad yell at me like that made something deep inside of me, some part of me I didn’t fully comprehend, shrivel into a ball and retreat to the back of my consciousness like a wounded animal.
“O-okay,” I croaked, barely able to speak over the thick emotion in my throat. “I’ll tell Madoc.”
I was sure he would be happy to help babysit. Even though he barely spent any time with my brothers, Madoc loved them almost as much as Ace did.
“Thank you,” my dad breathed out.
“Yeah.” I swallowed. “I’ll talk to you later. I hope you have a fun weekend with Mom.”
I hung up before he could respond.
Is it just me or is this turning out to be the worst day ever?
There seemed to be a common theme occurring in my life: a lack of trust in me. Ace and Madoc didn’t trust me to know the truth or to be on my own, and Dad didn’t trust me to take care of my brothers.
Maybe I really was immature, just like my dad said.
I scanned the trees one more time for any sign of Madoc. He was still nowhere to be found. I looked back at the school. Maybe he had gone back inside while waiting for me to finish talking to Ace?
So much for my unwavering bodyguard.
I looked over the forest one last time before making my way back to school.
