Chapter 36

We were listening to a woman in her thirties, wearing shorts and a tank top, showing off her amazing shoulder tattoos, called Aliana, who was Delilah's co-worker before she almost died and quit for the sake of her children. They were still young and she wasn't ready to give up on motherhood just yet.

"Just imagine, you go into the house and hear the child crying but you don't know where he is." Aliana said. "You can barely see anything from the smoke and the fire. Your throat is burning and your heart beats so fast that you can't even imagine. You know you only got maybe a minute or less to find the kid and maybe you start panicking. I did since it was my first day out on the field. I was paralyzed, I couldn't even breathe. My brain just blocked and told me that I wasn't going to save the kid. And then this lady comes in and hits the back of my neck, telling me to get my shit together. We managed to save the kid but I'll never forget that he might have lost his life because of me. I'd never blocked down ever again. Not even at home or when someone on the street called after me at night. I learned to keep my coolness and all because she hit me so hard that my head almost rolled down from my neck."

She gave Delilah a half hug while we smiled and laughed at her remark. They seemed really good friends despite Aliana's quitting a few months ago.

I liked how they managed to keep in touch and visit each other because nowadays you could only hope that at the end of the day you won't be alone.

I wished that maybe Leigh or Emilia could keep in touch after our ways separated. I wasn't afraid of going in the other direction as them. I was afraid of being forgotten.

"Sometimes a slap can save lives." Oswald teased them while finishing his beer.

Once I heard his voice, my smile dropped and I had to focus on my plate and remind myself that Perkyn didn't deserve my possible outburst.

I needed to confront him alone at first. If he didn't want to get rid of me as soon as possible.

The next two hours were kind of a blur. We were talking, shared funny stories , and drank.

A lot.

Perkyn seemed really drunk and the more he drank the funnier and lazier he became.

Delilah made me lemonade with tequila because she felt bad that I wasn't able to drink anything. I wanted to reassure her that I just didn't feel like drinking because I needed to keep a level-head but she headed into the kitchen anyway.

And you couldn't say no to Delilah and her innocent sweet smile that made you feel guilty if you didn't participate in something.

Later I found myself in Perkyn's arms, while music was blasting from the radio. Half of the group was dancing and Perkyn pulled me up from my seat, not giving me a chance to say no.

"Sorry." I said for the tenth time after stepping on his foot away.

He smiled while his vision blurried – probably from the tons of beers he had drunk – and adjusted my hands around his neck.

His skin was hot under my arms and his hands on my waist made me blush a little. He never turned away from me ever since we started dancing.

"It's okay, you're doing great." He said sweetly.

"Don't even try, I know I'm horrible." I scoffed as I tried to follow his steps.

He laughed and pulled me closer. I rested my head on his chest while he slowly placed his cheek on the top of my head.

He smelled like barbeque and beer but I didn't pull away. I liked being in his arms and listening to his heartbeat calmed me.

"I'm glad you're here." He whispered and I smiled.

"I'm glad to be here." I said, forgetting about every other problem. I didn't need to think about that now. I needed to enjoy this moment while it lasted.

My feelings toward Perkyn were mixed and I hated not being able to collect my thoughts about him. Unlike Seeley, he seemed like a good man who always wanted the best for the people he cared about. He would have never called me out for making my own choices even if that hurt him.

He was much better than Seeley.

He respected me and gave me space when he noticed that I was struggling with something. Then he went and made surprises for me like lunches or would give me comic books that I had only mentioned once.

He listened to every detail and never called me names. He hasn't hurt me while Seeley had done that repeatedly. All because of his ego.

Perkyn would have never put his ego first.

When I was with Seeley, it was like being dragged with the storming flow and I was never able to catch a break.

But with Perkyn I felt like we were on the meadow, enjoying the sunset while silence closed around us.

"I know I already told you that but… You are breathtaking." He said and I pressed my face into his chest.

"You're so sweet." I said and leaned back to look into his eyes.

For a moment in the dusk I thought that Seeley was staring back at me.

I blinked a few times before I saw Perkyn's sweet smile again that held nothing but honesty.

"I do really like you, Heddy." He nodded and the butterflies in my stomach started to wake up.

I dropped my gaze while chewing on the inside of my lower lip.

"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I just want you to know that if you'd ever give me a chance… I'd never disappoint you. I'd always be there for you." He said and the best thing about his confession was that I knew he wouldn't let me down.

I couldn't help but smile brightly as he caressed my cheek softly. I could let myself off the hook and enjoy his touch for hours.

"You are a good man, Perkyn. And I'm very happy that I met you." I said, caressing his neck while his eyes softened. "Even if our first meeting was kind of weird."

We shared a knowing laugh before continuing to dance to the slow song.

He gave me a half smile before slowly leaning down, his eyes dropping to my lips. I tensed a little because I didn't want to ruin the moment by not giving him a good kiss.

God, Heddy, you just had to overreact everything, don't you?

Perkyn stepped closer and pressed his lips to mine and fire ignited within my body. I could taste the beer on his tongue but it didn't bother me at all. He ran his hand up my back while I tightened my arms around his neck.

I hated how familiar the feeling that washed over me was. Maybe because I felt something similar when Seeley kissed me?

Stop. Don't even compare them to each other.

Perkyn slowly pulled away and opened his eyes. I could see how nervous he was about my reaction.

I gave him a winning smile and his face softened then a grin made it to his face.

"I didn't ruin anything, right?"

For some reason, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

"No, not at all." I shook my head. "More like the opposite.

For the rest of the night, I stayed close to Perkyn. He'd always find ways to give me a small touch.

He'd hold his hand longer than it was needed when he led me to somewhere else or would brush my hair out of my face with a loving expression.

When it was too late, he realized that he was too drunk to drive me home.

"I'm such an idiot, I'm sorry."

I touched his arm and squeezed it lightly.

"Don't even try to apologize for enjoying your time. Parties like this are for this." I smiled and he took my hand into his and placed a kiss on my knuckles.

"Who are you and where have you been until now?" He asked and I shrugged.

"I can walk you home though." He offered as I opened my purse.

"No need for that. It's too dark and anyway, I could ask for a ride." I said pulling my phone out and opening the texts.

Without telling Perkyn who would I ask to come and pick me up, I sent the message and the address for Seeley.

I could only hope that he wasn't still mad at me and would come here. I didn't want to tell him after I got home.

I didn't want to wait for the right opportunity. It was enough to keep my secret from Leigh. I didn't want to lie to Seeley also.

"Did you enjoy the night?"

I pursued my lips as I dropped my phone back into my purse.

"The food was good."

He raised his eyebrows.

"That's it?" He asked, waiting for some more specific answer.

"Oh, and I like Aliana. She is great."

He smiled and walked me through the hallway that led us to the front door.

"She is the only normal person among the others who were here."

While we were walking, I saw a picture hanging on the wall and my feet stopped moving. It was a framed picture of Oswald and Perkyn when he could be around six or seven years old.

I wondered what kind of excuse Oswald gave Seeley only to come here and spend time with his other family.

Then something crawled into my thoughts.

I looked at Perkyn who was staring at the picture with happy eyes. He must have remembered that day when they were out on the beach and making sand castles.

"Perkyn?"

"Yes, darling?"

I tried to ignore the effect his nickname had on me but it was hard to focus when he was practically begging with his eyes for me to stay.

"Are you sure your last name is Adaway?" I asked, slightly confused.

He furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side.

"Why? You want to turn me in for assault?" He asked carefully and I shook my head.

"No, not at all… I just… I met your father, Oswald, before and I heard that his surname was Drewitt."

Perkyn looked troubled then slowly turned around to see if anyone could hear us.

When he turned back to me, he had a determined expression on his face.

"I… uh…" He wiped his cheek while gathering his thoughts. "You're right. His last name is Drewitt. I just changed it to Adaway."

Now it was my turn to furrow my eyebrows.

"Why did you change it?"

He leaned against the wall and looked at the picture again,

"A few years ago my dad got into debt and we barely saw him because he didn't want us to be in danger. There were times when those guys who wanted their money back even came to the school where I'd been at. I tried to be brave for Delilah but I was terrified deep down. I even considered never leaving the house but then I realized that I needed to secure myself. So, I changed my name so they wouldn't find a boy in the school called Drewitt. Good thing they never knew how I looked because once I walked past them with my friends."

"Jesus." I covered my eyes, imagining the scenario of a young Perkyn being afraid to live his life because of something his father did.

"I know that things are good now but I still want to be careful. Even my dad asked me when would I change my last name back again but I don't think I ever will. He made a few mistakes that would make my name dirty."

I noticed how closed and distant his body language became so I didn't push him further.

Was I mad that Oswald didn't know better than putting his family… other family in danger? Yes.

Was I surprised that he made some mistakes that even Perkyn didn't want to talk about? No.

The guy was full of flaws and he wasn't even aware of it. But he was always so quick to remind Seeley of his mistakes.

I was disgusted by him more and more.

Speaking or thinking of the devil, Oswald walked into the house with a laughing Delilah who was having a great time. I loved that for her because I could see the dark circles under her eyes from not sleeping enough.

"You're leaving Heddy?" Delilah asked.

"Yes, I'm waiting for my friend to get here."

Delilah smiled and spread her arms. I hugged her and she gave me a tight squeeze.

"Just don't break his heart." She whispered and I froze.

However, when she pulled away, she was smiling again like she had won the lottery. I gave her a troublous smile and wiped my hair out of my face.

"Thank you for having me here."

"Of course, anytime you'd like you are welcomed here."

When we heard someone walking to the front door and knocking, we turned toward the entrance.

My heart was beating in my throat as I fixed my eyes on the door.

"I'll get it." Oswald offered and headed to the door.

"Thank you." I forced the words out of me. I had to keep a friendly and thankful expression on my face when I wanted to do nothing but spitting into Oswald's face.

I only wished Delilah and Perkyn weren't here because I had a gut-wreching feeling about the possible utcome of this mess I'd just gotten myself into.

I silently prayed that Seeley didn't send someone else instead of him because the reveal had to happen immediately. I wanted Oswald Drewitt to suffer and get caught immediately after accidentally meeting him.

My breath got caught in my throat as Oswald opened the door, revealing a stern faced Seeley standing on the 'welcome home' doormat.

How ironic it was, wasn't it?

Oswald's eyes widened while Seeley glared at his father with confusion and before his face hardened.