Too late, I hear the thundering footsteps down the corridor. I break the kiss apart as the door swings open. Mid-kiss, we’ve been caught in a compromising position.
And there’s wrath in John’s eyes now.
Elena
I gasp as my dad appears in the door. He never did know how to knock. I pull away from Landon, my heart racing. For a few moments, there’s a silence that seems to go on forever. I feel nauseous. All the good feelings about having Landon here have been replaced with fear of what is about to happen.
“I can’t believe you’ve done this,” Dad hisses. I can feel myself trembling. I’ve always been so sure of myself, but right now, he’s making me feel so small.
“Dad...listen to me.”
“I don’t want to hear whatever you’re going to say,” he snaps. “I told you so many times that Landon was trouble and you refused to listen to me.”
“You’ve got me all wrong,” Landon says. “You don’t even know me. You didn’t give me a chance to prove myself to you.”
“You’ve just shown me everything I need to know,” my dad hisses. “You should be ashamed of yourself, preying on my daughter, she’s far too young for you, and that’s just one reason you don’t deserve her. Don’t make me list the rest.”
“Dad, he’s perfect for me!” I cry out. “You don’t understand. Every moment we spend together is perfect. He makes me laugh. He gives me everything I could ever need...I’m in love, Daddy”
“You’re not in love,” he snaps bitterly. “You don’t know what love is, you’re too young.”
“You married Mom at twenty-three!” I cry out indignantly. “Stop telling me how I feel. Landon and I have something special. I was waiting for the right time to tell you, hoping you’d at least attempt to understand. But no matter what I do, you won’t listen, will you? You’re so damn stubborn. You always think you’re right, but you’re not. Not this time.”
“I know better than you,” Dad growls. “I raised you from a child. I know how naive you can be. You believe you’ve found love just because you’ve found one person you actually like. But this is wrong. He’s old enough to be your father!”
“She’s a grown woman,” Landon growls. “There’s nothing wrong with the attraction we feel for one another. Why can’t you just give us a chance?”
“You don’t deserve a chance,” Dad yells. “Mark my words. I’m going to drive you out of this neighborhood. I’m going to make sure you’re not welcome here. You’re sick for trying to steal my daughter away.”
“She made the choice to be with me,” Landon hisses. “Don’t tell me what this is, only we can know what we share. Let your daughter make her own decisions.”
“Over my dead body,” my dad growls. I cry out as he launches himself at Landon, aiming a punch at his face, but Landon is quick to respond. He slams my father’s body to the ground and pins him down.
“Don’t try and mess with me because you will lose,” Landon says, somehow managing to stay relatively calm after what my dad just tried to do. “You’re being selfish.”
“I’m being a good father! Something you’ll never get to understand,” Dad spits. I know I shouldn’t say anything, and yet the words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them.
“He will when we have our baby!”
My father’s eyes are full of fire as he looks over at me.
“What did you say?” he hisses. I swallow.
“We’re going to have a baby...I’m sorry, Daddy, but I love him and I wanted him...and now I’m sure I’m pregnant. And I want this baby. I want a family with Landon. I want more from this life than what you want me to have. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. This is what I’m choosing...even if you don’t approve.”
Still pinned to the floor, my dad looks weaker than I’ve ever seen him. I see the fight leaving his eyes. At first, I think he’s going to forgive everything I’ve just told him. I think he’s going to see things from my perspective and get excited at the prospect of a grandchild.
But he doesn’t.
“Leave my house.”
I blink. “What?”
“You heard me. I want you to leave and never come back.”
I’m sobbing almost right away. “Daddy...no...please don’t do this...don’t send me away.”
“I’ve made up my mind,” he hisses. Landon stands up and so does my father, finding his feet and backing away from Landon in fear. “You’ve broken my heart and my trust, Elena. I don’t even recognize you anymore. You’ve made your choice, so go. Be with him if that’s what you want, but I refuse to be a part of this anymore.”
I’m trembling as Landon crosses the room to put his arms around me protectively. I feel a little better with him beside me, but my heart is breaking in my chest. I never thought my father would do this. I knew he’d be upset, but this is extreme. How can he reject me so easily? How can he forget everything we’ve shared just because I’ve fallen in love with an older man? Is he so blind that he can’t see what’s good in this world?
“You’re making a huge mistake,” Landon says to my dad. “She deserves better than what you’re willing to give her. But I’ll take care of her in a way you’re refusing to. I love your daughter, maybe one day you’ll be able to accept that.”
“Never,” Dad snaps. Landon shakes his head in disapproval.
“Then I guess we’ll see you around.”
I can barely walk because I’m shaking so much, but Landon takes me downstairs. I don’t look back to see the anger and disappointment on my dad’s face. I don’t look at the house as we leave it and head next door. I close my eyes and fall to my knees as I enter Landon’s house.
I’ve lost everything.
CHAPTER NINE
Landon
Elena doesn’t stop crying for a long time, and who can blame her? Her father just disowned her
