Against All Odds - Angel's Story(33)

After I’ve emptied the contents of my stomach, I need the heat and water of the shower again. I continue to scrub my body over and over, but it doesn’t help. Maybe daddy was right. Maybe I’m not ready to live on my own yet. A big ugly sob escapes me as I wrap my arms around myself and sink to the shower floor. I’ve never felt so much despair in my life.

I’m not sure how long I stay there, but it’s a while. I eventually pick myself up and turn off the water. I wrap a towel around myself and head for the basin. I brush my teeth over and over. I hate how his mouth was all over me. I feel a chill run through my body as flashes of Riley’s face keep running through my mind.

After quickly drying off, I slip into a clean pair of panties and one of my brother’s T-shirts I pinched before moving here, and crawl into bed. My hair is still wet but I don’t care. I just need the comfort of my bed.

I lay there for ages listening and freaking out at every noise I hear outside. It’s funny how the natural sound of the waves gently crashing against each other, or even the sounds of the wind rustling the trees outside, have never bothered me before. Now, every sound I hear makes me think it’s Riley coming back to finish the job.

I eventually drift off into a troubled sleep, but I’m awoken a few hours later by the phone ringing. It’s my landline, so I know it is probably my parents. The last thing I want to do is talk to them, but I don’t really have a choice. If I don’t answer the phone they’re only going to worry about me and start blowing up my mobile.

If daddy knew what happened to me last night, he’d be on the first plane down here. Not only would he rip Riley apart for what he did to me, he would also take me back to Sydney with him. I know he would. I don’t want that. Despite everything, I like it here. I don’t want to leave Dana, or Chase for that matter.

I reluctantly reach over to my bedside table and pick up the receiver. “Hello,” I croak. My throat feels rough. It’s probably a combination of all the screaming, crying and vomiting I did last night.

“Hi, baby.”

“Hi, mum.”

“You sound like you just woke up,” she states.

“Yes, your call woke me.”

“It’s unusual for you to sleep this late. Are you feeling okay? Do you need me to fly down?”

“No. Honestly, I’m fine. You sound like daddy. I had a late night that’s all.”

“Well, I’m your mother. I’m allowed to worry about you, you know. It’s just as hard on me as it is on your father having you so far away.”

“I know. I didn’t mean it like that. I love that you both care about me so much.” Just thinking about how much my parents love me has the tears rising in my eyes.

“Did you go out last night?” Shit. Why did I have to mention the late night?

“Ummm, yes. I went to a party.”

“Oh. Your father never mentioned you were going out when he got off the phone with you last night.”

“That’s because I didn’t tell him. I went on a date last night and I knew he’d probably freak out if I mentioned it.”

“Oh, sweetheart, that’s wonderful. Now I understand why you didn’t mention it to him,” she says with a chuckle. Any other time I would’ve laughed too. If anyone knows how overprotective my dad can be, it’s my mum.

“I’m glad you’re moving on. I’ve been worried about you since you came home for that week.” I don’t know why, but her words make me breakdown. I know I can always talk to her. We’re close like that. This though, I’m just not sure about. I couldn’t ask her to keep a secret like this from my dad.

“Sweetheart, are you crying?”

“I’m alright. I’m just kind of emotional, that’s all.”

“Did something happen last night?”

“No, it’s nothing, honestly.”

“Angel!” she says sternly. I’m silent. I don’t want to tell her what happened, but I have to tell her something. She’s not going to let it go if I don’t.

“It turned out to be a pretty shitty date, that’s all,” I lie. Well it’s not really a lie. It was the worst date ever.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I’d really rather not talk about it right now, mum, if that’s okay.”

“Okay, honey. I understand. Was it the sex?” Oh my God, she did not just ask that.

“Jesus. I’m not discussing my sex life with you.”

“It’s an important part of any relationship, Angel,” she says matter-of-factly.

“Mum, please. Can we change the subject?”