Page 1 of Under His Protection
Chapter 1 – Haley Donovan
I can’t believe this is really happening. Three months after graduating high school, I’m packing up my life to move into a university dorm located about thirty minutes from my home in Lincoln Park, Chicago. I’m swamped with emotion as I glance around the bedroom I’ve lived in my entire life. It’s hard to imagine leaving home—leaving my mom and stepdad—even if it’s just to move across town.
My friend Layla, who popped in half an hour ago along with our friend Jasmine, opens the top drawer of my lingerie chest and peers inside at my collection of underwear and bras. Nothing fancy, just a bunch of mismatched items. “Does everything go, Haley?”
“Yes. Underwear and bras. Socks are in the next drawer down, and then PJs are below that.” As an afterthought, I add, “I should take my robe, too. After all, I’m going to be sharing my dorm room with a complete stranger. I can’t walk around half dressed.” And that’s not even taking into account we’ll be using shared bathrooms down the hall. Yes, a robe will be a definite necessity.
I sit on my bed as I sort through my shorts and T-shirts, trying to decide what to take with me. It’s mid-August, so it’s still wicked hot outside. I’ll need summer clothes to start with, but fall will be here before I know it. I’ll need warmer clothes, then—jeans, hoodies, sweats, long-sleeves.
I’m not even going to think about what I’ll need for winter. There’s plenty of time to worry about that later. And since I’m not going far from home, I can literally stop by here anytime I need to pick something up.
“What about the nightstand drawers?” Jasmine asks as she opens the top drawer. “Do you want—” Grinning, she reaches inside and pulls out a box ofcondoms.
My cheeks go up in flames. “Um, that’s okay, Jazz. I’ll take care of the nightstand.” I reach over and snatch the box out of her hand.
Layla frowns. “Haley, why do you have a box of condoms in your nightstand? Isn’t that Philip’s job? To provide the—you know—protection?”
Oh, God, just kill me now. Please.
Jasmine and Layla, two of my very best friends, are both a few years older than I am. They’re both twenty-two, and they’re both in committed relationships. I’ve been dating Philip for only a few months now—since my overprotective dad finally relented and gave us permission to see each other without a chaperone.
I understood my dad’s concerns. I was seventeen when I met Philip a year ago at one of my dad’s work parties. Dad brought me along as his guest, and Philip, who also works for McIntyre Security, was there, too. I took one look at him, and that was it. I was a goner. I was hooked at that first meeting.
Who says love at first sight isn’t a thing?
The problem is, Philip was twenty-six at the time, and I was seventeen. He’s twenty-seven now—his birthday was in November. I turned eighteen in June. So, legally I’m an adult, and I’m not subject to my parents’ rules.
Except I am.
Because my dad, Mack, is an amazing dad, and I love him to death. He just happens to be a lot stricter than my mom, Chrissy, and my stepdad, Dave.
In the beginning, my dad refused to let me date Philip. We could see each other and spend time together, sure, but only with an adult chaperone. So we waited. We bided our time.
And now, we’re dating.Really dating.No restrictions. No chaperones.
Jasmine takes the box of extra-large, pre-lubricated condoms from me and looks it over. “I see you haven’t opened it yet.”
“No.” My stomach knots.
Her curiosity is really piqued now. “Why not? Because he provides his own, right?”
“Not exactly.”Can we please change the subject?
Her midnight dark eyes widen as realization dawns. “You guys haven’t had sex yet, have you?”
Looking away, I shrug. “It’s not a big deal. A lot of couples don’t rush into it.”
“Don’t tease her, Jasmine,” Layla says as she sits beside me on the bed and lays her arm across my shoulders. “I had a terrible time convincing Jason to have sex with me the first time. He thought I wasn’t ready. I had to practically throw myself at him. He finally relented, and it wasfine.” She blushes. “Well, it was better than fine, but you know what I mean.” Layla gives me a side hug. “Don’t be embarrassed, sweetie. You’ll know when the time is right.”
The truth is, I think the timeisright. It’s Philip who’s the holdout.
“We’d better get packing,” Layla says. “The guys will be here any minute.”
My two friends couldn’t be more different. While they’re both drop-dead gorgeous women of color, one comes from a very privileged family, while the other is a former sex-worker. And, for some reason, they decided to takeme—a recent high school grad—under their wings and welcome me into their circle.
And how did I get so lucky? It’s because Philip is best friends with their boyfriends. They all live in the same high-rise, upscale apartment building in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago.On the very same floor, in fact. The same floor where my dad and his new wife, Erin, live.
Yes, it gets awkward at times, especially when I’m at Philip’s apartment and my dad is just four doors down from us.
