Page 73 of Under His Protection
After Charlie and Mateo let themselves out the back door, I lock it and turn on the security system.
“You have homework?” I ask Haley.
She nods. “I guess I’ll do it upstairs in my room.”
“Good idea. I’ll try not to disturb you.”
She smiles. “Well, don’t try too hard. I wouldn’t mind a little distraction.”
Chapter 22 – Haley
Dinner was fun, not to mention delicious. I think I’ll take Charlie up on her offer to teach me how to cook. Mom and Dave work such long hours, they don’t have time to do much cooking. We mostly order out.
When I get upstairs to my room, I climb onto the bed, pull my tablet and political science textbook from my backpack, and prop a couple of pillows against the headboard to get comfortable. It’s too bad there’s not a desk or table in here where I can sit to do my homework. I suppose I could work at the kitchen table, but this is more private and certainly cozier.
Tomorrow is Thursday, so that means I’ll go to my political science and British lit classes. Those are the priorities this evening.
I finish my poly sci reading assignment due tomorrow, taking notes as I go. When I’m done, I take a shower, change into my PJs, and get ready for bed. It’s been a wild week, and I’m exhausted.
But when I get in bed, I can’t sleep despite how tired I feel. So I grabJane Eyre. Our papers aren’t due for a few more weeks, but I want to get a head start.
I’m at the halfway point in the book when I glance up and notice Philip standing in the doorway to my room. I left the door open, on purpose, hoping he’d come to see me. I’ve been distracted all evening by what happened between us earlier, before dinner. Our conversation was just getting good when Charlie interrupted us.
“Sorry,” he says. “I didn’t mean to disturb your studying, but there’s an app I need to put on your phone.” He pushes awayfrom the door jamb and walks over to my bed. When he holds out his hand, I give him my phone. “I need your passcode.”
I give him the four-digit number without hesitation, and he unlocks my phone. Then he proceeds to download an app. “This is a proprietary McIntyre Security app.”
I scoot over so there’s room for him to sit down.
“This is your panic button,” he says, gesturing to a big red button in the center of my phone screen.
“It’s kind of hard to miss.”
Grinning, he adds, “Just open the app, and the button will appear. If you push it, all three of us will get a notification that you’re in danger. We’ll receive your exact coordinates, and we’ll come running.”
“Hypothetically speaking, what if I get scared in the night and push the button?”
“I’ll be in your bedroom two seconds later, followed shortly after by Charlie and Mateo.”
“What if I push it at school?”
“Then it’ll just be me. But Haley? I don’t plan to let you out of my sight at school, so if you’re in trouble, I’ll already know it before you can even access the app.” He lays my phone on the nightstand. “The house is locked up tight, and the security system is on. Don’t open any doors or windows, or the alarms will go off, and they’reloud. If you hear something in the night, or you’re worried, call for me. I’ll hear you.”
“Okay.”
He turns to go, pausing at the doorway. “I’ll let you finish your homework now. Goodnight, Haley. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I wait for him to kiss me goodnight at least, but instead he nods and turns to walk away. “Goodnight, Philip,” I say after he’s gone.
Something’s been bothering me all evening, but I haven’t been able to put a name to it until now.
He’s acting like abodyguard, and not like aboyfriend. It’s like his brain has shifted gears from one role to the other. But can’t he beboth? It doesn’t have to be one or the other, right?
Layla and Jason are engaged now, and he’s her bodyguard. At one time, Miguel was officially Ruby’s bodyguard, and now they’re together. Even Beth McIntyre was once a client, and Shane acted as her bodyguard, and now they’re married with two kids.
It doesn’t have to be one or the other. It can be both.
I get out of bed and slip into the hallway bathroom to brush my teeth and hair, leaving it loose to fall past my shoulders. As I stare at my reflection, I wonder what Philip sees when he looks at me. I’m not a girly girl. I don’t wear make-up. My lashes are dark, so I don’t need mascara. My lips are naturally pink. My complexion is clear, so I don’t bother with foundation.
