Chapter 182

Tessa’s POV

The entire world stopped moving around me.

“His kind isn’t welcome here.”

What did that even mean?

There was no way my father knew that Joseph was a vampire. As far as my father knew, vampires didn’t exist.

Right?

I looked up at Joseph and he didn’t look as bothered. He stared at my father with an expression that I couldn’t read. My father on the other hand was breathing angrily through his nose and he was red in the face with fury. I didn’t know my father could get this angry.

I had never seen him this angry before and it left an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. I kept a strong hold on Joseph’s hand, not wanting him to go anywhere or be frightened away. But Joseph didn’t look like he was going to run from the hills.

“Rick,” Penny gasped. “What is wrong with you? What are you talking about?”

“I want him gone,” my father said again, still fixing his eyes on Joseph. “He’s not welcome here.” He paused and then added to Joseph, “You need to leave my daughter alone.”

“Dad!” I exclaimed loudly, shocked by his words.

My father was never protective like this before; when I told him I was dating Brian, he barely even batted an eye. I couldn’t imagine he hated Joseph just because he caught us kissing on the front porch. There had to be something else going on here and I had a feeling neither of them was going to tell me what it was.

“I’m not going to ask you again,” my father seethed through his teeth.

Joseph nodded.

“If you wish,” he said calmly. “I won’t intrude any longer.”

“If he leaves then I’m leaving too,” I said quickly, folding my arms across my chest.

“The hell you are,” my father hissed, turning his glare to me.

“I’m an adult, Dad. You can’t tell me what to do anymore,” I said, shaking my head at him. “It’s not fair that you are kicking Joseph out for no reason.”

“For no reason?” My father growled.

“You don’t even know him,” I said, a little louder than I planned. “You haven’t even given him a chance. It’s not fair to him to be judged so quickly. I’m sorry you saw us kissing on the front porch and you can’t handle that. But I love him, and he loves me.”

The words were out before I could stop them.

I saw a flash of hurt within my father’s eyes and it tugged painfully at my heart. I wished I didn’t have to sound so cruel and hurt his feelings, but he was literally doing the same thing to Joseph.

Could he really blame me for standing up for my boyfriend?

I hated fighting with my father like this, but I hated that Joseph was made to feel like an outcast even more. I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening, and I shook my head, trying to brush the thought out of my head.

Joseph turned to face me and the look he gave me instantly caused my heart to shatter. I knew this look and I knew I wasn’t going to like what came out of his mouth next.

“Joseph, no,” I said before he had the chance to say anything.

Tears immediately filled my eyes, and I shook my head, not wanting to even think about him leaving me again.

He placed his hands on my shoulders and brought his fingers up to touch my neck gently.

“Joseph…” I whispered, not caring that tears were now falling from my eyes.

“I will see you back at school, Tessa,” he whispered for my ears alone. “I want you to spend time with your family, and we will see each other soon.”

“Don’t leave…” I said, matching his whisper. “I can’t lose you again.”

“You will never lose me,” he said with such certainty that it made my heart skip a beat.

He gave me a loving smile and I thought my legs were going to stop working; he made my knees weak, and a smile tugged at my lips.

“I love you,” he whispered. “Forever and always.”

I nodded, wiping away the last of my fallen tears. I wanted to kiss him, but I knew that wasn’t wise right now. Especially under the intensity of my father’s stare.

Joseph pulled away from me, leaving me feeling cold and vulnerable. I immediately craved his nearness and I just wanted to pull him back toward me and have him wrap his arms around me.

Joseph turned to my father who glared at him with his arms folded across his chest.

“I apologize for the intrusive. I hope we can talk again under better circumstances,” Joseph said politely.

“Not likely,” my father muttered, making my stomach clench.

“Rick,” Penny scolded before turning to Joseph. “It was nice to meet you. I’m sorry for all of this.”

“It was lovely meeting you,” Joseph said, bowing his head to her. “I’ll have the clothes washed and returned to you as soon as I can.”

“Keep them,” my father muttered in disgust. “I don’t want them back.”

Joseph looked like he wanted to say something more, but he kept himself from doing so and he turned away. But not before he glanced in my direction and gave me a quick wink. He nodded to Ruby who gave him a sad smile and then Joseph was gone.

“I don’t want you near that man again, Tessa. I’m serious,” my father spat, making me flinch at his words.

We were all staring at my father in shock as he went toward the couch and sat down. He grabbed the remote and put on the football game without a care in the world. As if nothing had happened.

The silence was thick between us with only the sounds of the TV playing in the background. I felt like I couldn’t breathe; I couldn’t even think.

What the hell just happened?

I didn’t want to speak to my father anymore. I didn’t want to say anything to him for the rest of my life. I don’t care if I was acting like a brat; I was furious with how he treated Joseph, and I don’t think I was ever going to forgive him again.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I had to bite my lip to keep from crying. Penny gave me a remorseful look and I didn’t need that from her.

I was confused enough.

I turned on my heel and without saying anything, I went upstairs and into my bedroom.

As soon as I was in the safe compacity of my room, I curled up on my bed and allowed the tears to fall freely. I buried my face in my lap and pressed my knees close to my chest as small sobs escaped my lips.

Ruby came in to check on me a few minutes later, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk, so she left and went to her own room for the rest of the night.

I’m not sure how long I laid in bed for, but at one point there was a knock on my door. I didn’t respond to it, which gave them automatic permission to open the door for some reason.

“Tess?” I heard my father’s soft voice from the doorway.

I kept my head buried in my blanket. I didn’t even want to look at him. I was so hurt and upset that I knew I would break down as soon as I saw his face. I couldn’t handle it right now.

“Can I come in?”

I didn’t respond.

After a minute, he sighed and I heard him walking further into my room, closing the door behind him.

“Look, I know you are confused and I'm sorry for my part in that,” he said, and I could hear how remorseful he sounded. “I shouldn’t have reacted in that way. It just took me by surprise is all. I never thought I’d see him again….”

My entire body froze.

What did he just say?

This time, I managed to lift my head as my father sat at the edge of my bed. His eyes were fixed on the ground, and he looked defeated.

“See him again?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”

My father was quiet for a moment as he stared at his fingers. My heart was racing in my chest so quickly that I thought it was going to explode from my flesh.

Had my father met Joseph in the past? Why didn’t Joseph tell me he knew my father?

What was going on around here?

I needed to know these answers. I’m not sure how much more of this I could take.

When my father still hadn’t spoken, I decided to ask the question weighing on my mind.

“You’ve met him before?”

My father sighed and lifted his gaze to meet mine; he gave me a small nod and my heart practically stopped in my chest.

“Yes,” he answered. “And he hasn’t aged a bit.”

I sat up in bed, staring at him through my red and swollen eyes. I needed him to continue; I needed him to tell me everything.

“I know what he is, Tessa,” my father shocked me again by saying.

“What?” I asked, trying to steady my trembling hands by holding onto my fingers. “What are you talking about?”

He met my eyes before he said, “I know that Joseph is a vampire.”