Hating & Loving Him

Chapter 6: Those Are Safe

Pushing the guest room open, I took the box to the corner and placed it down by the book shelf.

Anderson walked in behind me and placed two boxes down giving me a look over before staring behind him. "Don't let this kid get too close." He said handing me a small bottle of pepper spray.

Laughing lightly I tucked it into my pocket, "Thanks Anderson, don't worry. My house, my rules." I joked walking out the room.

After the last box was put in the room, and inspected for weapons. Dad had all his hidden guns around the house placed into his gun safe in his closet and he even locked up all the knives excluding three steak knives.

This will be our life for the next six months. 

I hope I didn't make a mistake when I requested this.

Damn my good conscious.

Running my hand through my hair, I pulled it into a ponytail and stared up at the new training cop who walked in.

Roy.

I've had a crush on Roy for six years. We went to high school together and he was in my grade, he just recently became a cop and I was happy because that meant I got to see him more often.

Especially since he's partnered with Anderson who's practically an uncle to me. 

Roy gave me a blushed smile taking the last box upstairs.

I bit my bottom lip watching as he headed up the stairs and looked back smiling at me and then quickly looking away.

"Careful, your dad might think you two are fucking." Ace said quietly as he leaned against the front door cuffed.

Dad kept him cuffed to avoid Anderson and Roy getting hurt if Ace tries to fight them and run.

Once the brace is on and the perimeter is set and on, then we'll be good to free his cuffs.

Until then, it's precautions.

Looking away from Roy, I eyed Ace over with an attempt to hide my annoyance. The guys a walking mistake.

Ignoring his crude comment and dismissing his existence, I headed out the front door feeling like maybe I should just take back my alibi.

Dad was with the guys in charge of setting the perimeter up and I felt relief when they finally said they were up and ready to go.

As they left, Dad clasped the ankle brace to Aces ankle and he gave it a long and worried stare.

He bothers me, agitates me and constantly makes me hate my decision to let him stay just a bit more.

Heading past him and up the stairs, I gave Roy a small smile one which the returned.

Honestly him paying attention to me is still a bit shocking. Roy's a solid ten, I fall somewhere in the six's, so a ten liking or even paying attention to a six just means there's something wrong.

I'm almost sure it's because my dads sheriff, most people always tried to be my friend to get away with s**t or let off easy.

Ridiculous.

Going to my bedroom, I pulled out my phone and sent Hannah a text.

'Roy is here helping set the devils trap. I hope Ace isn't a nuisance.'

She responded quick with emojis, 'Does he smell good?'

Oh my god Hannah.

Laughing, I shook my head 'i***t. If he tries to fight my dad I'll lock him out of the house and he'll be stuck living out the next six months in the old shed.'

Hannah responded with some laughing emojis and a thumbs up.

Tossing my phone to the bed, I watched it bounce off and land on the floor.

Whoops.

Shrugging it off, I turned and noticed Anderson eyeing my bedroom window.

He gave me a questioned look to enter and I nodded gesturing to the window, "I've got a clear view." Laughing low I watched him hold a small glare as he focused out the window watching Aces old and now empty bedroom.

Anderson nodded, "You heard it too?" He asked.

I gave another nod, "I hear and see a lot more than I'd like to." I commented feeling a blush run up my neck.

He laughed low and leaned into the window looking down and then to me, "He's never...perved?" He asked worriedly. 

Shaking my head, I crossed my arms over my chest self consciously, "I always closed the blinds." I said pointing to them.

That was a lie, because honestly, I forgot so many times I'm sure he's seen me half naked a thousand times by now. I won't tell Anderson that though, he'll tell dad and then dad won't trust Ace to stay far away from me (sexually).

I mean, I'm not saying I want him to be s****l with me, I don't. Yet I don't want problems or suspicion. Clearly, if he's staying then dad doesn't suspect anything.

Which also means, dad will never know what happened the other night in my window. He'd lose his s**t if he knew Ace practically f****d a girl into the window while holding eye contact with me, then gestured for me to come over.

Of course that's just him taunting me, he didn't actually find me attractive, I know that for a fact. He likes those makeup wearing bomb shells who wear short skirts and push up bras.

I don't wear makeup, I actually can't remember the last time I did. I think graduation but that's it.

It's part of my 'Walk To Remember' Jamie look that seems to pull me to the comfort of my books and solidity.

Anderson gave the window a long look, "The blinds?" He asked pointing to Ace's broken blinds.

I eyed them for a while, "Rage. He broke them a couple months ago, he just didn't get them fixed." I said confirming it with a nod.

He looked over at me and then the door, his eyes running up and down with a masculine and territorial stare.

Turning my head, I looked back at Ace who was staring from us to the window and then rubbing his wrist giving me a small stare before turning and going to his room. 

Anderson sighed and ruffled my hair, "Be good, stay away from him, use the pepper spray." He said low before walking out the room and shutting the door behind him.

Pulling the pepper spray from my pocket, I tossed it to my bed and watched it as it stayed not bouncing to the floor like my phone did.

Damn, I was hoping it'd bounce off and I could have a small ironic laugh.

Pulling my hair into a loose braid, I headed out the room and shut my door behind me. Dad was alone and the guys had left which meant Roy was gone.

Dad pulled out some frozen patties, "Hamburgers sound good for dinner?" He asked.

I gave him a thumbs up and headed to the fridge pulling out a red onion, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese slices.

"Pickles?" I asked him watching him shrug and then nod.

Pulling the jar out, I grabbed the mustard and ketchup shouting the fridge and then jumping when I saw Ace in the doorway.

Jesus! I don't think I'll get used to someone else in the house.

Dad laughed a bit and I put the items down on the counter, "I forgot." I said softly trying to push my embarrassment down.

Ace slowly walked in, "I just need something to drink." He stated watching the fridge and then us.

I was quiet, avoiding conversation with him entirely. It's sort of what I decided would be my thing. Just the quiet weirdo who lives in the house, and hopefully that'll keep him from pestering me.

Dad gestured to the fridge, "You'll be living here for six months kid, make yourself at home. Just don't drink Katie's pineapple smoothies. She might punch it back out of you." He said making me blush and scowl at him.

Ace walked over slowly and pulled the fridge open.

I am an addict for these prepackaged pineapple smoothie drinks and they're like a Hawaiian coconut and pineapple heaven. They even smell like paradise. Anderson once drank my last one and I lectured him for about an hour.

But I never punched someone in the throat for it.

Ace pulled out a bottle of sprite and eyed me curiously, almost questionably "Those are safe." Dad commented laughing low.

Ha, ha.

Pulling out a cutting board and one of the steak knives since we only have three knives in the home, thanks to Ace, I rinsed off the lettuce and tomatoes washing my hands and beginning to slice them.

"Need help?" Ace asked Dad who stared at him a bit shocked but pushed the shock down quicker than it came and nodded his head to the grill outside, "You can turn the grill on." He said trying not to sound surprised.

Ace gave a single nod and went out the backyard door to the grill on the back patio and went to turn it on.

His dark hair was pushed back, his blue eyes watching the flame.

I didn't stare too long, "Let's hope he doesn't try to explode us all." I said low and under my breath.

Dad nodded in agreement as he watched Ace, "I never took him as a guy who would offer to help." He said thoughtfully before adding "But like I always say, we can't judge people without first knowing all the facts." He said giving me a stern look.

Smirking I sliced the second tomato up, "I have a strong feeling he'll be a lot better after living under your roof." I said proudly. 

He smiled and separated all the frozen patties, "I guess I raise some good kids huh?" He asked but I can tell he's thinking of Max.

It wasn't his fault, Max was depressed and he did everything he could.

"You do. You're a good dad." I wanted him to know that he is a great father, he needs to be reassured every once in a while.

No one blames him for Max's death, they all saw the heavy and I mean heavy, struggle dad had to go through to deal with Max's depression. There was so much pain throughout that last five months.

Ace came back inside and eyed the place before going to the pantry and pulling out the bag of hamburger buns.

He brought it to the counter and dads voice broke the silent staring. "You know how many you want?" Dad asked placing another patty to the tin tray.

I watched him eye the buns, "I usually eat two." I commented low staring over at dad, "He eats three." I added watching dad laugh as he put the patties down.

Ace leaned forward "Two is good." He said nodding.

This is just terribly awkward.

Putting the last of the tomatoes into the bowl, I began on the onions.

Feeling my eyes water, I laughed because dad began his stupid onion cutting joke, "Here lies Redon Yun, such a great guy. He gave to the poor when he could." Dad began as he watched me shaking my head as I sliced the onions.

Adding on, I felt my smile grow, "Always helped the elderly cross the streets and made sure no cat was ever stuck in a tree." I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. 

Dad placed a hand on his heart, "Saved our friends after a terrible collision." He sighed.

Dork.

I bit back my laugh, "When Little Jimmy had a failing liver, he gave him his." I tossed in.

Then dad nodded, "Oh yes, Little Jimmy only had a day to live." He sniffled.

Dad does this every time I cut onions. He used to do it to mom because she would be so embarrassed to cry from cutting onions.

Ace was staring with a very confused look and I finished the last slice tossing the onions into another bowl, "May he Rest In Peace." I said shaking my head blushing.

Dad said "Amen."

I focused on the lettuce and Ace pulled out enough buns for the burgers taking them to the grill and roasting them all.

As dad whistled some tune to an old song, I finished the lettuce and took a lidded tin with a spatula going to the backyard and placing it down by the grill while avoiding eye contact with Ace.

Going back inside, I wrapped the bowls in seran wrap putting them in the fridge to stay cold and fresh.

Dad whistled once and I looked over as he tossed two avocados to me. I caught both and went to cutting them up as well.

"I know you had plans this weekend with Hannah's family but would you mind staying home? I still don't trust him home alone, he might sell our things or invite people over. I just think it'd be uh, better if he was watched." Dad said quietly.

We were going to the museum or fossils, but I mean next time I guess. "Yeah, I agree." I replied watching Ace walk back inside with the tin of toasted buns.

Anderson and dad will be working a lot more late hours since they're currently trying to find the actual killer. (The court and the detectives claim its Ace but dad and Anderson trust my word.)

Dad took the patties outside and Ace put the buns down on the stove top. He busied himself by washing his hands and then drying them before glaring at his ankle brace.

This is going to be a very long six months.