Trapped by Them novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: What He Said on the Dock

Larissa's POV

The lake house was a two-hour drive, and I did not turn the radio on once.

My father was on the end of the dock when I got there.

He sat on an overturned bucket with a fishing rod across his knees and no line in the water.

The light was going orange over the far shore.

I walked out along the boards and sat down beside him with my legs hanging over the edge.

He did not look at me.

"I told Tobias not to follow," he said.

"I'm not Tobias."

"No."

I set the thermos between us and unscrewed the lid.

He took the cup I poured him and held it in both hands without drinking.

"You were eight when he taught you to ride," he said. "I stood at the kitchen window and watched him run beside you."

"I remember."

He made a sound that was nearly a laugh.

"I thought, there's the one person I'd trust with her."

The water slapped against the pilings.

"Dad," I said. "I'm not going to say sorry."

"I know."

"I'm going to say I'm sorry you found out that way."

"Your stepmother says I should have been told sooner." He turned the cup. "She says I'd have stopped it."

"Would you?"

He thought about it for a long time.

"Yes," he said. "I'd have said no, and I'd have meant it."

He looked at the water.

"You'd have gone around me, and I'd have lost you for good."

"That's what I thought."

"That's what scares me."

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