Loosened Hold
SARAH
The car was already waiting outside when my father came down in his usual composed silence, phone in one hand, sunglasses in the other. He barely looked up as he said,
“Ready?”
I nodded, trying to match his calm energy, even though my insides were in complete chaos. I’d already sent Cullen a message telling him where we were heading. The plan was in motion. All I had to do was find a way to slip away, even for five minutes. That was all I needed. Just five minutes with him.
We barely got out of the gates when his phone rang again.
He looked at the screen. His entire face tightened. He didn’t answer right away, he stared at it for a moment like he could will the call to disappear. But then he sighed and pressed it to his ear.
“What is it?” he said, his tone suddenly clipped. The voice on the other end must have said something serious, because his body stiffened.
“Yes. I’m on my way,” he said sharply, and hung up.
I didn’t have to ask what had happened. I could already feel it, the energy shift, the heaviness falling into the car like smoke. My heart sank.
“Dad?”
He looked at me then, and for a second, I saw the apology already blooming in his eyes.
“I have to go,” he said. “Emergency. A problem. I need to fix it myself before things get worse.”
“But…” I couldn’t help the way my voice cracked. “I thought we were going to....”
“I’ll be back,” he said quickly. “I promise. Before lunch. We’ll go out then. I’ll take you wherever you want. You have my word.”
I swallowed hard and nodded, even though every part of me wanted to scream. Not because of the change of plans, but because it meant I would be stuck back inside the walls I was so desperate to escape.
He reached for my hand before he got out of the car. “I’m sorry, Angel. I didn’t plan this.”
I nodded again, unable to speak. And then he was gone. The door shut with a soft thud that somehow felt final.
The driver turned toward me.
“Ma’am, should we head back?”
I didn’t answer immediately. I looked out the window. So close. So damn close.
“Yes,” I said finally. “Let’s go back.”
Half an hour later, I was back in my bedroom. I didn’t text Cullen right away. I just lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of disappointment press against my chest. I should have known this would happen. Nothing ever went as planned. But just as I was about to fall into the spiral, my phone buzzed.
Cullen: Did you get out?
I stared at the screen before replying.
Me: No. Change of plans. He got a call. Emergency. He promised to be back for lunch.
Cullen: I’ll be waiting. Just tell me when. No matter where I am, I’ll come to you.
And just like that, I smiled. Maybe this wasn’t over yet.
True to his word, my father returned later that morning, after before eleven. He walked in looking apologetic, even frazzled, which was rare for him. The moment he saw me, he began apologising profusely, his words falling over each other.
I smiled, brushing it off with a soft shake of my head. “It’s all good, really. I just need to freshen up and then I’ll join you downstairs.”
He nodded and stepped back, letting me pass. I used the time to quickly grab my phone and text
Me: It’s all clear, we’re going to the restaurant for lunch.
I sent him the name of the place, slipped my phone into my purse, took a deep breath, and headed back down. My father was already waiting outside. When he saw me coming, he immediately walked over and opened the car door for me with a soft smile. He kissed my hand gently like I was made of porcelain and apologised again.
“It’s fine, really, Dad,” I said with a chuckle. “You're acting like you killed my puppy.”
He gave me a sheepish smile. “I just didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“It’s fine,” I repeated, meaning it this time.
I slid into the seat as he reached in to fasten my seatbelt for me. He did it with such gentle precision, the way you'd help a small child. And I let him. I never really got this kind of attention when I was a baby. So I didn’t mind getting it now in my twenties.
He went around to his side of the car, got in, and looked at me again. “You’re really not angry?”
I tried not to laugh. “Dad. I'm fine. I’m just happy I get to have lunch outside the house with you. It’s a change.”
He chuckled. “You’re right. I think… maybe it’s time I loosened my hold on you a bit. You’re your own person now. You should be able to go out there, live your life. I don’t want you going crazy locked up inside the house.”
The words caught me off guard, completely. And then he said something even more shocking.
“Maybe you should think about going to university. If you want.”
I blinked at him. My heart did this weird flutter, like it didn’t know whether to leap or freeze. University?
I’d only ever gone to school when I was a child. Back when my brothers, Ronan and Ryan were still there. Once they graduated, I was pulled out. I’d been homeschooled ever since. Isolated. Groomed to stay within the safe, controlled walls of our home.
And now… this?
“Wait,” I asked, just to be sure. “You mean… actually attend? Like… in person? Or are you talking about online?”
He looked at me and smiled, soft and strange. “Whatever you want, Angel.”
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