Heartbreak At Motel 7!

Chapter 20

Sneaking away to Vera's place became second nature.

Her area was dangerous, but locals within the area began to recognise me and only interacted with me positively, if they interacted with me at all.

They knew who I was with associated with, and Vera was known and loved by almost everyone.

Visiting her apartment was the only way that we could exist together without disturbances.
No one in my personal life knew about us. Not my friends, nor my family.

My father was already unimpressed with me being out late.
The fact that he didn't know what - or who - was keeping me away only irked him even more.

Each time I came home late, I could feel the weight of his disapproval hanging in the air.
It felt like I had a constant rain cloud following me around, one that was threatening to burst into tears and soak me with its negativity at any moment.

Fortunately, my father didn't ask very many questions.
I assumed that not knowing was easier for him.

My mother turned a blind eye. Like I've said before, she's always helpless when she has to be firm.

Night after night, I found myself at Vera's.
The space wasn't big, and it wasn't in the best neighborhood, but it was ours and we were together. That's all that mattered.

The air was warm as I slipped into her apartment.
There she sat waiting for me, as she always did.

We already established our own little routine.

She sat on the couch, barefoot, the black shirt on her torso riding up just enough to expose her stomach.
Soft shadows danced across the room as the hum of the life in the neighbourhood played in the background like a natural soundtrack.

Her pretty eyes flicked toward me as I closed the door, "Took you long enough." she said teasingly, a smirk tugging at her kissable lips.

I took off my shoes before making my way towards her, "I got caught up. I spent most of today with Marsha, so."
Vera scoffed at the mention of her name, "Did you tell her about us?"
"No, I didn't." I answered honestly.

Vera watched as I took a seat next to her.
"Do you not want your little girlfriend to know that you're unavailable?"
I resisted the urge to ask if Vera and I were ever going to be an official couple, "She's not my girlfriend."

Vera rolled her eyes but I didn't care for her attitude. Instead, I found comfort in the warmth that radiated off of her body.

"I think that my friends would like you." I thought out loud.
"Your friends don't even know who I am." she said bluntly.
"Well, Yeah. It's complicated, I feel like they would judge me for being with you."

Vera clicked her tongue in annoyance.
She wasn't actively seeking a stamp of approval from youngins.

"I don't need their approval. I just need you."

My heart melted at the way she said my name.
She said it like a dare, a promise, in a tone that made my stomach flip.
She knew how to get a reaction out of me so easily that it upset me at how well she knew me. But I still craved it.

Vera made me feel alive in a way that nothing and nobody else ever had.
It came with the risk of falling apart, but that was a risk that I was more than willing to take.

I looked at her as I spoke up, "Why do you do this?"
"Do what?" she moved her head closer.
I blushed, "Make everything harder for me."

Vera's eyes flashed with something dangerous, like an animal in heat.