"Guardians are the good guys," she mused. "But you're different than even Sean."
"You can sense that?" he asked, eyeing her.
She nodded. "You're different than my father, too."
"That I am. I wish I could remember why. Guess I'm just too old."
Yully didn't push him. He looked tired after the talk, and there was a note in his voice she recognized as caution. She hesitated, too comfortable with him for her own good.
"Jule, I can't stay here. My father will find us."
"Let him come."
"You're too weak to fight him," she said, a smile tugging up the corner of her mouth. "And I don't want to take the beating I know is coming to me."
"Stay with me," he said, his gaze intent. "I'll find a way to protect you."
"I can't. You don't know how dangerous he is."
Jule frowned and strained to sit. She pushed him back down, showing him just how unprepared he was to deal with anything.
"You're right. I am weak," he said. "Never happened before."
"If I go now, he won't be as angry with me, and maybe I can come back tomorrow." The words sounded hollow, even to her ears, and she rose. She avoided his gaze.
"You're not coming back," he said. He was too weak to chase her down this time, and she knew it.
"Jule, I …" She cleared her throat. "I need to go home. It's better for both of us, and it's the only real way I can protect you from him. I can call someone to come get you and then I think you shouldn't try to find me anymore."
She pulled a pen and paper off the desk in the corner and held them out to him. She didn't think he'd answer and glanced up at him. He took the pen and paper and scrawled down a number before handing it to her. His gaze was intense as he looked up at her. Finally, he spoke.
"Sweetheart, I'll find you no matter what." The resolution in his voice floored her. He was too weak to stand, and yet he all but promised to find her.
"I can't protect you," she said. "Please, Jule, please stay away."
"I'll find a way to protect you, even if it takes a while."
"I don't want to lose you already," she replied. "I've never had a … I've never trusted anyone else. I'd be happy knowing you're safe."