Page 11 of It Was Always You

I didn'twait to see his reaction. Instead, I turned and stomped out into the cold evening air.

I didn't know why I'd even attempted to come here in the first place. Nothing had changed. Nothing was ever going to change. My dad had gotten a fresh start in life; he had tried to buy me off with a new car and a monthly allowance in my checking account. But when it came to actual parenting, he had washed his hands clean of that years ago.

It had just taken me ten years to finally get the hint.

But I was done with that man. I was done with everything.

I got in my car and drove to the last place I could think of. I pulled in front of Easton's house and checked myself in the visor mirror. I should have thought to put ice on my lip before driving off. It wasn't pretty, but experience had taught me that it would look a lot better by Monday. I drew in a deep breath and climbed out of my car.

Lexi answered their front door when I knocked.

"Is Easton here?" I asked, keeping my head tilted down so she couldn't get a good look at my face. Lucky it was already pretty dark outside.

She shook her head. "He's at work right now. He doesn't get off until ten."

Right. He'd been complaining all week about having to work the closing shift at Emrie's.

Lexi's inquiring gaze meant she knew something was up. She always noticed stuff like that.

I sighed heavily, turning to go. "Okay, um, well. I guess just tell him I came by."

Where was I going to stay? It was winter. My weather app showed snow and freezing temperatures tonight.

"Noah? Is everything okay?" Lexi asked, taking a step closer behind me. I tensed, feeling tears prick at my eyes at her question.

"I'm fine." I sniffled. I hoped she'd assume my nose was just running from the cold and not because I was on the verge of a breakdown.

Where was I going to stay tonight?

"Are you sure?" She grabbed onto the hem of my letterman jacket.

I stepped away from her touch. "I'm fine. Just…" I looked down the street. I needed to get out of there before she saw me crying like a baby. "Just tell Easton that I came by."

"Is it something important?"

"Nothing important." My voice came out more gruff than usual, but at least it didn't break with a sob. I kept walking down the path toward my parked car, and once I was a good distance away I called over my shoulder, "I'll see you at school on Monday."

I tried not to break down as I pulled onto the road.

I was out of options.

I had nowhere else to go.

So, I did what I'd done last month when my mom and sister went to the women's shelter and I wasn't allowed to go in because I was an eighteen-year-old male and my presence would make the women there feel unsafe. I drove to a camping spot in the forest and pulled out of the trunk the sleeping bag, pillow, and blanket that had been there since October. Then I leaned the passenger seat back as far as it could go and hoped it wouldn't get below zero tonight.

5

LEXI

My heart racedas I walked up the path to the school Monday morning, gripping my trumpet case handle.

I hadn't been able to relax all weekend as my mind kept wondering if everyone had already heard about my Friday night disaster. I really hoped they weren't waiting to laugh me out of school. I'd already been worried enough that my dad or Easton would suddenly barge into my room after somehow hearing that I'd been secretly dating Noah for months.

There was a reason I hadn't ever been on a date yet, and it wasn't just because I was a nerd. I was pretty sure if any guy ever did try to take me on a date, he'd change his mind once he met my dad. At six-foot-two and two hundred twenty pounds of muscle, my dad was intimidating.A guy would need nerves of steel just to walk in my house with the intention of taking Dad’s little girl anywhere. So if my dad eventhoughtI was sneaking around with Noah, who had a reputation for being a bad boy, that would be the end of everything.

I made it to the band room without too many stares coming my way and sighed with relief. Maybe everything would be okay. Maybe no one had heard about my fake date with Noah.

I set my trumpet down and grabbed a stand before sitting in my new "second chair" spot by Harrison.

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