Page 61 of It Was Always You

Stupid sleeping bags.I shoved them into the middle of the seat, my temper flaring as I did so. Then I slammed the door shut with much more power than it needed.Stupid car. Stupid everything.

I gripped the handle on the passenger side and swung the door wide open before stomping my feet on theground to get the snow off. Then as I lowered myself into my seat—my bed for the night—I bumped my head, hitting the same spot I'd banged this morning in Lexi's closet.Stupid small car.

I'd been on the verge of tears since my conversation with my dad, but I couldn't fight them back any longer as the reality of another long, freezing night loomed ahead.

Tears clouded my vision as I pulled my wet shoes off and dropped them into the back.

My phone buzzed under my butt. I reached my hand around until I found it. I wiped the moisture out of my eyes, so I could see the screen. If it was my dad again...

But it wasn't. It was Lexi.

Lexi:Are you coming back tonight? I had my dad work on my window after dinner, using the excuse of it being dangerous in case of a fire.

I drew in one of those shuddering breaths that told me I'd been crying too hard as I punched in my response.

Noah:Your dad doesn't want me there. I don't want to get you in any more trouble than I already have.

Lexi:Don't worry about me.

My windshield was already covered in a thin sheet of snow.

Noah:I'll be fine.

I could survive this. Lots of people went to bed cold and hungry each night.

My phone started ringing, and Lexi's name popped up on the screen. I sighed then swiped my thumb across the screen to answer.

"I'll be fine, Lexi. I have two sleeping bags."

"Stop trying to be a tough guy, Noah." She apparently wasn't one to give up easily. "I already checked the weather and it's going to be really bad, worse than yesterday. Just come over. Please. I won't be able to relax tonight if you don't."

I looked out the window again, watching the big snowflakes come down fast and hard.

"Okay," I finally said.

"Okay?" The relief in her voice made me feel a little warmer inside.

"Yes, I'll come. Just don't blame me if your dad finds out and grounds you for the rest of eternity."

"He won't find out."

I parkedat the end of her street ten minutes later and filled my backpack with a change of clothes and everything I'd need to keep me until the next morning.

Then I headed down the sidewalk to her house, sneaking down her side-yard like I had last night.

I texted Lexi to tell her that I was there, and she appeared at her bedroom window a moment later. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and it looked like she was already wearing her pajamas—a gray tank top and sweatpants. Had she pretended to go to bed already just for me? It was just barely after eight o'clock.

I grabbed the old bucket that I'd seen sitting against the tree last night, turned it on its lip and used it to help myself through Lexi's window.

It was a tight fit, so I had to fall forward to get myself the rest of the way in, but once I was inside her warm bedroom, Lexi shut the window.

"My dad is still in the living room watching TV," she whispered.

I nodded, brushing the snow off myself as I stood. "Thank you for sneaking me in again."

She shrugged. "It's no problem." Then she turned to walk away.

I gripped her arm and dipped my head down to really look her in the eyes. "I know what you're risking, so don't say it's no problem. I was there to see your dad's reaction this afternoon."

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