Page 34 of It Was Always You

When I turned around, my dad was studying me. "Is something wrong? You seem more anxious than usual."

My dad didn't miss a thing.

I pasted on a smile and laughed lightly. "I-I'm fine. Maybe a little nervous for my history class today."

He put a couple of papers into his messenger bag and buckled it shut. "You have a test?"

"No, but I think we're about to start a group project and those always make me nervous."

He nodded like he understood. "I get that. Just don't let your partners make you do all the work. Stand up for yourself this time."

He knew me so well. I always ended up doing the majority of the work in group projects, because I was usually the person who cared most about my grades.

"Thanks for the advice."

He smiled like he'd just received a gold star for awesome parenting.

I checked the clock on the wall again. School would start in less than thirty minutes. My dad needed to go now, or Noah wouldn't have time to shower and eat, and I really wanted to be able to do this for him. He needed someone right now.

This must be part of why he said his life was complicated.He was practically homeless. How did he afford to eat out? I certainly didn't have that kind of money from what I made babysitting here and there. And Noah didn't have a job.

"I'll see you for dinner tonight," Dad said, interrupting my thoughts. "I'm thinking white bean chili might be good on this cold day."

Good, he was finally going to leave.

"Do you mind if Noah eats with us?" I asked, turning back to dishing up my food so he wouldn't see how anxious I was about his answer.

"You’re helping him with his English homework again tonight?"

"Yeah." At least I would be, now that my dad mentioned it.

"Just tell him dinner will be at six." Dad put his bag over his shoulder and kissed me lightly on the head. "Have a good day at school, Lexi."

And then he finally left.

I watched out the window as my dad backed out of the driveway and onto the icy road. Once he was out of sight, I saw Noah's car turn around and then pull into our driveway. Nervous energy coursed through me, and I didn't know why. Noah had been to my house tons of times. He'd eaten hundreds of meals with us. Why did I suddenly have to be all anxious about him coming over for breakfast?

I busied myself, grabbing a second plate from the cupboard and loading it up with food for him. I could do this. I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just helping out a friend who had no one else to turn to.

"Expecting someone?" Easton's voice came from behind me.

I jumped and almost dropped Noah's plate.

Easton strolled into the room and eyed the two plates I'd made up. "Or is this like one of those National-Bribe-Your-Brother-into-Doing-Something-for-You days?"

"You wish." I set Noah's plate down on the counter with a shaking hand then tucked some hair behind my ear. "Noah's picking me up today as part of our fake relationship thing. I figured I'd make him up a plate of food since he always seems to be hungry."

Easton pursed his lips. Would he be able to figure out what was going on?

"You sure you aren't hoping for this plan of yours to be legit?" He grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with orange juice.

I wiped my hands on my pants. "Of course not. You know I like Harrison and not Noah."

He gave me a skeptical look. I didn't like that look. It made me remember all the reasons why I might have wanted this to be real in the past.

The doorbell rang, and I startled again. I reallyneeded to get a grip on myself or my heart was going to be beating fast all day.

"I'll get that." My voice squeaked. Why was I acting like such a basket case?

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