Page 44 of Steps

Unable to stop myself, I send Varen a text askingif he’s okay. He doesn’t respond. I hope he isn’t out doing drugs again. Hedidn’t look good last night and sounded as if he was having nightmares. Why doI worry so much about this bad boy?

Later, Mom comes into my room, looking chic incapri pants, pumps, and a stylish blouse. Hair and makeup on point.

“Dan and I are meeting his friends for lunch,possibly dinner later. Do you have any plans?”

“No, I’m going to hang here.”

She cuts her eyes from me. “Gosh. Why can’t you bea normal teenager and go out with friends? What about Kenya? What’s she doing?”

I scowl. “She’s working today.”

“Well, that just means you should get morefriends.” She sighs. “Anyway, see you later.”

“Mom,” I call after her.

She swivels back into the room. “What is it?”

“Did you mean those things you said to Daniel?That I was the best thing that ever happened to you?”

Please say yes.

Something flickers in her brown eyes. She delayson my face a moment before shaking out of it. “Toya, I don’t have time forthis. Dan’s waiting.”

I roll my eyes and resume reading after she walksaway.I knew it was a lie.

As time goes by, I become more and more bored. Iwander upstairs to get a snack from the pantry then return to the family roomto watch TV. I sprawl out on the large sofa and start a movie on Netflix.

The sky turns cloudy by late afternoon, and atorrential downpour begins in no time.

I jump at every bolt of blue and thunder. When themovie ends, I amble back to my room and curl up in bed, texting Kenya whileshe’s on her break at the retail store.

My heart skips a beat as I hear a door slam andfootsteps running upstairs.

Varen?

Perhaps he doesn’t know I’m home. Maybe it’s forthe best. We don’t need a repeat of last night.

I stay quiet and continue texting Kenya. When shereturns to work, I try to take a nap. At least the lightning and thunder hasceased. I press my eyes shut, using the sound of the rain to soothe me.

But then I hear footsteps coming back downstairs.They stall, and a part of me hopes he’ll keep going down. While the morelogical side wishes he’ll just leave the house again.

My heart pounds with expectancy as he takes theremaining stairs to the lower level.

“Toya? You here?” Varen calls out from thepassage.

Do not answer, a voice in my head says.I remain quiet, keeping my eyes shut.

But his steps only draw closer. I shiver as helightly taps on the door and pushes it open.

Why didn’t I lock it?

I open my eyes and peer up at him.

Varen wrinkles his brows. “Why didn’t you answer?”

“The way you didn’t reply to my text.”

“Petty.” He scoffs and enters my room.

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