Page 2 of Mocha Kisses

I will not drag him into this chaotic world with me, not the way my mother has.

My mother expects me to pay this off. She even told one of the last suits that I would be the person to contact. Like a 22-year-old has any money. I have even less, despite my part-time job, because my mother thought it wise that my earnings be used to fuel her alcoholic tendencies. I hate it. I hate all of this.

I head straight for the side of the bleachers, knowing that Griffin will be waiting for me there away from the chaos of our graduating class. Shouts of laughter and excitement explode across the football field but I can’t focus on any of that now.

“Woah, babe, you’re not dressed for graduation. Where’s your gown? The one I picked out.” Griffin catches me in his arms, tugging me into his chest with that award-winning smile that he’s famous for. When he pulls away to make a joke, the smile disappears, worry lines etched into his forehead as he tucks a few stray curls behind my ear. “Precious, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He’s dressed in his burgundy regalia, the zipper undone to show off the suit I picked out for today. It’s a deep hearty blue paired with a black button-down and black tie that offsets the gray color of his eyes. He looks perfect and I look…

“Luna?”

Griffin using my name has me jerking in his hold and I push him away. If that suited man sees us together, he might target my boyfriend and I’ll never forgive myself. “Nothing. I just… out for a jog? I don’t know.” My words are jumbled as I try to find the right lie but I’ve always been terrible at it—lying that is.

“Luna, tell me what’s going on. What are you running from? Is it your mother?” Griffin’s eyes search mine before his gaze rises to the small cut on my head. I forgot about that but with his attention on it, I can feel it throbbing.

I hesitate and then shake my head. Fuck, I’m going to regret that. My mother has gotten out of control once or twice, threatening my safety when she’s a little too under the influence. I’ve always escaped to Griffin’s house for a few hours until my mother passes out, so using her as an excuse at this moment isn’t far-fetched.

“Babe, come here.” He tucks me into his arms again and for a moment I melt against his chest, relishing the warmth that he provides. Griffin has always been my safe space and my home. We’re only 22, but I know that he’s my soulmate. Too bad that fate doesn’t want us together. “Let’s fuck off back home and we can celebrate graduation there, alright? Do you want to invite a few people or just us?”

He’s so considerate and a small cry leaves my lips at the way I’m about to break his heart. “No, it’s okay. I want you to walk. It’s something precious to you. I’ll… I’ll go grab my bag and come back.” Griffin has always wanted all of the things that come with graduation. I don’t care either way; seeing him smile is one of my goals. The fact that he’ll give all that up because he thinks it will soothe my panic just makes me love him even more.

His hands cup my cheeks as he searches my expression again. “Are you sure? Do you need me to come with you?”

“No, I’m a big girl, Griffin.” I put on a brave smile, Griffin chuckling at my insistence.

“Never said you weren’t.”

Then he kisses me and I moan as my fingers wrap around the lapels of his suit jacket. Tears stream down my cheeks and I know that he can taste the salt of my despair. When we break apart, I can see the conflict in his eyes as if he knows that something more is going on. I can’t tell him though. I can’t risk his life for my happiness.

“I love you, Fin.”

“I love you too, Luna. I’ll see you in what—fifteen minutes?”

I nod gingerly before untangling myself from him and heading back the way I came. I won’t be returning to the stadium or this school for a while. I need to lay low and find a way to pay off the million-dollar debt I’m now saddled with. The police can’t help. They’re part of the problem. Griffin will only get hurt at my side. And my mother… I don’t want to think about the fact that she just threw me under the bus.

Racing back home, sticking to the main sidewalks, I escape back into my house and stuff everything I love into a bag. There isn’t much, I soon find, when I start looking around the room. There are a few trinkets I’ve picked up over the years but nothing else of value. I pack all of my underwear, cash that I’ve stashed under my mattress, and my tablet. My cute little powder blue Toyota Camry will take me out of this town and then I can figure out what happens next.

My heartbeat thumps in my ears as I find a notebook and tear out a page, knowing that when I don’t show up in fifteen minutes, Griffin will come find me.

I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you. I’ll always love you, Griffin Solace. You’ll always be my sunshine.

A tear drop hits the page and I wipe it away but not before it leaves a little stain. I don’t have time to rewrite it as I leave my phone beside it on the bed and race down the stairs. My mother is sprawled on the couch, eyes following my form out the door. She doesn’t even react and I’m not even sure she knew I was supposed to be graduating today. The first in the family to have a degree.

My dream was to become an editor at one of the large publishing houses, wearing those form-fitting suits, and then returning home to Griffin before he rocked my world all night long.

Those dreams have been discarded for a much more bleak outlook on life.

The only goal I have now is not to get caught.

God, I fucking hate my father.

Luna

Present Day

TherearethreethingsI don’t trust in this world – money, men in suits, and that god-awful phrase, ‘trust me’. I will not be trustinganyoneforanything.

I hiss as I sharply turn a corner, my ankle smarting as I push myself harder. My stamina is running out and in the next five minutes, if I don’t find somewhere to hide, I will be at the mercy of whoever the fuck is after me this time.

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