Page 42 of Minor Trouble
Her previously calm demeanor dropped, to be replaced by anger of her own. “But you took it, didn’t you? Let me get involved with you when the principal was right all along. I shouldn’t have been wasting all my energy on a student’s dad, I should have focused on the job.” She threw her hands in the air, turning her back on me.
I stalked around her, putting my face in hers. “Oh, believe me, sweetheart, all of this was a waste of time.”
She stepped back and folded her arms across her chest, emphasizing her rack. I dragged my gaze away. That was what had gotten me in to trouble in the first place. “Then I’m so pleased I offered my support to you and your son when youbothneeded it the most.”
My lip curled. I hated how she’d slipped straight into counselor mode, rather than speaking to me like we meant something to each other. I waved my finger between us—the finger that had, not ten minutes ago, been giving Ainsley so much pleasure. “You, me, this… it was all a huge fucking mistake. I should never have gone there, how fucking stupid could I be?”
Her mouth pursed tight, and she blinked furiously, as if trying to keep tears at bay. “That’s one thing you’ve got right. I think you should go.”
“I think so too. I need to find Noah.”Again, I added under my breath.
Without bothering to check if I’d left anything in the bedroom, I grabbed my keys from the side and stalked out. Once I’d got into the truck, I glanced up at the window of Ainsley’s apartment to see if she was looking out for me. There was no sign of her.
I shook my head, slamming my palm down on the steering wheel and letting out a scream of frustration.
For the next half hour, I drove around Cali Cross, looking for Noah. He’d never mentioned any places he went to after school or with Pepper. Usually he went to her place. I checked the time, wondering if it was too early to go and hammer on the Smarts’ front door. I don’t know why I even questioned it; I was looking for my kid. It wouldn’t be too early.
Kaley’s car was in the driveway. I sucked in a breath. It had only been last night I’d dropped Pepper home, but already felt like a lifetime. So much had changed in such a short amount of time.
Hammering on the wooden door, if Noah were there, I’m sure he would have heard me.
“Okay, okay, where’s the fire?” Kaley yanked open the door, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “You again. What now?”
I attempted to push past her into the house, but she blocked my way. “Is Noah here?”
She squinted at me. “At this time in the morning? Good God, I hope not.” She turned back into the house. “Pepper? You awake?”
After a beat, Pepper appeared in the hallway behind her mother, dressed in pajamas with cartoon avocados on them, her phone clutched in her left hand. “What’s up? Hello, Mr. Hudson.”
I focused my attention on her. “Is Noah here?”
“No. He just messaged me though, asking me if I wanted to play video games.”
A huge sigh of relief slipped from my lips. If Noah was talking about video games he had to be back at the garage,at home. “Thank you, Pepper. You’re a good friend to him.”
“Does that mean you won’t come banging on my door at all hours now?” said Kaley.
“I’m sorry if I woke you. I’m still getting to grips with this whole parenting thing and panicked when I didn’t know where my son was.”
She softened and gestured to Pepper with her chin. “If it helps, I’m still getting to grips with it thirteen years later. The teen years are a whole new challenge, just waiting for you to fail.”
I snorted. “Can’t wait. Sorry for disturbing you.”
Returning to the truck, I wondered whether I ought to contact Ainsley and let her know I’d found Noah. Not sure I was ready to face her yet, I drove straight back to the garage instead.
Eighteen
Ainsley
Ainsley: I’ve done something really stupid. Can we meet if you’re not busy?
I’d barely pressed send on the message when Lyla called me.
“Does this have anything to do with Seth?”
I groaned. “Does that answer your question?”
Lyla giggled. “Maddox has just gone over to the garage after Seth called him. I guessed some shit had gone down.”
