Page 54 of Run Away Home: Tempered

Peter flicks on the light switch as he enters the room. There’s a mess of flour, sugar, and eggshells on the table.

“What were you two doing in here?” I start to brush crumbs into the palm of my hand.

“She wanted cake, so, we baked one together. We saved some for you and Danny. I’m actually quite the baker. Anyway, I’ll clean this up. Go back to bed, Melissa.” He collects the vanilla extract and baking powder left on the counter.

I lean on the table and put one hand on my hip, watching him for a couple of minutes. He looks over at me.

“What?”

“You and Hayley.”

“Yes? What about us?” He turns on the faucet.

“What are you two doing?”

“Doing? We aren’t doing anything.”

“You were snug on the couch.”

He turns the faucet off and looks into the sink.

“We’re friends...” He sighs.

“Only friends?”

“Yes. I told her about...”

“Danny?”

“Yes.”

“And how’d she take it?”

“She needed cake to calm down.”

“Ah...”

“I don’t know. She said she thought it was going to be like two friends living together and having fun—no responsibilities—but it’s not going to be that way now.”

“Did you think she would react differently?”

“I was hoping she’d... Go to bed, Melissa.”

He wets a sponge and scrubs the counter. I’m still watching him. He looks back at me. I know what he’s thinking. He lets go of the sponge.

“Really, Melissa. Please, go to bed. I can do this.”

I turn around and peer out of the kitchen and at the couch. Hayley’s gone. I turn to face Peter again.

“This isn’t going to be easy, Peter.”

“I know that. Don’t you think I know that?”

“Well, maybe this isn’t a good idea. Maybe Danny—”

“No!” He yells, looking down at the countertop. “No, no, no, no!”

I sigh and rub my forehead with my fingers.

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