Page 145 of Run Away Home: Tempered

You told me you

would stop drinking.

Why do I ever believe anything that you say?

OK. OK. Sorry.

I’ll stop.

Will I see you this weekend?

The only way you’re going to see me is if you come to McAlister’s.

I have to be home every day.

Why?

Something with my brother.

Oh...

Can I come to your place then? Still never met him.

Now is really not a good time to come to my place or to meet him. Like I said, we can talk about it over drinks ??

No, sir, we cannot. Don’t try me.

OK.

I bought beer with no alcohol. Tastes like sadness.

All for you.

Thank you

I wouldn’t drink sadness for any other woman.

K

REALLY? K? IF SHE ONLYknew what I was going through right now...

All right. I’ll talk to you later then.

She doesn’t answer. I’m fully prepared for her next text to be “This isn’t working out.” It’s okay. If it is, it is. I don’t need the added heartache. Maybe women aren’t even in the realm of things I should be thinking about right now—or ever, any of them. They just cause me problems. Not that it’s their fault. It’s usually mine.

“It’s always yours!”a small, familiar voice says.

I snap my head quickly to the left, but he’s not there.

I set my phone on the side table, rubbing my eyes with my palms. I turn over in bed. I don’t have to be at my first job for another two hours. I can fit in some rest. It’s hard to sleep at night knowing both Danny and Hayley are in the apartment. When Danny’s at school, right before I have to go to work, that’s the perfect time.

I set an alarm and close my eyes.

Hayley

IHEAR THE COFFEE MACHINEbrewing in the kitchen and peek around the corner. Peter’s facing the wall. He picks up the cream and pours a tiny amount into his mug. He turns around, and I hide, tip-toeing back to the couch. When he leaves the kitchen, he walks right by. He doesn’t even acknowledge me. Fuck you...

He goes into the bathroom. When the shower starts, I get on the floor and reach under the couch. I pull out the water bottle filled with the “solution.” Tristian hasn’t told me what it is exactly, but he says you can’t taste it or smell it. I twist off the cap and take a sniff. Smells like water.

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