Page 46 of A Vicious Rumor

"I get that," I replied. "But, that's not really what you want in life? Is it? That's more about what you want to do."

He looked a little confused. "I'm not sure. What is it you want in life?"

"A friend," I replied almost instantly. "Ancora imparo."

"What does that mean?" Tyson asked.

"It means 'Still, I am learning.' Michelangelo said it when he was in his eighties."

"Oh," Tyson said. "Aren't I your friend?"

I looked at him, cocking my head to the side. "I'm not sure. Are you?"

He frowned. "I guess," he said slowly. "I wouldn't know. Because, I don't really know what it is to be one or have one."

I let my head rest on his chest again, turning it so that I could hear his heartbeat. "I guess we can learn together," I said, before we both drifted off to sleep.

14

TYSON

Noise startled me from my sleep. Lily was still lying next to me, and I hated the idea of disturbing her. Carefully, I climbed over her and made my way to the bedroom door, trying to listen in case I needed to be prepared.

Lily stirred from her sleep. She raised her head up and looked at me. "What's the matter?" she asked.

I put my finger to my lips and shook my head. She nodded, but sat up and pulled the covers close to her body.

"Stay here," I mouthed to her. I pressed my ear against the door, but couldn't get a clear idea of what was going on downstairs. I opened the door slightly, slipping through it and closing it behind me. I really hoped Lily had the good sense not to follow. I wasn’t keeping with the best of company these days. It was very possible someone found out where my house was and decided to pay me a visit.

As I inched my way through the hallway and towards the stairs, realization dawned on me about the danger I was putting Lily in. Right now, for better or for worse, I was a drug dealer. Or, at least I was a mule. Sure, I was doing it for the money, but that didn't make it any less dangerous. Her affiliation with me put her at risk.

I clenched my teeth at the thought of her being hurt, but more noise from downstairs pulled me back to the present.

"Tyson, I know you're home."

It was my father's voice and it boomed throughout the house.

I relaxed instantly knowing it was just him. It was irritating, but it was certainly better than the alternative. I shoved the thought of how my situation could have seriously hurt Lily to the side to think more about later.

"Yeah, it's my house too, you know," I said, making my way down the stairs.

"You're supposed to be at your mother's," he said. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to face him. He was standing in front of his office door and he looked extremely exhausted.

"She didn't even have a bed for me to sleep on. Way to do your homework on who you pawn your kid off to," I sneered.

My father just rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I don't have time for this right now."

"No," I corrected him. "You don't have time for me, and you never have since your wife left."

My father just shook his head and slammed his office door behind him. I was so fucking done with him. I was so fucking done with all of this.

Movement on the stairs had me looking up. Lily was standing there in my tee shirt. She was so delicate, and she looked so nervous. It was just another reminder that my life was going to unnecessarily complicate hers. She had real potential. Given what I had gotten myself into this summer, mine was more than questionable at this point.

"Is everything okay?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah," I said stiffly, walking back up the stairs. I guided her back to my room and closed the door behind us. "I'm going to drop you back home," I said.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Oh," she said quietly. "Okay."

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