When we stop, Raf helps me step out of the car and I could swear his eyes soften as he glances at me, but he presses his lips firmly together in the next second and looks his normal growly self.
“Anyone home at your place?” he asks.
“No.”
He changes direction and holds onto me as we walk down the driveway and then go through his gate.
“I should just go home. Please. I’ll be fine.”
“Come to my house. At least until your mom is home.”
“You’re almost being nice,” I whisper.
“Shut it,” he says under his breath.
We go in the front door and I lean sluggishly on the banister, looking around.
“Pretty. Everything’s spinning though.”
“Come here.” He swoops me up in his arms and carries me up the stairs. I close my eyes and inhale his neck. He smells like soap and leather and cinnamon.
It smells like him in his bed too. When he tucks me in, lifting the blanket up to my neck, my stomach settles. He walks away and comes back with a bottle of pain meds, water, and a cold washcloth.
“Here, take this.” He opens the bottle of medicine and drops two pills into my hand.
I swallow them and lean back.
“My mom used to say the cold helped.” He places the washcloth on my forehead.
“Thank you, Raf.”
He doesn’t say anything. I stare at him for a long time, wishing I could figure him out, until the meds kick in. And then I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.
In my dreams, I hear the sound of a guitar playing off and on. It lures me in and out of consciousness and is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.
I wake up with a start when Raf jumps out of bed. I didn’t even realize he’d fallen asleep next to me.
“It’s my dad,” he whispers. “Shit. I don’t know what he’s doing here.”
I sit up and the headache is still there but nothing like it was.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better. It’s bearable now. I’ll sneak out and go home. Don’t worry. Your dad won’t know I’m here. Okay?” I bend down to grab my shoes and wince as the pain slices through my skull.
“You don’t need to leave. Just hang tight. I’ll see why he’s home so early.”
“No, really. Thanks for the bed.” I finish putting on my shoes and slowly stand. Yay for non-spinning rooms. I pause when I see a guitar leaning against his desk. “Were you playing that earlier?”
He doesn’t say anything for a moment and when he speaks, it’s quieter. “Yeah.”
“It was beautiful.”
“Thank you. Just a little hobby. Not something my dad will ever be okay with me pursuing.”
“I didn’t realize. Would you want to pursue it, if he wasn’t against it?”
“It’s everything.”
Something about the way he says that breaks my heart. “I’d love to hear more of your music. I’m sorry for pulling you out of school. I hope you don’t get in trouble for it.”
His eyes widen. “That’s why he’s home early. Fuck. I fell asleep—I forgot to remind Henry to fix our absences.”
“Fix our absences? What are you talking about?”
“It’s nothing. No big deal.”
“Uh, yeah, it is. Don’t let him get caught doing that or he’ll get kicked out—”
His look pins me to the wall. “Why? Can’t keep your mouth shut?”
“I’m great at keeping my mouth shut.” I scowl back. “I was just trying to be nice. Don’t get caught.”
He’s smug as he opens his window and motions for me to climb out. “I’m too smart to get caught.”
I shake my head and put my legs over the window, latching onto the tree. “Then why did you look so terrified when you realized Daddy is home? And you’re seriously making me climb out a window…”
“Shut it,” he mutters behind me.
I crawl down and glance both directions before running home. I take a chance and go out the back gate, ending up on the beach. Their view is as breathtaking as ours and I lean against the gate enjoying the waves and trying to catch my breath before making my way to our backyard. I step inside and am relieved when my mom still isn’t home.
I check my phone and see a missed call from her and several texts from Ashton asking if I’m okay. I look online to see what assignments I missed and start on my homework.
I brace myself when I hear the garage door opener. My mom doesn’t waste any time. I can tell by her face that she’s not happy with me. I sit up taller when she comes into my room, shutting the door behind her.
“I was alerted that you left school today. Care to explain?”
“Did you not get my text about meds? I had a migraine and got a ride home. I’m sorry I didn’t clear it first. I threw up at school.”
She studies my face to see if I’m telling the truth. “You do look pale. Next time, do it the right away. We can’t afford to draw attention, Josephine. If they think I allow my daughter to skip school, they’ll be breathing down my neck. I thought this is why we moved across the country…so there was less of a chance that everyone would know about your past and mine.”
“If you could just call the school and let them know what happened, I think it will be okay. I’ll make sure not to do it that way again. Sorry.” When her expression is still one of distrust, I add, “Hey, guess what? Ashton Cromwell asked me to his game on Friday night and to go out afterward. Is it okay with you if I go?”
What’s a few little lies to make her happy? It’s not exactly a date with Ashton, but I think it could be if I wanted it to be…if I wasn’t afraid of how angry it would make Raf if I showed up at his party with Ashton.
I think of how sweet Raf was this afternoon and decide I’ll go if my mom
