35. Lexi

35

LEXI

Easton stepped into my room a few minutes later. "Noah is alive."

I sighed, relieved that he was okay. "Did he say anything else?"

"He said he's dealing with some family stuff right now. When I asked if he needed anything, he said he didn't."

I nodded. "Thanks for texting him."

Easton nodded then sulked back down the hall.

Noah was okay. But for some reason, he wasn't responding back to me. I tried not to be too sad about it. Easton must've been right after all. I was just a convenient target for Noah to make-out with when he wanted something to distract him, nothing more.

I tried not to feel my heart ripping apart inside of me at the thought; instead, I decided I might as well go to bed and not sit here waiting for nothing.

I was washing my face when my phone beeped. When I checked the screen, my heart stuttered in my chest.

It was a message from Noah.

Noah: Meet me outside by your window.

I walked out into the dining room as calmly as I could. My dad was sitting at the kitchen table going through some paperwork.

"Did you check the mail today?" I asked him, hoping that he hadn't.

He frowned and shook his head. "It's Sunday. They don't deliver the mail on Sunday."

"Actually, they do now. I'm just going to go check it."

"Expecting a package?" My dad narrowed his gaze and I worried I might have tipped him off.

I shrugged and tried to keep my face neutral and unconcerned. I knew I shouldn't be sneaking around, especially after our conversation yesterday. But I just needed a few minutes with Noah to talk about things before my dad was hovering over us.

That was to say, if this conversation went well.. .

"Juliette was going to send me something. And I could use a little fresh air, anyway."

My dad nodded and pointed to the counter. "My keys are right there."

"Thanks."

I walked as calmly as I could to the entryway and put on my coat, though I wanted to hurry. Once out the front door, I peeked into the lit living room windows to make sure Dad wasn't watching me from the slits in the blinds. The window was empty, so I sprinted to the side of the house where Noah had told me to meet him.

I'd just turned the corner when a hand shot out in the moonlight, grabbing me and pushing me against the side of the house.

I almost screamed before I saw it was just Noah. And before I knew what was happening, he was pressing his body against mine and kissing me like he hadn't seen me in years. My breath came in short bursts as I met his lips with the same enthusiasm.

I broke away and gasped for air. "I guess this means you don't hate me then?"

He shook his head. "Never." And then he kissed me again. We kissed for a minute longer before eventually pulling away, both of our chests heaving from the passion and the cold night air.

He cleared his throat. "Sorry I didn't text or call you back. I figured it would be better for me to do this in person."

I grinned. "I don't think that greeting would've been nearly the same through the phone."

"Definitely not." His eyes sparkled in the moonlight, and I loved that I was the reason for this vibrancy in him. "So are you grounded for life?"

"Well, I don't have any doors in my room right now. And I have to volunteer to help with the twins down the road for the next week."

"Wow, your dad doesn't mess around, does he?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

"Do you want me to talk to him? Tell him why you let me sleep in your room?"

"He already knows. He called your dad Friday night."

"So does that mean you already know what happened?

I furrowed my brow. "No? Did something bad happen?"

His expression darkened, and I didn't know if I wanted to hear the answer. Then he said, "Paul apparently didn't get the promotion and took it out on my mom."

"He did? Is she okay? What happened?"

He covered his eyes for a brief moment before looking back at me. "It was pretty bad. I had to rush her to the emergency room and she had a few broken ribs and bruises all over."

"Is she going to be okay?" No wonder he hadn't called or texted me back. It sounded like he'd been through way more than anyone should ever have to go through in just one night. First, my dad kicked him out of my house, and then he went home to find that? How was he even standing upright this minute? I'd probably be crumpled up in a ball on the floor if that had happened to me.

"Things will be okay and she's pressing charges this time. We're actually staying at my dad’s house right now. It's kind of weird having us all under the same roof."

"I bet."

He shrugged. "I mean, my mom hated my dad about as much as I did for what he did to us. Hated Tracey too. But it seems like this whole experience has actually been good in a way. Don't get me wrong, it was terrible that this happened to my mom, and I wish it never had, but the dynamics of my family are better than they've been since before the divorce."

I touched his arm, rubbing the soft leather of his letterman jacket. "That's good that you and your family are doing better. I hope things continue to improve."

He nodded. "Me too." Then he looked to the side. "Anyway, I better let you get back in there. I don't want to get you in any more trouble than I already have."

"Actually, do you have a minute? "

He looked wary. "Yeah, why?"

I slipped my hand into his and squeezed it. "I had a good conversation with my dad yesterday, and I think it might be a good idea for us both to go talk to him right now."

He swallowed. "You do?"

I smiled, hoping to reassure him. "He's not as mad as he was on Friday, I promise."

"I would hope not, because I kind of saw my life flash before my eyes when he dragged me out of your room."

"Me too," I agreed. "Anyway, sneaking around is probably about the worst thing that I can do right now if I want my dad to ever trust me again. So how about we go talk to him together and see if we can convince him to let us hang out without it feeling wrong?"

"You promise he's not going to come after me with his shotgun?"

I smiled. "It's locked in the safe. You'll have a full minute's warning before you're in danger."

"How reassuring," he said, dryly.

"Well, I don't want to give you any false hope." I winked then pulled him to the front of the house.