“Uh, hi,” I say, raising my hand lamely.I’m trembling like I’m standing out here naked, but it’s fear that has me quaking, not the cold.Jonathan appears behind his father.
“What are you doing here?”Hal demands, his words clipped with impatience.His eyes narrow as surprise hardens into suspicion.
“Can I, uh, talk to Jonathan?It’s important.”When I try to connect with Jonathan over his shoulder, Hal shifts to block my way.
“No, you can’t.I don’t know why you think it’s appropriate to be here at three in the morning, but if you don’t leave, I’ll have to call your parents.”He takes a step back like he’s about to close the door.
“They’re the ones who sent me,” I say quickly without thinking.When Hal looks doubtful, I add, “Livvy, um, our neighbor.Her house burnt down tonight.And my parents… asked if I knew her friends.Because… they don’t know who to call.You know, to find her parents.Livvy won’t talk to us.I thought… Jonathan could help.”
“Why didn’t they ask me?I’m the one working for the Hinleys.”He crosses his arms, challenging my lie.
I nod.Not about to tell him he got the Holisters’ name wrong.“Right.Do you know how to get ahold of them?”
“I don’t,” he says.“I’ve been working with their interior designer.But still, why not ask me first?”
“It’s pretty chaotic over there.I’m sure they would’ve if they remembered about the renovations,” I say, having no idea where this story is coming from.Or if I’ve convinced him yet.
He looks back at Jonathan.“Go with her.Be back before you need to leave for school.”
Jonathan motions to the back of the garage.“Need to get my jacket.”Jonathan walks to the back of the garage.I can’t get past Hal, who’s still blocking the entrance, so I walk around the side toward the other door.
Hal follows me around the corner and continues to the house.Samantha peers out the open door.
I give her a small wave and a strained smile.
“Everything’s alright,” Hal assures his wife.“Just a fire.One of Jonathan’s school friends—”
I don’t hear the rest.Jonathan holds the door open for me, and we climb the stairs in silence.
When we enter his room, Gavin is already there, filling a duffel bag on the bed.
“What the hell are you doing?”Jonathan demands.Gavin tosses him a backpack and then begins to fill a mid-sized suitcase.
“Get whatever’s most important to you,” Gavin tells him.“You’re leaving.”
“I’m what?”Jonathan challenges, like he doesn’t trust him.“Why do you think I’d leave?”
Gavin straightens and rushes toward Jonathan with a ferocity I’ve never seen from my brother before.He’s shorter than Jonathan, but in this moment, I’m not sure who I’m afraid for most.I try to step between them, but I’m not fast enough.
Gavin has a finger in his face.There’s fire blazing in Jonathan’s dark eyes.“You’re important to my sister for some fricken reason I’ll never understand.And I won’t let her witness what we just saw in the garage ever again.Either you’ll promise to stay away from her or you’re gonna leave tonight so we can figure something out.”
I’m stunned.Jonathan glances at me, red rising up his neck to his cheeks.
“And since I doubt you’re smart enough to leave her alone, I knew we’d be taking you with us.So, get packing.We only have a minute before your father comes looking for you.I’m sure he has a lot more to accuse you of, considering Sadie just showed up in the middle of the night with a lie not even Darcy would believe.”
“Hey,” I scold on her behalf.
Jonathan takes the backpack and gathers papers from the desk, unpins drawings from the wall and folds the frame, slipping it into the front zipper.He scans the room, snatching a pair of swim goggles from a shelf and boots from the closet.Then puts on his jacket and grabs his truck keys.
We each select a bag and follow each other down the stairs.
“Which way should we go out?”Gavin asks Jonathan when we reach the two doors leading to the garage or outside.
Jonathan peers out the window of the side door.Hal’s on the porch with his arms crossed.“Doesn’t matter.”He turns to me.“If he tries to stop me, I need you to leave with your brother and not look back.”
I shake my head vigorously.He looks at Gavin instead, and they exchange a silent promise that I will break with all my might.
Jonathan leads the way.
