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“Oliver? Is that you?” A deep voice echoes from somewhere in the house, and I fight the urge to run. The hair on the back of my neck begins to rise and my skin prickles for a reason I can’t describe.

“Yeah.” He shouts back as he makes his way to the staircase. He doesn’t make it far before the man I can only assume is his father walks in.

“Where the bloody hell have you been?”

Oliver seems unphased by the anger in his tone. “At Eden’s.”

“I gathered that from the note you left. No explanation or anything. Are you crazy? And who is Eden?” The venom with which his dad spits out my name has me backing towards the door. Oliver glances at me with an apology before speaking.

“I told you everything you needed to know. And she’s over there. We just wanted a quick stop before I drop her home. Why don’t you say hi?”

Oliver’s dad turns to me and I force my spine to stiffen, to give me some back-bone to stand up straight. Plastering a smile on my face, I wave.

“Hi.”

His dad barely looks at me before looking back at Oliver, not even dignifying me with a response. That stings. “So, this is the girl you ran away with.”

“I didn’t run away with her. I went to her family’s farm for Easter, like I told you,” Oliver grinds out, dropping his bag to the ground with a thud.

Looking at the two of them, it’s so obvious they’re father and son. Same eyebrows, same nose. But while his dad’s thin lips curl into a sneer, Oliver’s are different, like they’re made for smiling. Oliver lacks the coldness his father has. Instead, there’s warmth. And sweetness. And love. Maybe he takes more after his mother, and the thought that I’ll never get to meet her hurts in a way I can’t express.

“Look, I can find my own way— “ I don’t get to finish that sentence.

“Oh, so you can spend time with her family for the holidays but not your own. I’m glad to know you think so low of us, Oliver.”

“I wanted to stay out of your way with everything going on, okay?” Oliver shakes his head, hands on his hips. “I’m going to see Eden home.” And with that he stalks past his dad and grabs my hand. “I’ll be back later.”

The door slams behind with a resounding thunk. He doesn’t talk as we make our way back to the car. You could cut the tension with a knife as he backs out of the driveway and starts the route to mine.

“I’m sorry you were there.” His voice is thick as he starts. “I was hoping he’d be more…”

“Nice?”

A weak smile crosses his face. “Yeah, nice.”

A beat passes until I nudge him with my elbow. “I’m sure I’ll get him next time. Who can resist my charm?”

The flash of a smile he shoots me is enough to convince me he’s alright. When he drops me off at my place, the kiss he presses to my forehead is enough to convince me we’re alright. For now.

17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Oliver.

Ever since that fantastic encounter with my loving father, I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Eden. Sure, we’ve shot a few texts back and forth, but the schoolwork is piling up and we’ve both been busy.

When I came back from dropping her off the other day, Dad didn’t say anything. Just glared at me disapprovingly over his coffee cup. I’ll take glares over shouting matches any day.

I’m not sure if the little stunt I pulled over mid-semester break has me losing the job that was offered, but something in me doesn’t mind. I’d lose out on a hundred jobs if it meant spending time with Eden on the farm.

What does surprise me though is looking up from my book and seeing Jason standing in my doorway. I don’t know how long he’s been there. My room is at the end of the hallway upstairs, so there’s no reason for him to be here. Unless he wants something from me. He opens his mouth to speak.

“How was your holiday?”

“Good.”

Jason shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot. “Is she your girlfriend?”