It Was Always You (Ridgewater High Romance Book 3) Read online

  The door to my room opened, and my eight-year-old half-sister, Brielle, stepped inside, fear etched all over her face.

  "I'm scared, Noah." She rushed over and wrapped her arms around my torso. "I don't want to go to that shelter again."

  I pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. "I won't let you go there again." They'd only spent three days at the women's shelter the last time Paul's temper got out of control, but three days was more than the length any little girl should ever have to hide from her dad.

  We were quiet for a moment, listening to the argument below. When I noticed Brielle was shaking, I pulled her onto my lap. "Sorry you have to hear this," I said under my breath.

  She nodded and burrowed her head against my chest. A huge part of me wanted to go downstairs right then and bring Paul up so he could see what his rage was doing to his little girl. And another part of me wanted to bring my mom up too, so she could see how staying with her unpredictable husband was affecting her daughter.

  "Is it really that hard to put the dishes in the dishwasher instead of the sink?" Paul's voice bellowed up the stairs, louder than it had been before.

  "I'm sorry. We were rushing to get Brielle to her basketball practice. I was going to put them away when we got home."

  "You should wake up when I do if you don't want to be rushed. Is it so much to ask that my wife get some common sense?"

  I clenched my hands into fists at Paul's rant. How dare he talk to my mom that way.

  "I-I'm sorry. I was just so tired after last night..." my mom's voice drifted off. I hated how scared and small she sounded. She was a grown woman. She shouldn't be treated like she was a naughty child.

  "That's no excuse. I bust my butt every day, sucking up to my idiot of a boss. The least you can do for me is keep this house clean!" His voice roared even louder, causing my insides to vibrate with the intensity.

  My heart pounded in my temples. I needed to stop this before he hurt her again.

  I shifted Brielle off my lap, setting her down on my bed. "I'm going to check on things. Stay here where it's safe, okay?"

  Her big, brown eyes showed fear, but she nodded.

  I rushed down the hall and stopped on the staircase once I had a view of where they stood in the hall downstairs. Paul was waving his hands in anger as he went on and on about what he deserved and how my mom was failing at everything.

  My chest hurt to see my mom cowering under such a domineering man.

  "You need to calm down, Paul," Mom said after Paul finally shut his mouth for a second.

  That sentence seemed to flip the switch because he immediately grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her against the wall.

  "Don't tell me to calm down. You know what happens when you talk back to me."

  I was down the stairs two seconds later and shoving him away from my mom. "Keep your hands off her!" I yelled.

  He stumbled back, knocking a black vase to the tile floor. Anger flashed in his eyes, and before I knew what was happening, his fist collided with my face.

  "Get out of the way, Noah."

  Pain shot through me, but I stood in front of my mom, not about to let him touch her again. My neck prickled as I felt her cowering behind me.

  Paul's eyes went cold as stone. "This is my house. And I'll take care of things as I see best."

  I touched my lip and my fingers came away with blood. I wiped it on my pants.

  When I looked up again, Paul was standing inches away. He wasn't a small man, but neither was I. "That's the last time you'll do something like that, Noah." Then he glared at my mom still hiding behind me. "When I get back from Angelo's house, your son better be gone. I won't have that kind of disrespect in my home."

  What? He was kicking me out?

  A moment later, Paul disappeared out the front door.

  My mom immediately went down the hall and came back with a cold washcloth in her hands. "Maybe you should go stay at your dad's house for a few days, just until Paul calms down." She gently patted my lip with the cloth.

  I looked down at my mother, not believing what she was saying. "You want me to go?"

  "Just for a few days. You two feed off each other."

  I shook my head, still not believing her words. I took the washcloth from her. "He was about to hurt you again."

  "I had things under control. You didn't need to step in. You just made things worse."

  "So you wanted me to stand by and let that jerk hit you?" I scoffed. Was she seriously saying that right now?

  "He's just stressed. Something happened at work, so he's a little irritable."

  He had my mom brainwashed so badly it made my blood boil. How could she fail to see that this wasn't healthy behavior? "That's not a little irritable. If I hadn't been in the way, you'd be the one with the bloody lip. And in case you forgot what happened last time, he probably wouldn't have stopped there."

  She looked away and wrung her hands. "As soon as he gets his big promotion next week, everything will be better. Just give him a break."

  "Give him a break? Are you hearing yourself right now? This is not how a healthy person thinks."

  I regretted my last sentence almost immediately. I knew better than to say things like that to her.

  Her gaze hardened. "So you're going to start insulting my intelligence, too?"

  I groaned, and my shoulders sagged. "I didn't mean it. I'm sorry, Mom." I ran a hand through my hair. "I just can't stand how you let him treat you so badly. What is it that keeps you here?"

  But she wasn't listening. She was already busy cleaning up the broken pieces of the vase on the floor. "I think you should spend the next week at your father's house." She didn't look at me when she said it.

  This was insane. She let Paul treat her the way he did but would kick me out because he told her to? Her own son?

  I didn't say anything. It was pointless to talk to someone who wasn't willing to listen. This wouldn't be the first time this year that I had to find somewhere to stay because of Paul's temper.

  I went upstairs to pack my bag. When I got to my room, Brielle was standing in the doorway with tears in her eyes. "Do you really have to leave?"

  I brushed past her and pulled my duffel bag off the top shelf in my closet. "Your dad said to get out, so looks like I have to leave for a few days."

  She followed behind me as I started packing. I threw a couple of pairs of jeans in my bag along with my favorite hoodie and a few pairs of underwear and socks, and a couple of t-shirts. Plus my toothbrush and shampoo, and then I figured that was about all I needed.

  "I don't want you to go, Noah. I don't want to be here alone if something happens."

  My heart broke for my little sister. It wasn't fair that she had to deal with any of this. She was so young.

  I sighed and sat on my bed. She wiped at her tears with the back of her hand as her bottom lip trembled. I pulled her into a hug. "Mom thinks things will be better if I leave for a few days."

  She clung to me. "But what if something happens again?"

  I held her close, rubbing a hand down her curls. "You can message or call me on your watch if you ever feel scared and I'll come right home, okay?" I pulled back and held her at arm's length, so I could see her face.

  She nodded and wiped at another tear trickling down her cheek. "Okay."

  With another sigh, I stood and finished packing the rest of my things in the duffel. Then I slung it over one shoulder and my backpack over another.

  I gave my sister one last hug before making my way downstairs.

  Mom was waiting for me in the living room. "I'll call you when Paul calms down. Just give him a week, okay?"

  I hitched my duffel bag higher on my shoulder and huffed. "Just make sure he keeps his fists away from you and Brielle. If anything happens, you have to leave."

  She nodded slowly. "I will. But everything will be fine. He'll get the promotion, and everything will be great."

  For my mother and my sister's sake, I hoped she was
right.

  I drove to my dad’s house on the hill—a massive brick home—where he lived with his new family. Just when I was about to knock, my half-siblings burst out the front door, startling me. Mason, who was ten, and his six-year-old sister Paige dashed toward the family’s big SUV parked at the end of the driveway. I didn’t think they even noticed me.

  My stepmom, Tracey, was rushing down the hall with her fancy purse slung over her arm and her blonde hair flying behind her. She speed-walked to the door in her high heels. Tracey had been a model before she met my dad, and I didn't think I'd ever seen her without heels on.

  "Oh! Hi, Noah. Sorry we're in such a hurry. Mason has a karate test today and we're running late."

  "Is my dad here?"

  She nodded as she sidestepped past me and continued on to the car. "He's just inside putting on his shoes," she called over her shoulder.

  "Can I go in and talk to him?" I yelled after her. She was already halfway down the path that led to their driveway.

  "Make it quick." She waved her hand at me in dismissal before opening the passenger door and climbing in.

  I shoved my hands in my pockets and stepped inside, wondering where I should go first.

  My dad came down the staircase a minute later, fastening his Rolex to his arm as he did so. "Hi, Noah." He peeked up from his watch for a moment but didn't really look at me.

  "Hey, Dad." I chewed on my lip, not knowing what to say. "Um—can I talk to you for a minute?"

  He was at the bottom of the stairs now, pulling his coat out of the entryway closet and shrugging into it.

  "I'm actually in a huge hurry right now, Noah. Mason has this karate thing and we're going to be late if we don't leave now."

  "I just need somewhere to stay for a few days. Mom and Paul kicked me out."

  He went still and really looked at me for the first time. Then, after taking in my face, his eyes hardened. "Looks like you're getting into trouble again."

  Of course, he would blame my swollen lip on me being up to no good, instead of asking what really happened.

  "This—" I pointed to my face. "—is not my fault."

  "Sure, Noah." He nodded, like he thought I was full of crap. "I thought it was because of football, but football is over. Are you in a gang of some sort?" He shook his head and took a few steps toward the door. "I can't have you around Mason and Paige when you're getting into fights. It's not good for them. I can't have you bringing that sort of stuff into my house."

  "Really? You can't have your own son be around your new kids?" I scoffed. This was just the same as it always was. I was the bad kid, always getting into trouble. His other kids were the perfect little angels who he didn't want anywhere near my bad influence.

  "I really don't have time to talk about this right now. And I won't have your friends targeting me for drug money."

  He thought I was into drugs? What the heck did he think I was doing with my life?

  He glanced at his watch to check the time. "The sensei gets upset when families walk in late. Come back later tonight and we'll talk after the kids have gone to bed."

  And that was how it always was with my dad now that he had his new perfect family. Any other day or time was more convenient for me to come over than when I actually needed him to be a parent.

  My temper flared and I didn't try to hide it. "You know what? Never mind. I can see that you're too busy with your perfect replacement family to care about the one you started with."

  He reached out to grab my shoulder, but I shrugged his hand off. He drew in a deep breath and gave me an annoyed expression—something he always did when he had to actually do some parenting. "Noah, you know I didn't replace you when your mom and I divorced."

  "Yeah, whatever. I've heard the joke you always tell. 'Kids are like pancakes, if you mess up the first one you can always just throw it out and start over.'"

  I didn't wait to see his reaction. Instead, I turned and stomped out into the cold evening air.

  I didn't know why I'd even attempted to come here in the first place. Nothing had changed. Nothing was ever going to change. My dad had gotten a fresh start in life; he had tried to buy me off with a new car and a monthly allowance in my checking account. But when it came to actual parenting, he had washed his hands clean of that years ago.

  It had just taken me ten years to finally get the hint.

  But I was done with that man. I was done with everything.

  I got in my car and drove to the last place I could think of. I pulled in front of Easton's house and checked myself in the visor mirror. I should have thought to put ice on my lip before driving off. It wasn't pretty, but experience had taught me that it would look a lot better by Monday. I drew in a deep breath and climbed out of my car.

  Lexi answered their front door when I knocked.

  "Is Easton here?" I asked, keeping my head tilted down so she couldn't get a good look at my face. Lucky it was already pretty dark outside.

  She shook her head. "He's at work right now. He doesn't get off until ten."

  Right. He'd been complaining all week about having to work the closing shift at Emrie's.

  Lexi's inquiring gaze meant she knew something was up. She always noticed stuff like that.

  I sighed heavily, turning to go. "Okay, um, well. I guess just tell him I came by."

  Where was I going to stay? It was winter. My weather app showed snow and freezing temperatures tonight.

  "Noah? Is everything okay?" Lexi asked, taking a step closer behind me. I tensed, feeling tears prick at my eyes at her question.

  "I'm fine." I sniffled. I hoped she'd assume my nose was just running from the cold and not because I was on the verge of a breakdown.

  Where was I going to stay tonight?

  "Are you sure?" She grabbed onto the hem of my letterman jacket.

  I stepped away from her touch. "I'm fine. Just…" I looked down the street. I needed to get out of there before she saw me crying like a baby. "Just tell Easton that I came by."

  "Is it something important?"

  "Nothing important." My voice came out more gruff than usual, but at least it didn't break with a sob. I kept walking down the path toward my parked car, and once I was a good distance away I called over my shoulder, "I'll see you at school on Monday."

  I tried not to break down as I pulled onto the road.

  I was out of options.

  I had nowhere else to go.

  So, I did what I'd done last month when my mom and sister went to the women's shelter and I wasn't allowed to go in because I was an eighteen-year-old male and my presence would make the women there feel unsafe. I drove to a camping spot in the forest and pulled out of the trunk the sleeping bag, pillow, and blanket that had been there since October. Then I leaned the passenger seat back as far as it could go and hoped it wouldn't get below zero tonight.

  5

  Lexi

  My heart raced as I walked up the path to the school Monday morning, gripping my trumpet case handle.

  I hadn't been able to relax all weekend as my mind kept wondering if everyone had already heard about my Friday night disaster. I really hoped they weren't waiting to laugh me out of school. I'd already been worried enough that my dad or Easton would suddenly barge into my room after somehow hearing that I'd been secretly dating Noah for months.

  There was a reason I hadn't ever been on a date yet, and it wasn't just because I was a nerd. I was pretty sure if any guy ever did try to take me on a date, he'd change his mind once he met my dad. At six-foot-two and two hundred twenty pounds of muscle, my dad was intimidating. A guy would need nerves of steel just to walk in my house with the intention of taking Dad’s little girl anywhere. So if my dad even thought I was sneaking around with Noah, who had a reputation for being a bad boy, that would be the end of everything.

  I made it to the band room without too many stares coming my way and sighed with relief. Maybe everything would be okay. Maybe no one had heard about my fake date with Noah.
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  I set my trumpet down and grabbed a stand before sitting in my new "second chair" spot by Harrison.

  I startled when Harrison spoke to me. "You and Noah left the movie early on Friday. Did you not like it?"

  Wait, he'd noticed that we'd left?

  That was all it took for my heart to start racing. Stupid heart. Harrison had a girlfriend.

  I cleared my throat and tried to appear calm. "We didn't really like it."

  He pressed his lips together as he set the music folder on the stand. "Sarah and Ava said you two were sneaking out for some alone time."

  Ok, so he hadn't noticed us leave. He'd just been told about it.

  Which meant Sarah and Ava were talking about us.

  Oh crap!

  What was I supposed to do now? Was it time for me to come clean and tell him that I'd followed him to the movie theater like some sort of delusional lovesick puppy?

  I cleared my throat again. "We figured we could entertain ourselves better than the movie could."

  The words were out before I realized how bad they sounded.

  "Not that we were doing that much," I hurried to say.

  Harrison furrowed his brow. "I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."

  "At the overlook. We didn't..." Why had I opened my big mouth? I should just run out the door right now and hide somewhere until I learned to talk without making myself look like an idiot.

  Harrison, still frowning, shook his head slowly. "It's none of my business what you and Noah do when you're alone."

  Oh no! He totally thought we were hooking up. Did he not see the huge purity ring on my left hand? I mean, it wasn't that big really, but it felt huge with all the meaning behind it. College tuition was a big incentive for keeping that ring on my finger.

  Plus, Noah would probably never talk to me again if people thought we were hooking up.

  My mind scrambled for something to say that could make everything all right. "What I'm trying to say is that Noah has always been a complete gentleman with me."

  Harrison's face flushed. "I don't think I need to know about that."