We drive around town for a bit, stop at my house so I can grab a few things that I forgot to pack earlier, then decide to go to the Muddy Bean because they have free Wi-Fi and their food is good and lots of kids from our school hang out there. We’re sitting at a table, scrolling through our phones and sipping our coffee, when I feel someone standing behind me. I look up. Andrew.
I make a little noise and drop my phone onto the table. Before I can say anything or move, he pulls over a chair and sits down between us.
“What’s going on, Sophie?” His eyes are angry, his voice almost vibrating, as if he’s trying to hold everything inside. I want to run away, but I’m blocked by his body, the force of his energy. It makes me feel like a little kid who’s gotten caught doing something horrible.
“I don’t want to talk to you.” I shoot a look at Jared. His eyes are wide as he stares back at me.
“You said you would come over. I sat around waiting.”
“I never said I would come over. You just assumed I would.”
He flinches, then shakes his head. “Okay, maybe you’re right. But why are you ignoring my calls?”
“I told you I couldn’t see you anymore. You broke our deal.”
“So now we can’t even talk?”
“I know what you did,” I say. “I know you drugged Angus.”
He looks stunned, completely, absolutely stunned—and confused. He blinks for a couple of seconds, like he’s still trying to figure out what I said. “Who’s Angus?”
“I think you should get out of here,” Jared says. “She doesn’t want to talk to you.” My dad holds up a hand, stopping him from talking.
“Who the fuck is Angus?”
“Our dog! I told you about him.”
He makes an angry sort of laugh. “You think I drugged your damn dog?”
“It was you. He ate pills. The vet said it was Ambien. You tossed them over the fence in meat. He’s still in the clinic—he almost died.”
“Why would I do that, Sophie?” His voice is upset, almost pleading, but angry too. I want to stop talking to him, want to get up and leave, but I’m too far gone.
“Because you’re so mad at Mom for not falling for your stupid present.”
“Yeah, I can see how killing her dog would make her want to be with me again.”
“You’re sick and twisted,” I say, tears running down my eyes. “You aren’t better at all.”
He rocks backward, closes his eyes like he’s absorbing the blow, then shakes his head and leans closer across the table.
“I did not drug your dog. But if someone did, then you have big problems, little girl.”
“You’re my problem,” I say. “How did you even know I was here?” When he doesn’t answer, I say, “You were following me again.” He must have been sitting outside our house, waiting. I never should have stopped there.
“I’m your father. I’m worried about you.”
I stand up. “Just leave me alone!” Jared also stands up on the other side of the table.
Andrew grabs my forearm. “Listen to me, Sophie. Someone is screwing around with you and your mom. Maybe you should stay with me for a few days. I can protect you.”
I laugh. “You’ve never protected me.”
“I was there for the first seven years of your life and I made sure no one ever hurt you. I was the one who taught you to swim, to ride a bike, everything.”
“You hurt me,” I say, my voice breaking. I can feel people watching us, but I don’t care anymore. “Don’t you get it? You’re the one who hurt me—and now you’re stalking me!”
“Come on, Sophie,” Jared says. He’s standing behind me now. “Let’s go.”
I stare down at my dad’s hand on my arm, and he slowly lets go, drops it in his lap. He looks sad now. It doesn’t make me feel guilty anymore. Mom was right. It’s all an act.
“Stay away from me,” I say, then walk away with Jared. When we climb into his car, I see Andrew still watching from inside the coffee shop. I turn to Jared. “I want to go back to Greg’s. Drive fast. I don’t want him to see where we’re going.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
LINDSEY
I squirt soap into the sink until the suds rise, then dump our plates, salad bowls, and cutlery into the water and scrub at the melted cheese and tomato sauce. I can see out of the window into the dark of Greg’s side yard. I reach up and tug the blinds down. Greg is moving around behind me, putting away the leftover pizza. I’ve been to his house many times, but I’m uncomfortable tonight and not sure why. It could be because he keeps telling me to “make yourself at home,” or because of the look on Sophie’s face when Greg implied we might stay indefinitely. I glance over at him as he shoves the pizza box into the recycling.
“You okay?” he says, catching me watching.