Chapter 30
Thirty
I was so enraged I didn’t even care if I got pulled over by the cops. All I wanted to do was drive Aunt Maddy’s car back to our house and hide for eternity. When I got home, I fled to my bedroom and was comforted by my familiar surroundings. My own bed cocooned me into dreamland.
Unfortunately, waking up in this house alone isn’t such a comfort.
My body aches, my mouth runs dry, and my head is a heavy mess of ugly thoughts.
I drag myself out of bed, my eyes two slits as I trudge toward the kitchen.
It feels like only a three-feet walk compared to spending so much time moving around the Nelson’s home.
After chugging a tall glass of water, I look around for a heavy-duty aspirin. When I pinch the bridge of my nose to help my headache disappear, there’s a knock at the door. My shoulders tense and a tremendous ache burrows between my eyebrows.
The jig is up.
I can only imagine an angry Mrs. Nelson on the other side of the door, ready to drag me to school. I edge my way toward the front door, too timid to ask who it is.
There’s a second knock at the door.
“Jamie?” Milo’s voice calls through the door. “Are you in there?”
“Milo?” I ask, reaching for the door handle. I open it up, double-taking at him not wearing school uniform. “What are you doing here?”
“Hi,” he mumbles with a shy wave. “Can I come in?”
I beckon him inside, checking the street for his mom’s SUV. “How did you get here?”
“The bus,” he replies as I close the door.
I fold my arms and look down at the floor as I wander by the sofa. “How did you know I was here?”
“I knocked on your door last night, and found an empty bedroom,” Milo replies. “I looked downstairs for you, and was at a loss, so I looked out the window. Anyway, I saw Maddy’s car gone and put two and two together.”
I gulp, hugging my middle. “Are your parents mad?”
“They didn’t exactly catch on. I got up early and covered for you with Mom,” he says, placing his backpack on the carpet. “I told her Laura needed the car to move some catering gear, and that we agreed to help before school.”
“Oh. Thanks, I guess.”
“Why did you leave? I was worried about you.”
I frown, looking off to the side. “I just couldn’t handle the way everyone was looking at me. I thought I was safe in that house, but everyone stared like I was scum.”
“No, they didn’t,” he counters. “It was just a shock because we were throwing around words we’d never used before.”
I dig my toes in and double-down. “I got the looks my mom got. The ones she promised to protect me from.”
“I’m sorry for fighting with Kai in front of my family, and making things worse,” Milo says, visibly angry at himself. “I shouldn’t have said anything about you being in Kai’s bed. I was trying to defend you, but it came out all wrong.”
“Yeah, it didn’t make me feel great about myself.” I gesture at his bag. “Are you planning on going to school?”
Milo smiles nervously. He bends down and unzips the bag. He pulls out my rollerblades. “It’s a peace offering. I know it’s silly, but I wanted to prove I care.”
My heart swells and I clasp my hands together. “Aw, Milo. I never thought you didn’t care.”
He puts the rollerblades down and moves closer. “Kai got the better of me and my mouth started running. The last thing I wanted to do was make you feel bad about yourself.”
“I had to get out of there.”
Milo shifts his weight, causing me to look his way. “Is it okay that I came over?”
I let my guard down and smile. “Of course, it is. You’re the only person I want to see.”
His grin lights up the room. He clasps my hand and tugs me toward him. Giggling, I lean into him, loosely draping my arms around his neck. His soft kiss sends my thoughts numb and I could easily float above the floor.
“I was jealous of you being so close with Kai,” he whispers, stroking my cheek, “but I don’t think you’re a bad person. You and him have been close long before you and me.”
“We have a different kind of closeness.” My fingers play at his shirt collar. “I’d be hurling if I made out with Kai.”
Milo chuckles. “I hope we have more than just kissing.”
“We do. I feel safe with you.”
He hesitates. “But only about certain things?”
I sigh and gesture to the sofa. We sit, and I plant my hands on his shoulders, steadying my nerves. “I’ll tell you what I shared with Kai. You’ll understand why I wanted to keep it a secret.”
He gulps. “It’s big?”
“It’s explosive.”
“You don’t have to tell me.”
“I want to,” I reply. “It’ll just take a minute.”
He runs a hand along my knee. “Take all the time you need.”
I stare into the frames of his glasses, noting the greens in his hazel eyes. The crinkles by his eyes make me want to smile. His full lips make me want to admit nothing and go back to kissing him.
I run my hands down his arms and clutch his hands. “Milo, I’m so glad you’re here.”
He smiles. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I giggle. “You skipped school for me.”
He squeezes my hand gently. “I told you. You’re a bad influence on me.”
I straighten up on the couch, fidgeting on the seat cushion. “Okay, I’ll just blurt it out.”
He braces himself, waiting for the news.
I grit my teeth, losing my nerve.
“It’s okay,” he whispers.
The calming lilt in his voice is all I need. “I found out my dad’s name.”
Milo sits back, floored. “Oh my…”
“I know.”
“Is he...?”
“He’s not a crook,” I reply. “He’s… Oh my gosh… He’s… Nope, gonna hurl.”
Milo sits closer, rubbing my back. “It’s okay. Take a breath. You don’t have to say it.”
I rest my head on his shoulder and exhale slowly. “It’s Coach Anders.”
Milo jolts in his seat. “What?”
I latch my arms around him, pressing my face into his arm. “See? This is why I couldn’t talk about it.”
“Wait? This is for real? Coach Anders is your dad? Did he know?”
I shake my head against his limb. “I have no idea. I can’t bring myself to talk to him.”
“But you know him. It’s not like he’s a stranger.”
I lift my head and deadpan him. “Milo, imagine you found out someone else was your dad. What if he was Mr. Birch.”
Milo grimaces. “Oof. That’s not fun to think about.”
“Exactly. No matter if he’s your favorite teacher, it doesn’t make it easier.”
“Okay,” he says, his chest inflating. “Coach Anders is your dad. Good lord. No wonder the energy between you and Kai was so low.”
“I’m just so angry at my mom,” I admit. “I was freaking sobbing because she knew all along but made me scared of finding out who he was.”
“I’m sure she had a reason.”
I nod. “She wanted Coach to finish high school and go to college. I haven’t read all of her diary, so maybe she did tell Coach before we lost her. But I doubt it.”
“So, you found this out through her diary?”
I nod. “Kai and Aunt Maddy are the only ones who know about it.”
“Does Maddy know about Coach being your dad?”
“Whenever I speak to her on the phone, she sounds like she’s on cloud nine. I can’t ruin her vacation with such a mind blow.”
“At least she’ll be home soon.”
“Yeah. I want her with me when I talk to Coach.”
“So, you will confront him?”
I nod, spreading my fingers between his and latching onto his hand. “I have to.”
“Thank you for telling me all this. I know it was hard for you.”
“I’m sorry I kept it a secret. It was just easier to keep it between one other person.”
“I get it. Kai’s your best friend, and I’d never stop you from talking with him.”
“He was so pissed when he saw us together.”
“He looked like he wanted to stab me when I went to his room last night,” Milo says. “I took the safe option and slept on the couch instead. Then I looked for you.”
“I don’t want to think about Kai right now.” I slide an arm behind his neck. “I’d much rather put my full attention on the hottie in my living room.”
Milo bobs and weaves his head. “Where is he?”
I giggle and plant a hand on the side of his face. “You goof. Just kiss me already.”
Milo laughs and drapes his arms around me. Our lips connect like two perfect puzzle pieces. I slide my hands down to rest on his chest. My palms massage at the fabric of his sweatshirt and he mumbles his approval.
Our kisses ramp up in speed, as we scoot to one end of the sofa.
Milo lowers me against the armrest. One arm anchors behind my back, his other hand wanders against my ribs.
In between kisses, I enjoy looking up at him.
I smile at the way his glasses lower with his movements.
His hands are gentle yet inflamed with passion as he holds me. I love that his smile is everlasting.
I pull him down further so he lies above me. He is so perfect; I never want to let him go. I could kick myself for never giving him a second look for all these years. I spent so many nights in my bedroom, dreaming of a wonderful boy coming into my life. Who knew he was here all along?
My arms wrap around Milo’s middle as I kiss along his neck and explore his collarbone. I’m about to take my exploration further when a knock at the door interrupts us.
Our bodies jolt together, and we mirror alarmed expressions.
“Who’s that?” I whisper in panic. “Could it be your mom?”
Milo winces. “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“Hello, Miss West?” a voice calls out, followed by another knock. “It’s Sheriff Lennon.”
Milo and I break apart, and I jolt to standing.
Oh, crap. It’s the cops. I’ve been picked up on surveillance cameras, driving without a licensed supervisor.
“Hello?” Sheriff Lennon’s voice calls out again, followed by two more knocks. “Miss West?”
Milo steps beside me, clutching my hand. He motions to the door. “Want me to get it?”
I give him a weak smile. “I got it.”
Milo releases my hand, and I move toward the door. When I open the door and find Sheriff Lennon standing before me, he double-takes.
“Ah, good morning,” he says, and then clears his throat. “Is Madeleine West here?”
My head jerks back. “You want to see Aunt Maddy?”
Sheriff Lennon tilts his head and gives me a gentle smile. “Are you Jamie West?”
I nod. “Yes, sir.”