Page 172 of Challenge Me

I closed the bedroom door and forced myself to put one foot in front of the other. At one time, I’d left behind the only city I’d ever known, with only a backpack and a duffel. I’d hitchhiked across two states and spent all the money I’d scrounged up over the years to get myself a barely livable apartment where the worst people in the whole state lived. I dragged myself out of the gutter and made something of myself, against all odds.

And still, it had been easier than walking to Amir’s front door.

With my hand on the knob, I leaned my forehead against the wood. There was a physical ache inside me, as if I was severing some tether that wanted to keep me bound here. Such was the cost of freedom.

“Where are you going?”

I stopped breathing. I should have known better than to delay.

The words were shaped so much like Amir’s, but the voice was worlds different. It was sleepy and uncertain, enough to make my heart race.

I hadn’t prepared for this. It was cowardly and I intended to beat myself up for it later, but the plan had been to leave without saying goodbye.

Mal was only a step into the entryway, and in the low light, she was barely more than a silhouette.

“Little Valkyrie,” I sighed. When I moved closer, she backed up. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“You’re leaving.”

“I . . .” Realizing my bags gave me away, I dropped the act. “You should get back to bed. Everything’s alright.”

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself. “I heard you fighting earlier.”

“We weren’t fighting.”

“Mom and Dad weren’t fighting either.”

“Hell, kid. You really know how to play a guilt trip.”

She curled inward. I wanted to slip out, but then I heard her shaky breath. A small cry reached my ears before she spoke in a voice that cracked. “Why do you have to leave us?”

I closed the distance between us and dropped my bag. “Mal—”

“Dad!” she screamed.

I froze with my hand halfway to her. She latched onto it with a death grip, and I realized what she was doing.

“Mal, shh,” I pleaded.

“Dad, hurry!”

I yanked my arm back and grabbed my bag off the floor. She turned to run toward his room, so I decided it was now or never. I raced out the door, but something tugged at my chest and convinced me to stop, so I looked back.

I didn’t want him to keep fighting, so what was I waiting for?

A few minutes passed, but nobody came running. With a nod, mostly to myself, I continued walking. I passed the car and made my way down the street, thinking about that cot five miles away at Remi’s. It was like an old friend, and I could only hope that by the time I made it there, I’d be exhausted enough to sleep.

Fat chance, really. I’d be lucky if I ever got a full night’s rest again.

Chapter 48

Amir

“I’m sorry I woke you,” I said for at least the third time.

Avery squeezed my hand. “I would have been upset if you didn’t.”

“I tried to get her back to bed, but . . .”