Page 54 of The Quiet After The Fall

My door opens without a knock.

“There you are.” It’s my father, still in yesterday’s shirt, looking like he slept in the living room armchair instead of his bed. His eyes drop to the desk before I can cover anything. “What’s all this?”

“Nothing important,” I say, picking up the pile and tapping it so it’s all squared.

He grunts in lieu of a response, and turns to leave. Before he’s out of the doorway, he asks, “You eat today?”

I’m taken aback. He never gives a shit if I eat or not. Hell, I don’t think he cares about anything related to my well-being.

“Not yet.” I can see him thinking, his mouth forming words. “But I have plans with Ella.” I pretend to check the time on my phone. “Running late, actually.”

I’m up, holding my messenger bag in one hand and the stack of paperwork in the other before he can say anything else.

He waves a hand in dismissal and heads into his office, calling for Linda. Once I’m in my Jeep, I finally release a breath.

Ella’s home when I get there, which throws me, because she’s usually out doing who knows what all day.

She turns from her spot on the couch, dropping her phone in her lap. “You’re home early.”

“Gotta change my shirt…coffee stain.” I head straight for the bedroom, not stopping to elaborate on my lie. I need to find somewhere quiet to go through these documents. But apparently that’s not happening here.

She follows me in.

“I tried calling you this morning.”

“Phone was on silent.” I swap shirts fast, keeping my back to her. “What did you need?”

“Nothing. Just wanted to know where you were.” She leans against the doorframe, arms crossed. She looks different than normal. Her jaw is set, eyes steady, no softness to be seen. “Linda said you’d already left the office when I called there.”

I think for a second before turning to face her. “I went for a drive after.”

“A drive,” she repeats, tone flat.

“I needed to think.”

“You always need to think.” She pushes off the doorframe and steps into the room. “Or you need to work. Or drive. Or do anything that isn’t being here with me.” She crosses her arms again. “I’m not stupid, Knox.”

“I know you’re not.”

“Then stop treating me like I am. Tell me what’s going on. Or tell me there’s someone else. Either way, I’d rather know.”

I know I should lie. Placate her. Say something to keep her from spiraling and calling her father.

My mind is blank.

I grab the bag off the bed and my keys from the dresser. “I have to go.”

“Knox—”

I’m already past her, down the hall and at the door before she finishes whatever she was going to say. When I walk out, I don’t look back.

I drive without a plan, windows down, letting in the scent of freshly cut grass and humidity, music loud enough to drown my thoughts.

It’s not until I pass the second highway sign for Lake Mercer that I realize where my hands have been steering me the whole time, like a silent passenger deciding where I need to be.

I turn up the music and let it lead the way.

Chapter 14