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Even if I wanted a lot more of Leo.
Focusing on Michael as he took the seat beside me, I couldn’t help noticing why Momma was mistaking him for our father. At seventeen, he looked exactly the way I’d picture our dad at that age. There were a few hints of Momma in the shape of his nose and how wavy his hair was when he let it grow out, but otherwise he resembled the pictures that used to hang in the hall. We’d had to take them down because they triggered episodes every time Momma saw them.
It was hard to imagine my brother only had one more year of high school before he’d be ready to go off to college. I knew he was struggling with the guilt of leaving me to take care of Momma on my own, but I’d already told him I expected him to start looking at where he wanted to go. There was no reason for him to sacrifice any chance he had at a future to stay and help.
I wanted him to have more, and not be trapped like I felt on most days.
I pulled my thoughts back to the present. I needed to handle the current problem before worrying about future ones.
“The car broke down on me on the way home last night. I had to leave it on the side of Old Miller Road, so I’ll have to call a tow truck and have it taken to a shop. I’ll take the bus to work and ask to pick up some extra shifts at the diner to make up what it’s going to cost, but we’re going to be behind again.”
I kept my voice low, hoping Momma wouldn’t hear me. Michael’s brows drew together as he glanced toward the front of the house before responding.
“What do you mean? I saw the car sitting outside when I came downstairs.”
Frowning, I shook my head. I hadn’t imagined the car dying and Leo showing up.
Had I?
“No, you must be thinking of a different day. I caught a ride back to the house from… a friend.”
I looked away as I stumbled over what to call Leo, hoping Michael wouldn’t ask any questions, but he only pointed to the front window.
“Go look. It’s sitting in the driveway where you always park it.”
My heartrate picked up as I stood, a quiver going through my muscles. There was no way the car could be in the driveway. The wet clothes in my room said I hadn’t dreamed that it broke down and Leo saved me.
But sure enough, when I pushed the curtain out of the way, I saw the back end of the car sitting in its usual spot. Breathing hard, I shook my head, trying to deny what I saw before storming to the door. I threw it open and walked out, pausing on the porch to stare.
Not only was our old Toyota sitting there, it was clean.Sparklingclean, like it hadn’t been inyears. When I made my way over and glanced inside, the interior was just as spotless as the rest of the vehicle, old stains gone from the seats, and I shook my head again.
My breath sawed in and out of my chest as I opened the door and popped the hood. There were no scents inside the car, not even mine and Michael’s, and there was no way I’d have left it unlocked, but those weren’t the most obvious signs.
I couldn’t hear anything over my thundering pulse as I stared into the engine compartment. Everything looked new. No dirt or grease buildup. No sign of oil from when the head gasket leaked last year, and I’d taught myself how to change it. No wear or cracks on any of the hoses or belts.
I knew it wasn’t likely that the engine itself was new, but it was so clean it could have been, and the belt and hoses had to be for them to show no signs of wear. I was completely certain the battery wasn’t the one I’d bought, because the label on the one that had been in it last night had been red, a cheap knock-off brand that had been all I could afford, while this one had the blue label of a company everyone had heard of.
Leo.
It was the only explanation.
I dropped the hood and ran inside, brushing past my brother standing in the doorway to grab my keys and head back to the car. When I turned the ignition, it cranked with a smooth purr and no hint of the clank and grinding of the last few weeks.
It hadn’t sounded that good the entire time we’d owned it.
My vision went red, head spinning as my hands clenched on the wheel. I was on the verge of hyperventilating if I didn’t calm down, butcalmwas the last thing I could be.
Slamming the door as I got out, I went inside and tossed my keys back on the table in the entryway before stomping into the yard again. Michael watched me, calling my name and trying to ask questions as I passed the car and kept going.
I waved a hand over my shoulder at him but didn’t stop, walking all the way down the street as I dug my phone from my pocket. Turning to head down a side road so I knew my family couldn’t hear me, I stabbed my finger at Leo’s name, wishing it was the man himself I was bruising my fingertip against.
Chapter Six
Leo
Ismiled as I glanced down at my phone. I was a bit surprised it had taken so long for Cadence to call, and I could imagine how angry she was, her cheeks flushed that pretty pink as she glared.
She was going to get angrier, because I didn’t plan to answer. I was going to make her come see me in person if she wanted to talk about what I’d done, but she didn’t know the half of it yet.
