AllFreeNovel
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Just keep moving forward.
But even as I’m thinking that, I still feel myself inching toward the road, desperate for escape.
“Maybe I should let you wait up for Lake,” I say.
“Oh, I see,” she snaps, crossing her legs in a jerky movement. “You think you’re too good to talk to me.”
“I can’t do this,” I whisper to the bowl of lemon juice. “I can’tdothis.”
I never even had a mom, and I sure as shit am not equipped to deal with one like Lake’s.
There’s no map to navigate this, no app to guide me through.
That road is calling, open and free and uncomplicated and—
Absent of this feeling.
Like I’m fucking up.
Like I’m not doing all I should for Lake.
Like Iamusing him.
Steve whines, and I look down at him with stinging eyes.
I can’t do this.
I scoop him up, move toward the hall, glad my boots and my coat are in the mud room.
“Hey! Where are you—?”
But I’m already at the door to the garage, already shoving my feet into my boots, already reaching for my coat.
Hooking on Steve’s leash.
And escaping.
Heading for freedom…
And that open road.
Fifty-Two
Lake
I screech into the driveway,barely able to wait for the garage door to open so I can pull inside.
On the call, my mom was screaming.
From my house.
Nonsense about Nova and—
I pull the final few feet inside and brake hard, cranking off the engine, jumping out and hustling into the house.
My mom is sobbing on the couch.
Full-on shrieking and hysterical and—
