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He’d find a way to pay back the Giordanos someday, Lex decided, packing the clothes that they’d given him to wear.
It had been easy to grab a few snacks to take along on the road. They kept a fridge loaded with food in the workout room attached to the garage, along with boxes of granola bars and protein shakes that Lex had noticed when he’d been spending time doing laundry. Barely making a dent in their supply, he’d packed a decent number of items inside his duffel bag to hold him over for a while on the road.
Finally, when it was about midnight, Lex crept out of bed, making his way downstairs into the bathroom he’d been using. He’d left his duffel bag down there earlier, deciding that he’d leave by way of the door leading outside to the lakefront, since it wouldn’t require going near any bedroom doors. He just needed to walk through the hallway that ran past Gabe’s study and then into the living room and foyer which they never seemed to use, anyway.
He was halfway through the living room when a voice said softly, “Lex?”
Lex halted, turning to the grand piano that was set up near the wide picture window that overlooked the lake.
There was Amy, sitting on the piano bench, wringing her hands in her lap.
Lex blinked. “Amy? What are you doing up so late?”
“You’re trying to leave, aren’t you?” Amy said, sounding accusing.
Lex cleared his throat. “I, uh…thought it might be better.”
She frowned.“Why?”
“Zane seems set. He’s got something to look forward to now, and Caleb has all of you to take care of him,” Lex replied.
“But what aboutyou?” Amy growled. “Dad’s trying to find you a tutor, and he’s worried about your health. He says you’re not out of the woods, yet.”
Lex’s jaw dropped open momentarily. “How did you know all that? I can’t imagine that your dad talked to you aboutme.”
Suddenly, Amy looked sheepish. “I was listening after Mom and Dad thought I went to sleep the other night.”
“Listening where?” Lex asked, resting his bag on the floor and sitting beside her on the piano bench.
Amy cleared her throat. “I have a spot I like to go and hide in the passageways.”
Lex went silent for a while, but suddenly smiled. “You’re kind of sneaky for someone who’s supposed to be an angel, aren’t you?”
Amy snorted.
Lex continued, “I guess I can see how you’d sometimes feel left out.”
“You do too, don’t you? That’s why you think it would be better to leave.”
“I had no idea your dad was trying to find me a tutor,” he admitted. “He never really talks to me.”
“That’s only because he wants Zane to feel secure since he’s probably not going to be living here as long as you are. If Zane tried to leave, he’s worried that all of you would.”
“Is that so?” Lex pursed his lips. “He’s probably right. What else did your dad say about me, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“He’s hoping you’re not too depressed and that he can find something that you’re interested in, since Zane has his music and Caleb is already feeling at home.”
Lex swallowed because Gabe seemed to be reading him well—hewasdepressed. So much so, he’d come close to telling Zane and Caleb to go on without him about a month ago. He’d been in a lot of pain from the STD and had wanted to find something to make him numb, which is why he’d decided to break into the winery storage once they’d arrived at Angel’s Way. But it was amazing what those antibiotics and some decent food had done for him since they’d moved in with the Giordanos.
“They’re going to have all of you start talking to the doctor that Harry has been seeing as soon as they feel that it’s safe.”
“I still think it might be better if I’m out of everyone’s way, Amy. There’s something in my past that I haven’t told anyone about. I don’t want all of you to be in more danger because of me,” Lex admitted, deciding not to go into too much detail.
Amy looked thoughtful. “Please, Lex. You can’t go yet. You haven’t even given it a chance. I think you’re going to be really happy here.”
Lex heaved a sigh, realizing then that he really wanted to believe that.
“Just stay through Christmas. Okay?” Amy pleaded. “That’s my most favorite time of the year.”
