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I grabbed my emergency bag, then packed most of Lenny’s clothes and mine. All our bathroom stuff went into the bag as well, Lenny’s gadgets and schoolbooks into another.
I wouldn’t exactly disappear, but I had to get away from Jude. The thought of not seeing him hurt like a hot poker in my chest. And the thought of hurting him like I was about to pushed it in further.
Once our bags were full, I dragged them out into the living room, where Lenny was still sitting at the kitchen table, working on his homework.
He looked up with a frown on his face. “What are you doing? I’m not helping you clean out your closet again. You’re a clothes hoarder. And even after getting rid of so much of your stuff, you still have fifty scarves and almost as many hats. Nobody needs that many hats.”
“We’re staying at a motel for a little while.”
He dropped the page he was about to turn. “Why?”
“Jude is going to fumigate this place to get rid of the ants.” When he narrowed his eyes at me, I knew I really had to sell this or he wouldn’t come with me. “Apparently, someone’s been complaining that they saw ants coming out of our apartment.”
“Why can’t they do it while I’m at school and you’re at work?”
Busying myself by packing food from the fridge and pantry into shopping bags, I shrugged. “Don’t know. I only know we need to stay in a motel for a few days.”
He closed his book and packed his school things into his backpack. “Seems like overkill, but whatever.” Dropping his bag to the floor, he eyed the suitcases I’d packed. “Did you remember to pack my black sneakers?”
I stuck my head back out from the cupboard. “Of course. And your watch and toiletries. Now come help me get all the food packed up.”
He stopped behind me, crossing his arms. “I thought we’re only staying a few days. We don’t need to take all our food.”
We didn’t have much food to begin with, but what little we did have I wanted to take. I wouldn’t have money to buy more until my next paycheck.
“You eat like you expect all the food to disappear if you don’t stuff it in your mouth. So yes, we need everything.”
“Exaggeration.”
Despite his protests, he helped, even carried bags down to the car. I cast nervous glances at Jude’s door, but it stayed closed the whole time we were lugging our things downstairs.
The car grudgingly started, and I sent a silent prayer to whoever listened that today was not the day I’d be stranded.
I drove for almost an hour to get to a motel far enough away that I was sure we wouldn’t accidentally run into Jude.
Lenny wrinkled his nose once we pulled into the parking lot, my little car huffing and puffing over each pothole. “Seriously?”
Patting his head, I forced a smile onto my face. “Yes, seriously.”
I grabbed my ball cap and climbed out of the car, pulling it low over my face.
The reception wasn’t very trust inspiring, and I warily eyed the dead flowers on the counter and the water stains on the floor. But as soon as I saw the bored teenager behind the counter, I knew this was the best place for us to lie low.
His attention was on his phone, even after I cleared my throat. “Excuse me?”
When there was still no response, I rang the bell, making him jump in his seat. “Shit, you could have just told me you’re here.”
“I did.”
Standing up, he shrugged. “How many nights?”
“Three to start with.”
“You got ID?”
I pushed a fifty-dollar note over the counter. “Sure.”
The teenager eyed the money, then took it without blinking. “It’ll be sixty dollars a night, payment due up front.”
