Runaways by Nicole Dykes
“Something’s wrong.”
Nash looks up from his phone where he’s sitting on the couch as I pace the living room. “What?”
“Rae wouldn’t ignore my calls.” I haven’t heard from her since her mom and Da Silva broke into her room. Nothing.
“She’s probably grounded. I mean, that’s what most parents would do when their kid shacks up with a boy.” Nash shrugs. “I think. Who the hell knows what normal parents do?”
“They aren’t normal, Nash. They’re toxic assholes. We have to go over there.”
He jumps up now as I look for my keys. “No.”
I glare at him. “No? What if they hurt her?” Fear boils in my gut, telling me I need to go to her. It’s been almost a week. There’s no way she wouldn’t have called or tried to come over if she wasn’t hurt. I drove past her house several times, but her mom and Da Silva’s cars were always in the driveway.
Every. Time.
“There’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Nah, fuck that.” I open the door, but I’m stunned stupid when I see Rae standing there in jeans and my hoodie. “Rae?”
Nash is at my side in an instant. “What are you doing here?”
She doesn’t seem shocked by my brother’s rude behavior, and I hate that fact. “Quit being a dick, Nash.” I nudge him out of the way and grab Rae’s hand, pulling her inside and closing the door behind her. “Are you okay?”
I examine her face, but don’t see any marks or signs she’s been hurt. “I’m okay. I just needed to talk to you. I don’t have long.”
“What’s going on?” Nash walks over to the couch, flopping down. I ignore his presence as I talk to Rae near the front door.
“They took my phone. And my car keys.”
I figured as much. “How did you get here?”
“The bus.”
“Rae.” I cock my head to the side, smoothing a hand over her cheek. “Where’s the closest bus station to your house? Isn’t it like six blocks? It’s fucking freezing.”
She offers me a small smile. I’d kill to see her real smile right now. “It’s okay. I just needed to see you.”
“What about your guards?”
She knows I’m talking about Colin and her mother. “My mom had to go into the office, but Colin is off until school starts. Today, he had to go to the city to rent a tux for her ridiculous New Year’s Eve party tomorrow night. So, I have an hour.”
I hug her to me, not wanting to let her go. “Did they hurt you?”
Her head is buried in my chest, but she shakes it. “No. I mean, my mom slapped me when I mentioned she couldn’t get pregnant, but I’m fine.”
I hold her tighter. “I’m so sorry, Rae.”
“It’s not your fault.” She looks up at me. “Not at all. That was the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”
“Me too.”
“Come to the party.”
I’m pretty sure Nash is just as shocked at her request as I am because he turns around, looking back at us over the couch. I ignore him and look at Rae. “To the party your mom is throwing?”
She smiles and wipes at a tear. “No. Just . . .” She looks hopeful and sad at the same time, keeping her voice low and saying, “To my window. Tomorrow at midnight. I’ll sneak away from the party and get my midnight kiss.”
There’s no way I’m denying her that. “I’ll be there.”
“No. You won’t.” Goddamn it, Nash. He stands up and walks over to us. “Rae, do you have any idea how dangerous it is to ask him to go to you? Just for a fucking kiss?”
“It’s not just a kiss, asshole, and mind your own business.”
“I won’t tell you again, you are my business. And you’re the one who told me they’ll have you framed for rape.”
I shouldn’t have told him that, but I was pissed and freaked-out after I left. Even my mom gave me a big hug and tried to follow the story, but honestly, she’s been so high when she comes home lately, there was no comprehension.
“I’m so sorry, Law.”
I cup her face in my hands and look into her eyes. “Don’t be. They’re the assholes, not you. It’ll be okay.”
“They really will do it though. I’m not allowed to see you anymore.”
I smile at her. “You never were.” This makes her laugh softly. “I’ll be there tomorrow night. I’ll park far enough away, and with the party going on, they’ll never know I’m there.”
She smiles and kisses me softly. “I’ll see you then.”
“I’m driving you home, Rae. You aren’t taking the bus.”
I think Nash is going to argue, but he just tosses me the keys to his new truck. “They won’t know my truck. Just in case.”
Rae gives him a grateful look. “Thank you.”
He gives a clipped nod and then heads back to his room. I drive Rae to her house, stopping half a block away. She pulls me in for a kiss. I know she doesn’t want to let go, and God, neither do I.
“We could run away, Rae.”
She smiles against my lips. “I have a bag packed.”
That shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. “Are you serious?”
She nods, looking slightly guilty. “Just in case. Yeah.”
“Rae . . .” My voice cracks like it hasn’t since I hit puberty. “Don’t leave me.” She looks pained as she drags her hand over my cheek. “You promised.”
“I know.” She’s lying. I can feel it. “I won’t.”
“Rae, I mean it. If you go, so do I. No matter what.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I don’t even have a car, silly.” She kisses me again, letting her lips linger over mine. “I promise I won’t. You’ll be here tomorrow night?”
“I promise.” I take her hand in mine and kiss it. She smiles and then hops out of the truck, closing the door behind her.
I watch as she walks toward her house at the end of the street. The house no one would ever think was one of horrors. Where the girl there doesn’t feel safe. It’s large and nearly brand-new.
Everyone who drives by it probably thinks about how lucky the people inside are.
But I know the truth. And someday soon, I’m going to get her out of that house.
