My Kind of Crazy - Robin Reul Page 0,60

her again. I feel so connected to her, and I want her to feel safe with me. I want her to know that I’d do anything to make her happy. That the minute she walked into my world it became a brighter place and I don’t ever want to stop feeling this way.

So I say it back.

18

I wake up with the sun streaming in the window, hitting me full in the face. I blink a few times, adjusting to the light, and then smile, thinking about last night. The truth is, that might have been one of the best and the worst nights of my life.

I turn to Peyton, but the bed beside me is empty. My clock says it’s 6:16 a.m. I sit up to look for her but all I see is two week’s worth of laundry scattered across the floor like an obstacle course.

No Peyton.

Honestly, I’m not sure whether to be pissed or relieved. I know this is how it’s gone all week, but somehow I thought after last night, things might be different. I guess it beats having to explain to Dad why there’s a girl in the house.

I throw on my jeans and a T-shirt and head out into the hall. The door to the bathroom is closed and I can hear the shower running. Dad’s up early. I start downstairs when I hear singing in the kitchen. Dad’s crooning some off-key country song to himself while he bangs around making coffee.

Crap.

I retreat to my room before he can see me, hoping Dad doesn’t decide to come back upstairs and take a piss because he’ll be in for quite a surprise. I’m also praying he’s wearing pants.

Somehow I’ve got to get Peyton out of here without him seeing her. I have no idea how to tell him about her or explain her unsettling appearance, and I’m guessing he won’t buy that her bike jumped a curb.

Moments later, my door quietly opens and Peyton tiptoes in. She’s wearing my Batman hoodie, which is way too big for her, and her sweats from last night. Her lip is definitely swollen and her cheek is still slightly pink. The sweatshirt hides the bruises on her arms, but her hair is even more devastating in the daylight. My stomach twists at the sight of it—forcing me to reimagine all she went through.

“Hey,” she says. “I…uh…took a shower. I hope that’s okay.”

“Yeah, of course.” I feel self-conscious around her in a way I never have. Awkward. Like I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’m not sure if I should kiss her good morning or just act as if everything is normal. I don’t know what she wants me to do.

“Is it okay if I borrow this for today? I don’t have any other clothes,” she says, gesturing to my hoodie she’s wearing.

I nod vigorously. “Sure. Whatever you need.”

“Thanks.” She sits on the edge of my bed, inches from where we were lying semi-entwined only a few hours ago. “Thanks again for letting me stay here last night. I guess I need to figure out some kind of plan. I mean, obviously I can’t go back home.”

Before I can even think it through, I say, “You can stay here.”

“Really? Are you sure?” She looks relieved, as if it’s what she’s been hoping to hear.

“Definitely.”

“Is your dad going to be okay with that?”

“I’ll talk to him.”

“Because he seemed kind of surprised to see me this morning,” she says.

Shit. Fuck. Shit.

“Did you say you saw my dad this morning?” I ask to make sure I heard her correctly.

“I was going into the bathroom as he was going downstairs. He was totally cool, but I don’t think he expected to see a girl coming out of your room. In fact, he looked sort of amused.”

“Fantastic. I guess he and I should probably have a chat.”

“Probably.” She puffs out her cheeks, sighing, then runs her hand self-consciously over her hair. “I look pretty awful, don’t I?”

I shake my head. “No. It’s not that bad,” I lie.

She bites nervously at her fingernail. “I’m hideous.”

“I think you’re beautiful,” I tell her, and this time I’m not lying.

She smiles but I can see that she’s feeling fragile. I walk over and kiss her, as if it proves what I said. Instantly, all the awkwardness washes away. We’re just Hank and Peyton.

I tell her I’ll be right back, because I should probably get things squared away with Dad as soon as possible.

I go downstairs and find Dad