The Enemy - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,90

out a way to get the two of you back together."

"Cade," he says sadly. "I never wanted that for you. You're nineteen. My relationship with your mother isn't your problem to fix."

"I wanted to do it for Molly. She deserves to have two parents, in the same house. Healthy, sober, and happy."

"But we wouldn't have been happy, son, and it took a little bit for me to realize that, but once I did, it all became clear."

My mind goes to Lennon. How she looks when she smiles. The way she would kiss me back in the morning before I snuck out of her room, even being half asleep. And lastly, how devastated she was as I drove away.

The familiar pain inches up again. "Did it help? The drinking?"

My dad shrugs. "For a bit. It doused the fire enough for it to be tolerable, but it never lasted." He gets up from the couch "I'm going to order a pizza. Are you staying for a bit?"

I should tell him everything that happened, but he seems like he's in such a good mood and I'd hate to ruin that. Instead, I force a smile on my face.

"Yeah, definitely."

He smiles at me and goes into the other room to order. Meanwhile, I get up, walking over to the liquor cabinet and finding a bottle of vodka tucked away in the back. I unscrew the cap and bring it to my lips.

Just to dull the pain.

28

LENNON

One of the best things about dancing is it requires your total concentration. Any distraction, any topic other than what moves you're currently doing and how you're going to follow them up, they all have no place in the studio. It's like my own personal safe haven…that is, when Brady and Savannah aren't looking at me like I'm from outer space.

I stop mid-dance and turn to face them. "Can you stop? I can't focus with the two of you whispering and looking at me like I'm going to break down without a moment’s notice."

Brady turns off the music while Savannah sighs. A sad smile forms on her face.

"We're just really worried about you."

I look away, willing myself not to break. Not again. "I'm fine."

"Lennon," she presses. "You and Cade broke up, and you ran away from home to live with Colby all in the same twenty-four hours. It's all right if you're not okay."

"I said I'm fine," I snap. "Now, can we rehearse? This recital is in two weeks, and I'm not trying to look like I don't know what I'm doing."

Sav and Brady share a look, but neither of them dares to say anything else.

It's been four days since everything went to shit, and I haven't heard a single word from Cade. If I cared, I'd ask Molly if she's talked to him, but that would require being at home—something I've refused to do since my dad kicked him out.

I tried to deal with it. I tried to swallow my pride, keep my head down, and ignore the gaping hole in everything I did, but I couldn't. Only mere hours after ruining everything for me, my dad demanded we have family dinner. As I sat at the table, watching my dad and Nora interact like there wasn't a seat that shouldn't be empty, I knew I had to leave.

I went upstairs, packed a bag, and walked out the door—never looking back.

Colby was nice enough to take me in, even though I still think I'm ruining his bachelor pad. He promised me that his guest room is mine for as long as I need it, which should only be a few more weeks. I've always been excited to get to New York, but now, it's like I can't wait for it. I crave leaving this town and everything in it like never before.

I FLOP DOWN ONTO the couch, laying my head in Colby's lap. He chuckles and puts his phone down to run his fingers through my hair. After getting home from dance, I'm exhausted.

"You look like you need a nap," he tells me.

I groan. "Yeah, but I can't have one. Tessa is on her way over. I promised her a girl's night."

He tips his head, a quizzical look on his face. "And you're not going there, why?"

"Because then I'd need a ride back in the middle of the night when we've finally had enough of each other." I backtrack for a second. "Unless you need me out of the house. Did you plan on having someone over? Am