afternoon as well, eager to prove herself to the community without his justified commentaries.
“So a group of people came to my house last night,” Aly announced.
"What?”
“I guess I fell asleep on the couch,” she began, biting her lip. “I woke up because I kept hearing people yell, ‘Glass! If you don’t cooperate, we’re going to get a warrant!’ and there were flashlights through the window, all over the wall. It was so weird.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t a dream?”
“I’m sure. They were out there for like ten minutes. I was so freaked I didn’t fall back asleep for hours,” she sighed. “I hid behind the chimney when they came to the back deck and looked through the sliding windows. I walked out there and stood in the dark for a while.”
It had seemed mob-like, several officers showing up as the sun fell below the horizon with threats of destroying her life. At first she went through the options – Greg would get arrested, she would live with Lauren until she turned eighteen, then she’d go off to school and figure things out. Her toes cold on the damp wood of the deck, she thought of those six months without a mother or a father, the limbo of grief and distance. She was better now, it would be better. It didn’t seem so complicated until she felt her fingertips running over her lips, smiling in spite of her fear.
He was mine for a few seconds. It was perfect.
The idea of leaving, maybe to never see Noah again, physically hurt. She had felt longing swell in her chest. A sudden tightness twisted in her lungs. Something knotted at the back of her throat. It felt overwhelming to decide he was the best thing that had ever happened to her – somewhere between silly and nonsensical – but at that moment, she felt it.
She didn’t want to leave whatever it was she had found in Ashland – Noah, the new beginning she’d wanted so badly. If she left, he’d have disappeared without a trace before she could return. Aly knew he had plans– something along the lines of finishing school and skipping town. If his parents couldn’t track him, she couldn’t imagine she would be able to. Even if they made arrangements… he had only known her for a little while, barely a summer fling. Yet she had been ready to organize her entire life around him.
I still might be– that’s so crazy.
“You know, I think that’s considered battery.”
She shrugged. “It’s not like they threw me to the ground for unlawful arrest. Maybe harassment?”
“Something, definitely. It doesn’t sound legal. Your dad isn’t back yet?”
“No,” she smiled. “This sounds awful, but it’s been nice.”
“I don’t blame you.” His chestnut eyes shined, locking with hers. His thumb brushed across her knuckles. Remembering the feeling of his solid embrace, grounding her to the earth, Aly shivered. She had held her breath, afraid he’d hear if she lost it.
Maybe it’s only a little crazy.
He squeezed her hand.
“Don’t worry. If my brother can weasel his way out of a full - blown DUI, some biologists forgetting to tag a trap shouldn’t be a big deal.” He winced. She suppressed a laugh. It hadn’t come out right, but she knew what he meant. “His company probably has fancy lawyers from the city. I’ve never heard of a business have an issue like that.”
“I think it’s an organization,” Aly replied, fighting a frown. She jumped as the doors to her right flew open, two boys bustling in. Noah steadied her. They both braced for his brothers to rush in. Instead, Luke stumbled to catch his footing, Owen’s head thrown back in laughter.
“Not cool, man.”
“You were looking through the window so hard, I thought I’d help you find your way in.”
“I was not.”
“Not stalking?”
“Hey!” Noah yelled, motioning for them to calm down. They shoved past each other, continuing to bicker, sounding irrationally passiveaggressive. “I thought you girls ran for the hills when the wood beast came running. I assumed you were still floating out there.”
“Hello Alyson, the perfectly nice person who is not Noah who I am ignoring,” Owen said, feigning some sort of accent, like a Siberian who learned to speak English in the Outback. Aly waved until they reached the table.
“I’m surprised you weren’t a meal,” Luke added. “I guess Old Woody wasn’t hungry. Lucky-ducks, you two.”
“Yes, because you clearly didn’t survive,” Noah smirked.
“Got told off by my dad for it too.” Owen grimaced. “Because I’m the idiot who