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tonight. Please. He took one of my hands in his, and I brought the other to his face, wondering how
his eyes could look like chipped ice and still warm me to my core. A bruise was forming near one
eye, and the skin was scuffed and split high on his cheekbone, but his face was otherwise unhurt.
His next words were a whisper.  The last thing my father said to me, before he left, was,
 You re the man of the house while I m gone. Take care of your mother.  My eyes filled with tears
and so did his. He swallowed heavily.  I didn t protect her. I couldn t save her.
I pulled his head to my heart and folded my arms over him. On his knees, his arms slid around
me while he cried. As I stroked his hair and held him tight, I knew this night had struck a chord at the
heart of his pain. What tormented Lucas went further than the horror of that night eight years ago. What
haunted him was guilt, however insanely misplaced.
When he grew quiet, I said,  I ll stay tonight. Will you do something for me, too?
He fought back his instinctive wariness I d seen him do this before, but never from such close
range. He inhaled a shaky breath, shoring up his courage.  Yes. Whatever you need. His voice was
gritty and hoarse. When his tongue rolled over his lip ring, I wanted him so badly that it was difficult
to waste time talking.
 Go with me to Harrison s concert tomorrow night? He s my favorite eighth-grader, and I
promised him I d go.
He arched a brow and blinked.  Um. Okay. Is that all?
I nodded again.
He shook his head and stood, leveling the ghost smile on me.  I m going to grab a couple of ice
packs from the freezer. Why don t you go get in bed?
I stood, laying my hand on his chest and staring up at him.  Is that a dare?
He laid one hand over mine and pulled me closer with the other. Leaning down, he kissed me
gently.  It absolutely is. No falling out of it allowed, though.
Chapter 27
The middle-school auditorium was packed with camcorder-wielding parents, bored siblings, and a
smattering of grandparents. Skirting around clusters of people standing in the aisle, Lucas and I took
aisle seats halfway between the stage and the back exit doors. I glanced down at the photocopied
holiday green program. Harrison was in the highest orchestra, which meant it would be a while
before he was onstage. I gave lessons to two of the other boys in the lower orchestras, though, and I d
never had the chance to see any of them actually perform. I was nervous on all of their accounts.
I leaned close to Lucas so no parents would overhear.  I should probably warn you that many of
these kids have only been playing a few months especially in the first orchestra so they might be a
little& inexpert.
The corner of his mouth turned up, and I wanted to lean up and kiss him, but I didn t.
 Is that your polite way of saying to prepare for some nails-on-a-chalkboard sounds? he asked.
I heard Harrison s voice then from a roped-off section on the right side of the auditorium.  Miss
Wallace! I searched for him amongst a sea of black polyester-tuxedoed boys, and girls with ankle-
length school-color purple dresses. I located his blond head about the same time he noticed Lucas
sitting next to me. His wave froze and his eyes widened. When I smiled and lifted my hand, he waved
back once, dolefully.
 I take it this is one of the ones crushing on you. Lucas stared down at the boot balanced on his
knee, scratching at a worn seam and trying not to laugh.
 What? They all crush on me. I m a hot college girl, remember? I laughed and his eyes burned
into mine.
He leaned in close and whispered into my ear.  So hot. Now you ve got me thinking what you
looked like this morning, when I woke up with you in my arms, in my bed. Would it be too greedy to
ask you to stay tonight, too?
My face warmed from his compliment as I met his gaze.  I was afraid you weren t going to ask.
He took my hand and held it, balanced on my thigh, as the orchestra director took the stage.
An hour and a half later, Harrison found me at the back of the auditorium. He was holding a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]