“Is your dad the one you buy beer for?”
My eyes widen further, and my grip slackens. Conner arches his chin, glaring down at me. An inhuman curl of his lips reveals itself, and it’s as if I’m not looking at Conner at all.
I bow my head and glare at the ground. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“But… but your dad is a grown-up,” Sammy objects. “He can get his own beer.”
“Not if he’s shit-faced, out of his fucking mind,” Conner growls.
“I… I gave you my answer. Now, you do as I say. Stay here, Conner.” My hands drag down his arms to his hands, and I step closer until my head presses against his chest. “Please.”
Conner sighs deeply. My shoulders sag when his arms go over my shoulders. “Friday,” he declares. “Make sure you pack your things before Friday because you aren’t going home after that day. All right?”
I nod into his chest.
“Sammy, if her dad ever calls you to ask where she is, can you make up some shit about her running away? Think of a town further away.”
“Done. Anything for Noya.” Sammy places her hand on my shoulder and tightens.
I pull away from Conner and say, “You don’t have to, Sammy.”
“Hey, what are friends for? We do and ask questions later.”
Conner grabs my face and suddenly kisses me tenderly. “Text me as soon as you get home. I need to know that you’re okay.”
I nod vigorously. “I promise.”
He kisses me again, firmly this time, and says, “I love you, Noya.”
“I love you too,” I breathe.
Conner waits by his car, facing us as we walk away. Sammy links her arm with mine, her eyes gazing out at the street. “Does he hurt you?” Sammy asks.
“No,” I lie.
She eyes me. I can feel her piercing gaze. “When you yelled at Andy a while back, you screamed and said something about not wanting another violent person in your life. So, answer me again without lying this time. Does your dad hurt you?”
“No. He, uh… he only hurts my mum. When it happens, I lock myself in my room, and he doesn’t bother me.”
“Fucking hell,” Sammy breathes. “But he’s a police officer, right? He’s supposed to protect people.”
“He’s still a person. It doesn’t matter what work he does. Abuse can happen anywhere and to anyone. It just makes it a little worse that he is one, that’s all. Other than that, it doesn’t really matter.”
Sammy frowns. “I can’t believe you’ve been keeping this to yourself all this time. It must have been painful.”
I ball my hands into fists and say, “I don’t like burdening people. What happens behind closed doors should stay there. Besides, someone already knows about my home life, and look where our friendship is now…”
“Andy,” Sammy says, confirming with a nod. “Well, he was a fucking trash friend, to begin with. I so wanted to cut his dick off after what you told me he did.”
I breathe a laugh. “I bet that would have gone down well.”
Sammy giggles and then sighs. “Text me when you get home as well, okay? I want to make sure you’re okay. Also, don’t worry about Andy when you move in with Conner. I will make sure he doesn’t say a fucking word.”
“How?”
“I’ll block your dad’s number.” Her face goes grave. “But if I do that, I’ll need your help with something. If you can’t do it, don’t. But if there’s an opportunity, take it.”
“What?”