What Happened on Hicks Road by Hannah Jayne

Author:Hannah Jayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks

EIGHTEEN

Lennox practically floated into the house when Owen dropped her off. She was so far gone in Owen-land that she didn’t realize the kitchen lights were on, didn’t even notice her father standing at the stove, scrambling an egg.

“Hey there, stranger.”

Lennox stared at her dad, scraping his egg onto a plate and grinning.

“I thought you were working tonight,” Lennox said.

“And it’s nice to see you too.”

“Oh, sorry.” She hung up her purse and hugged her father, then cracked an egg into the frying pan for herself. “Hi, Dad. Nice to see you. I thought you were working tonight.”

He father took the pan and handed Lennox the full plate, motioning for her to sit down as he made a show of attempting to flip the runny egg in the pan. It didn’t move, and Lennox stabbed her egg, chewing absently.

“I got in at midnight. Speaking of midnight, you’re home late.”

Lennox stopped midchew. It wasn’t that her dad was strict or even paid that much attention to Lennox’s social life. But occasionally he slid into these moments of father-knows-bestdom where he decided it was time to impart some esoteric wisdom, and Lennox was not ready for one of those conversations after her thrilling night with Owen. She shrugged, keeping her eyes on her plate. “Was just out for a movie with the girls.”

“Ah, Alicia and…the other one.”

A flash of annoyance set Lennox’s teeth on edge. “Allison and Eva. Neat of you to take an interest.”

Her father blew out a sigh, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, Lennox. You know I try to keep up with all your friends—”

“I do have so, so many,” she deadpanned.

Lennox’s dad squeezed her shoulder. “It’s not that bad, is it, hon? I’m doing the best I can, you know.”

Lennox tried to keep the anger up, but she did feel sorry for her father, and he did try—mostly. He had kept them in decent houses, and Lennox wanted for nothing, and now she had Owen. Sweet, comforting Owen with his arm around her shoulders and his clean soap smell and his absolute certainty that nothing had happened that night on Hicks Road. The idea—even a hint of the idea—that Lennox could have a nice normal life as a teenager with a boyfriend and two best friends and maybe even stay in this same school long enough to graduate made her feel buoyant and ready to forgive her father for anything. So rather than grouse, she got up and kissed her dad on the top of his head.

He smiled and squeezed her hand. “I’ve got a good kid.”

“That you do. I’ll see you late.”

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