“Hey, beautiful.”
Hearing his voice fills me with relief. “Hi, Kipton.”
“What’s up? I’ve missed you. You’ve been so busy.” I hear another guy’s voice in the background giving him shit about me. Kipton covers the phone with his hand and tells him to shut his trap.
“I miss you too.” So much.
“Hang on, I’m having trouble hearing you over the TV and Eric.” A door closes and it’s much quieter. “I’m back. You sound sad, babe. Are you okay?”
I pause before answering, preparing a more cheerful tone of voice for my response. “Of course I am. But do you think I can come see you earlier?” Please say yes.
“Is it going that bad with your Mom?”
“It’s fine. I just miss you and Cara. It’s weird not seeing her crazy ass every day.”
He laughs and the sound alone is enough to know he’s where I need to be. “I’d tell you to come now, but I’m going to a game with my buddy Eric in a little while. I’ll be all kinds of jealous if I know you’re here and I’m not. How about first thing tomorrow morning? That soon enough?”
“Yeah. That works.” I lose my forced chipper voice as the reality sets in that I’m spending the night in my car. In the cold. Alone. It’s not his fault
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” Where am I going to go?
“Sophie, I’d cancel if I could, but it’s his birthday. You know I’d rather be with you.”
I want him to have fun with his friend, so I lie. “I’m not mad at all. Have fun with your friend and I’ll see you in the morning. Okay?”
“Okay, beautiful. Can’t wait to see you. Call me if you have trouble finding the house tomorrow.”
“I will.”
“Love you.”
“You too.” I hang up as the sadness makes it hard to speak. All I want is to be in his warm arms tonight. To lay my head on his chest and know I’m safe.
There’s a secluded parking lot behind the back entrance of the gym that I drive to. I’m able to stay out of view from the public until I come up with a better plan. Not wanting to waste any gas, I turn the car off and sit in silence. A couple hours of rustling leaves and everlasting silence. Every second feels like a minute, every minute an hour.
When a campus security guard comes to patrol the lot, I take off. But instead of searching for another lot to hide in, I drive to the wrestling house for the simple fact that it reminds me of Kipton’s warmth. Sitting outside his house makes me feel closer to him—closer to someone who loves me. Maybe the only one who has ever loved me.
It’s here I’m reminded of the crazy parties, the alcohol, and the night we spent together in the treehouse. My chilled body has me tempted to check the house for an open window, but I decide against trying to break in. The last thing I need is to be found trespassing. It’s bad enough I’m on the property at all.
Each time a car passes, I watch to make sure it keeps going. No one can see me sitting here, yet I feel like I’m on display for the whole world. In my rear view mirror I spot the treehouse and know that’s where I need to go for sleep.
Expecting it to be empty, I sigh in relief when I find a sleeping bag rolled up in the corner. I waste no time shaking it out and climbing inside. I’m not sure why it didn’t make it down with the rest of the things Kipton brought up, but I’m thankful regardless.
As the sun sets, I lose the light inch by inch. No longer illuminated, I huddle into the corner desperate for warmth. It doesn’t help. Too weak from not eating anything today, I struggle to stay awake. Dozing on and off, too afraid to let my body relax entirely, I focus on happier times—when I wasn’t scared of my own shadow.
I don’t remember falling asleep, but I’m startled awake and fight to wake my foggy brain. My eyes struggle to separate the shadow from the night’s darkness. A hand touches mine and I scream. Wrapped inside the sleeping bag, I can’t escape. “Please don’t hurt me. Please,” I beg.
“It’s me, Sophie. I’m here.”
How did he know? “Kipton?”
“Yes, baby. It’s me.”
“Kipton,” I cry.
Clutching onto him, I fall into his lap, my legs still stuck inside the sleeping bag. But I don’t care because he holds me tightly, whispering words of comfort in my ear. “It’s okay. I’m here. I’m here, beautiful.”
I struggle to find my voice. It’s thick with emotion and clogs my throat. “How? How did you find me?”
He reaches his hand out to push a few messy pieces of hair out of my eyes. “Caleb called me. He saw your car sitting in the lot, but couldn’t find you. God, Sophie. I panicked and drove straight here. What’s going on? Why are you in the treehouse?”
“I got home and it all went to hell. Dean was there. He’s not my Dad, Kipton. He never was and that’s why he’s always hated me. But my mom didn’t divorce him like she said either. It’s all been one big lie. My entire life has been a sham. And now my Mom loves Dean more than she loves me.”
“That’s not true. She’s your Mom. She loves you.”
“No, Kipton. I don’t think she does. Not the way I thought anyway. I’ve held her back from her dreams; took away her happy marriage when I was born. She had an affair while married to Dean. Coach Evans, Kipton. He’s my Father.” I sob.
Kipton holds me in his arms, comforting my shaking body. Admitting it makes it that much more real. Hearing the words aloud rather than stuffed inside my tired brain, make it the spoken truth. “I’m so sorry, Sophie. I’m sorry you were alone.”
“He’s destroyed me all these years because I’m the proof she cheated. A constant reminder. I’d hate me too.”
“No, Sophie. You don’t deserve anyone’s hate.” I wish his words were true. “I knew something wasn’t right when you called me earlier.” He shakes his head and sighs. “Have you been here since you called me?”
“It all happened Monday. I was only at my house for a half hour before I left.”
Kipton pulls me away from his embrace, holding me in his outstretched arms. His eyes look angry, but he doesn’t raise his voice or show me any other emotion besides compassion. “Monday? But you were busy. With your Mom. You said-.”
“I lied.” I hang my head not wanting to see the anger morph into pity. “I was ashamed and embarrassed. I’m sorry I lied to you.”
He hugs me tight, kissing the top of my head over and over. “Where have you been?”
“In a hotel. But I ran out of money. I didn’t know where to go so I drove here. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry, Sophie. I can’t believe you’ve been all alone. Have you eaten? Are you hungry?”
I nod my head yes. “I had snacks on Monday night and Tuesday morning.”
“Sophie, it’s almost Thursday.”
“I know. I ate a few things from the vending machine, but Dean closed the bank account. I didn’t have a way to get more money out.”
“That asshole,” he grumbles. “Come on. Let’s go eat and then I’ll get you settled in my room.”
“But your family.”
“We can go back in the morning. Tonight, we’re staying here. They know why I left. Don’t worry about them.”
“Okay.” As long as I have him. I just want him.
“Come on, beautiful. I’ll help you down. Go slow, just like last time.” I let him pull me up and out of the sleeping bag. Before we go down, I roll it back up.
“Sophie, you don’t have to do that. Leave it.”
“You have no idea how glad I was you left it up here. Almost like you could predict the future. You always give me what I need—even when you’re not with me.”
“If I could predict the future, I would have never let you go home.”
“As much as it hurts, I’m glad I did. I found out the truth. I finally got the answers I’ve always been searching for.”