Page 14 of Every Hidden Truth

“I want,” he said.

“Okay,” I said breathlessly.

“How about we talk about it at breakfast?”

“Breakfast is good.”

“Good. I’ll see you in an hour?” He phrased it like a question, and I nodded before remembering he couldn’t see me.

“Yeah, okay,” I agreed verbally.

“Okay,” he said. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

A nervous sweat collected on my hands as I placed my phone down on the side table. Holy shit, had we just agreed to be boyfriends? My entire world had been turned upside down in less than twenty-four hours. I didn’t think my heart could handle it.

With only an hour to get ready, I sprinted to the bathroom to take a shower. I rushed through the motions—taking extra careto wash my groin properly on the off-chance Ben and I messed around—then leapt out of the shower with suds still clinging to my calves. I brushed my teeth twice and sprayed an unhealthy amount of deodorant under my pits.

To my utter shame, I went through three different outfits before settling on my favorite skinny jeans and one of my nicer indigo sweaters. I teased my hair with wax until it was styled to perfection. After one last perusal to ensure I looked presentable, I grabbed my phone and rushed out of my room.

“Bah!” I cried as I almost crashed into my dad. He barked an indecipherable curse as I stumbled into the wall to avoid the collision. To cover up the blunder, I leaned against the wall casually. “Hey, Dad, you good looking man. Happy Sunday.” I clicked my tongue like a pretentious frat boy, shooting a finger gun at him.

Dad stared at me like I’d lost my ever-loving mind.

“Heading down for a morning cup of coffee?” I said, trying to stop the flow of words but somehow having lost control of my mouth. “Cup of Joe? Cup of java juice?”

“What”—he glanced around in utter confusion—“is happening?”

“Nothing. Just making casual conversation,” I said.Casually.

“Right.” His eyes narrowed as he studied me suspiciously. “Why are you awake so early? Are you... are you going to church?”

“What? Church?” I glanced down at my outfit in horror. Oh my God, I did look like I was going to church! “Is this a church outfit? Seriously? Dammit, Dad! Now I have to change.”

Without awaiting a response, I charged back into my bedroom and shut the door firmly behind me. I stripped off the stupid sweater and rifled through the pile of discarded clothes on my bed until I found the green, long-sleeved shirt near the bottom. I donned it quickly as I checked the time on my phone.

Ben would be here soon, and Dad was awake and downstairs. Shit!

I cursed under my breath and rushed from the room as the doorbell rang. “I got it, Dad. I-got-it-I-got-it-I-got-it!”

I practically tumbled down the stairs in my hurry, but I managed to catch my footing at the last moment so I wouldn’t break my neck.

“Silas, would you slow down? You’re gonna kill yourself!” Standing in the doorway to the kitchen, Dad crossed his arms over his broad chest and scowled. “What in the blue blazes—”

“I’m going to breakfast!” My volume was too loud. I slipped on my shoes as I repeated myself at a more natural human decibel. “I’m going to breakfast. It’s no big deal. You know, just breakfast. Casual eating.”

I shrugged on my autumn bomber jacket since my winter coat lay forgotten and wet in my duffel bag in Mabel’s backseat.

Dad’s dark brows threatened to rise to his hairline. “Casual eating?”

Backing away, I nodded. “Yeah, that. Um, I’ll be back later. Don’t know when. Just later.” With my hand on the doorknob, I smiled through an embarrassed blush. “Good talk. We should do it more often. Bye, Dad!”

“Sila—”

I cut off his voice as I squeezed through the smallest crack in the front door and slammed it closed behind me. Spinning around, I yelped at Ben’s proximity, mere inches from me. He smiled cautiously as he lowered his hand, poised mid-air as he prepared to knock.

“Hey,” I greeted.

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