The Truth She Knew (9 page)

I stifled a yawn as I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

“
Hey sleepyhead, wake your ass up,” Joss suddenly said through the car window.

I smiled and opened the door. “Sorry, I didn’t realize how tired I was,” I said and reached to unbuckle my seatbelt.

“
Nope, keep it buckled. Walker is going to take care of you tonight. You’re going to stay at his house okay?”

“
What? Joss, no!”

“
Hey, it’s alright, I’ll take care of your mom. It’s almost midnight so she won’t call tonight anyway. You focus on getting some sleep and feeling better. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, alright?” Her tone shifted from playful to gentle and motherly. Walker had told her something. I glanced at him as he got back into the car.

“
I seriously doubt his mom is going to let me stay the night,” I said, sighing.

“
He already called her from my house, and she’s expecting you both. Now hush, and go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Everything will be okay, I promise.” She reached in and gave me a hug.

“
You promise things will be okay, Joss?” I struggled to push down the panic in my chest.

“
I promise. I’ve never lied to you, right?”

“
No, never.”

She smiled as she closed my car door.

Walker started the car and we pulled out of the driveway.

“
I think I’m mad at you, but I’m not sure,” I said.

“
Why would you be mad at me?”

“
Because you just went into my best friend’s house and convinced her that I should spend the night at your place. And your mom actually said it was okay? Shit!”

“
What?” Walker asked, a hint of worry threaded through his voice.

“
I look like hell and I’m going to meet your family! How could you do this to me? And all I have to wear is this ugly work uniform!”

Walker tried to hide his grin.

“
Tell you what,” he said. “I’ll let you take a hot shower and brush your teeth, and you can sleep in one of my T-shirts and my sweats. You’ll just need to tie them really tight so they don’t fall down.” He laughed. “I wouldn’t be upset if they fell down, but you might. I have a younger brother who walks around with a hard-on, so we’ll keep you covered. You can grab some of Mom’s makeup in the morning if you need too. Honestly, I can’t wait to wake up with you in the morning, even if your hair does stick up in every direction.”

I appreciated the darkness as my face flushed at the thought.

Thirty minutes later, we pulled into a gravel driveway. A small, two-story red-brick home stood at the end of the road and only a single light shone from inside. Large oak and maple trees lined the road, their leaves just starting to change color. I hoped I’d be able to come back in a few weeks to see them when they were at their most brilliant.   

Walker pulled into the carport next to a black Camaro.

“
Is that your mom’s?” I asked, getting out of the car. “It’s beautiful.”

“
Yeah, she loves that car. She won’t let me drive it, though.”

“
Really? Why? You’re a good driver,” I said.

“
It’s fine. Let’s get inside,” Walker said as he held open the screen door.

Walker quietly unlocked the door and led me into the dark kitchen and to the left into his bedroom.

“
This is your room?” I asked, surprised.

“
Yup, this is it,” he said and placed my keys on his dresser.

“
You can put your stuff anywhere. I’ll tell Mom we’re here.” He kissed my forehead and left me alone in his room.

I noted the golf trophies on his dresser. I almost laughed, but I was too nervous. Golf is not the sport I imagined him playing, but the proof sat in front of me. Although I was curious, I was afraid to touch anything, and I wrapped my arms around myself. I walked over to the picture of a younger Walker with a baseball team. I instantly identified him; his eyes and dark hair were unmistakable.

“
That was about four years ago,” he whispered as he wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled my neck with a kiss.

“
You haven’t changed much, just the ability to grow facial hair instead of peach fuzz,” I laughed.

“
Mmmhmm.”

“
Where am I going to sleep?” I asked as I turned toward him.

“
In my bed,” he said as he tried to keep a straight face.

“
Where are
you
going to sleep, Walker?” I cocked my head and placed my hands on my hips.

“
Well, my plan was to let you shower and then tuck you into bed and crawl in beside you,” he said, testing the water.

“
You did
not
bring me over here to get me into bed!”

“
Shhh, Lacey, no, not like you’re thinking,” he said, laughing softly.

“
Then you better explain before I grab my keys and drive back to Joss’s,” I said. My eyes narrowed as I waited for his explanation.

“
No, I told you at the lake you set the rules. I won’t try a thing, I promise. I just want to hold you tonight. That’s all,” he said as a soft smile spread across his face.

I crossed my arms in front of me and stared at my feet. I paused as his words sank in.

“
You promise? You’ll just hold me and nothing more?”

“
I promise,” he said as he held up his hands like he was surrendering.

“
We can try it, but if you cross a line, Walker Farren, you can sleep in your brother’s room.” I glared at him for extra emphasis.

“
You’re seriously cute when you’re exerting yourself,” he said and kissed me again. He turned to his dresser and pulled out a T-shirt and sweatpants for me.

“
I hope these will work. You’re pretty little, but I think they will.” He took my hand, led me into the bathroom, and grabbed a towel and toothbrush for me.

He closed the door behind him. I suddenly realized how weird it was that I was standing in my boyfriend’s bathroom getting ready to take a shower and spend the night . . . with his mother at home. I slipped off my shoes and clothes and turned on the shower. I expected the door to open at any moment with a pissed-off mom or Walker inviting himself back in. Either way, I wanted to get into the water and hide behind the curtain.

I stepped into the spray and let the water flow over me as I took a deep breath. I rubbed the remaining makeup off my face and washed my hair. The bathroom filled with the scent of vanilla as I soaped my body. I wished it would wash away the pain, too. Not just the physical ache from last night, but the sharp pang in my heart every time I thought about Mama and our fight.

I placed my hands on the wall in front of me and leaned into the hot water. I was limp with exhaustion.

I turned off the water, grabbed the towel, dressed, and brushed my teeth. I opened the bathroom door and made my way through the darkness and back to Walker’s room.

I’d never allowed any of my boyfriends to see me without makeup, not to mention not wearing my own clothes. I stepped into his room and stood at the foot of his bed. He lay in the middle of his bed with his eyes closed. He was still wearing his polo shirt and jeans.

“
Close the door,” he whispered.

I turned the knob and pushed the door quietly closed. I didn’t want to risk waking his mom or brother.

“
Come here,” he said and patted the bed next to him.

“
My hair is still wet,” I replied.

“
It’s okay, the pillow will dry.”

I crawled into the bed and slipped under the covers. Walker slipped in next to me and we faced each other, mere inches apart.

“
You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

“
You don’t need to say that, Walker. If you haven’t realized it, I’m already in your bed,” I said.

“
I’m serious, Lacey.”

I stared at him and took a deep breath. A faint hint of Polo cologne lingered on his skin. I wanted to bury my face against his chest and listen to his heartbeat. I wasn’t sure how I planned to sleep with him so close, but at the same time, part of me felt relieved. I was safe, for the first time I could remember.

He lifted my chin and kissed me. “You need to get some sleep,” he said as he pulled away.

“
I’m not sure how you expect me to with you in the same bed,” I said.

“
Turn around.”

I rolled over and Walker scooted up behind me until the back of my head was touching his chest. I began snuggling the rest of my body into him, but he put his hand on my butt.

“
If you move any closer, I’m going to come undone—and I mean that in the literal sense,” he whispered.

I stopped and accepted it for what it was. I wanted to be with him, but I wasn’t ready to give him all of me yet. I was still trying to figure out if he was going to leave me after everything I’d told him tonight.

The warmth of his body and his steady breathing lulled me to sleep within minutes. I didn’t dream.

I woke to the sound of voices and the aroma of coffee and bacon. I glanced at the empty place on the bed next to me and then looked at the clock. I shot up in bed when I realized it said 7
a.m.
—classes started at 9
a.m.

I threw the blankets back and rifled through my purse for my hairbrush and a hair tie. I walked quietly to Walker’s dresser mirror and almost shrieked in horror. My hair stuck up in multiple directions and my eyes were swollen. I searched around for water and found a glass on his nightstand. I grabbed it and stuck my brush in it. Hopefully he wouldn’t drink it later. I ran the brush through my hair and smoothed the crazy strands into place.

“
How is she?” came a woman’s voice from the kitchen. I stopped and realized that I was about to walk out of my boyfriend’s bedroom and into the kitchen to meet his mother for the first time.

“
Crap, crap, crap!” I muttered as I continued to work as fast as I could to get my hair manageable and in a respectable ponytail. I stepped back and straightened Walker’s T-shirt and pulled up his sweats so they wouldn’t drop to my ankles the moment I walked into the kitchen.

I shook my arms out and took a deep breath. I opened the bedroom door and stepped into the kitchen, my bare feet not making any noise. Walker stood with his back to me, cooking breakfast. I peered around the corner. His brother sat at the kitchen table picking his nose. I stepped back and muffled my giggles against my arm. How gross, but he was thirteen. I glanced at Garrett again and noticed that he and Walker looked nothing alike. His sandy-brown hair and dark eyes were in stark contrast to Walker’s.

I gathered my composure and entered the small kitchen. At the same time, the woman who had spoken earlier walked through the door on the opposite side of the room. I stopped short. A beautiful but abnormally thin woman stood at the other side of the room and returned my gaze. She allowed me a moment to gather my surprise and then she smiled.

“
Good morning, Lacey,” she said as she slowly made her way to the kitchen table. The squeak of wheels echoed through the room as she pulled her oxygen tank behind her.

“
Hi, Mrs. Farren,” I replied quietly.

“
Mom, wait, I’m coming, let me help you,” Walker said. Within two steps, he was by her side and guiding her to the chair.

I stood in awe and then realized that the eggs and bacon were going to burn, so I stepped in and finished cooking.

“
Good morning,” Walker said as he kissed me on the cheek and wrapped his arms around me.

“
Hi,” I said, smiling at him. “Mrs. Farren, thank you for allowing me to stay last night,” I said as I peeked around Walker. “Hi, Garrett,” I smiled.

Garrett sat at the table with his mouth open. I guess no one had bothered to tell him that his brother had company.

Grateful for the cooking distraction, I turned my attention back to the food.

“
Let me get the biscuits out of the oven,” Walker said as he patted my butt and scooted me out of the way.

“
Walker!” I hissed, “Your mother is sitting right over there.”

“
I saw that,” he said and laughed. “Go sit down and talk to her. She wants to speak to you.”

My eyes grew large.

“
No, she’s not upset at all that you’re here, just the opposite. It’s safe, I promise,” he said and stroked my cheek with his thumb.

I approached the kitchen table and pulled out the chair next to Mrs. Farren. I smiled as I slipped into the seat.

“
I don’t mean any disrespect at all, Mrs. Farren, but this is really strange. I’ve never stayed at a boyfriend’s house before,” I said and bit my lip.

“
It’s okay, Lacey. Walker called me last night and I said it was fine.” Her eyes filled with compassion.

I turned to Walker and tried to figure out exactly what he’d told his mom.

“
Uh, well, thank you again,” I said as I refocused my attention on her.

“
You can call me Susan.”

“
Are you sure?” I asked.

“
Absolutely,” she said and sipped her coffee.

“
Okay, Susan,” Garrett piped up.

“
Not you, young man.” Susan laughed and spiraled into a hard coughing fit.

Walker was next to her in an instant. “Garrett, get Mom some juice.”

Garrett hopped up, grabbed some juice, and brought it back to Susan. After a couple of minutes, her cough settled and Walker put the food on the table. He took the seat across the table from me.

Guilt filled me as I realized why Walker hadn’t wanted to talk about his family that day. I had selfishly shared my secrets with him, and not once did he say anything about his mom being sick or having to take care of his family.