"Amber! What the hell?" Johnny gasped. I looked up he was standing there in just a towel, his body wet from getting out of the shower. I pushed myself away from the door and threw myself at him, hugging him tightly, ignoring the water dripping on me from his hair as I sobbed against his neck. "What's wrong? Amber, for goodness sake! What's happened?" he asked desperately as he rubbed his hands up my back trying to soothe me.
"I need to go home. I need to go, right now!" I cried. My legs were barely holding me up; he was supporting most of my weight. I was probably hurting him because of how tightly I was clutching at him, but he didn't complain.
"What's wrong?" he asked, pulling back to look at me.
"Johnny, please?" I choked out.
He nodded and pulled me over to the bed making me sit down. "I need to get dressed," he said, blushing. I nodded and closed my eyes, trying to picture Liam, I needed to calm down, I couldn't go into meltdown here. I could hear him moving around, getting dressed. Less than a minute later he took my hand. "I'm ready. Let's go," he stated, pulling me up gently. I clung to his hand tightly as he led me across the room to his door; he stopped with his hand on the handle. "You promise you'll tell me what this is about later?" he asked, looking at me pleadingly. I nodded. I'd agree to anything he asked for if he would just get me the hell out of here. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close to his side as he opened the door, leading us quickly down the stairs. I stiffened as his mother walked out of the lounge. "Shit! What are you doing home?" he asked, shocked.
She smiled a little sadly. "Matt's not well. He was sick last night and he's been grizzly all day, so we just came home early," she explained, holding her arms open for him. He stepped away from me and I felt my breath catch in my throat at being on my own. He hugged her quickly. "Missed you," she cooed, patting his back.
He smiled and kissed her cheek. "You too. Look, Mom, I need to take Amber home, her brother needs her," he lied, moving back to me quickly.
She smiled sadly. "Are you sure you can't stay for dinner, Amber? Stephen would love to spend some time with you."
Spend some time with me? Is she freaking kidding me? I shook my head. "I can't," I whispered.
My father walked around the corner and I shrank into Johnny's side, pressing against him so hard that it actually hurt. His arm tightened around me even though he didn't know why I was acting like this. He really was a great stepbrother.
"Hi, Stephen," Johnny greeted, stiffly.
"Hi, Johnny. Getting cosy with my daughter?" Stephen asked, his voice hard making me flinch.
"I need to go," I whispered desperately, digging my fingers into his side.
"I'll see you guys later," Johnny said, turning and pushing me in front of him putting himself between me and my father as we walked to the door. I practically ran to his car, watching the front door the whole time in case he came after me. I knew he wouldn't though. He needed to keep up the act for his wife and Johnny, but that didn't stop the panic from rising in my chest.
Johnny was watching me worriedly as he sped down the streets. "Are you alright, Amber? You look really pale, you're shaking," he said, taking my hand.
I nodded. "I want to go home," I choked out.
"OK, shh I'll take you home." He rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand as he drove to my house. I squeezed my eyes shut. He really hadn't changed at all; the way he looked at me turned my stomach. Oh God, I needed Liam!
After about ten minutes of trying to think of anything other than my father, we pulled into my drive. I burst out of the car and ran for the house, praying that Liam was still over. I threw the door open and spotted him sitting on the sofa playing PlayStation with Jake.
YOU ARE READING
The Boy Who Sneaks Through My Bedroom Window
RomanceAmber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the ne...