I tried to stop her, reaching for her arms but missing as she scooted away from my failing grasp. What if it was my dad? Or my mom? Neither one of them had called all day to check on me, and the realization caused my heart to ache. I had never felt more alone and abandoned than I did today.

“Don’t answer it!” I demanded but had no real idea why.

“Why not, weirdo? It’s my house.” She shook her head and opened the front door with a laugh. “Well, well, well, speak of the devil.”

I knew instantly that James had come. Jeanine pulled the door wide, allowing him to walk through before closing it behind him.

“As much as I want to stay here and witness this, I’ll give you two some privacy,” she said before walking into her bedroom and shutting the door loud enough for us both to hear.

Glancing down at my yoga pants and oversize T-shirt, I wished that I had dressed a little cuter. I wasn’t even wearing a bra, not that I was sure James would mind that particular fact. Touching the messy bun on top of my head, I pulled a few strands loose so that they framed my face, making it look more like a cute, intentional hairstyle instead of a practical one for housecleaning.

“Stop fussing. You look perfect,” James said, pulling my hand away from my hair.

I adjusted my head upward to look at him. I mean, really look at him. His blue eyes looked hopeful instead of sad, and that surprised me. I’d assumed that James would be feeling just as helpless as I felt, but he obviously wasn’t, and for whatever reason, that pissed me off.

“What are you doing here?” I hadn’t meant to bite his head off, but it’d definitely come out that way.

His body reacted as if I’d physically struck him, and I knew I should apologize, but I didn’t.

“I came to take you home.”

“Take me home? Are you insane? I can’t go back there.”

“You can,” he said calmly as I sat there, feeling anything but calm.

“I can’t.”

“You can.”

“Jesus, James, I just said, I can’t. I know you know that my dad kicked me out. So, what game are you playing?”

“Can you stop arguing and listen to me for once in your damn life?” His voice rose, his cool facade now gone.

He was irritated, and it was because of me. But I was irritated now, and it was because of him. So, I guessed we were even.

“You think yelling at me will get me to listen to you?”

“I think yelling is the only way to get you to be quiet for ten seconds.” He fought back, and I snapped my jaw shut in response. “See?”

“Why are you here?”