Lucy pressed her body against the wall and turned her head far enough to see inside. The only light in the room was coming from the hallway, but it was enough. And even though Mat had said he was leaving, he didn’t seem to be moving.

“Don’t think you’re going anywhere!” he exclaimed. “I’ll be sleeping right outside this door to make sure you stay where you are!”

“Stop telling me what to do!”

“Somebody has to!”

“Right! You never know when another car might backfire!”

They were so engrossed in their argument that they didn’t notice her. Nell just looked pissed, but Jorik looked really upset—like something big was wrong—and Lucy wished Nell would calm down long enough to ask him why he was so bummed. Any minute now Mat would stomp off, just like Trent used to.

Lucy started to turn away when she spotted the old skeleton key in the lock. Right then, she knew what she was going to do. It would get her in even bigger trouble, but Mat was already so mad at her, what did it matter?

Nell saw her just as she pulled the key from the lock. “Lucy? What—”

Lucy slammed the door, shoved the old key in the outside of the lock, and gave it a hard twist.

“Lucy!” Nell shrieked at the same time Jorik let out a yell.

Lucy put her mouth to the door and yelled right back. “You two have a time out!”

Chapter 16

16

MAT RUSHED TO the door and twisted the knob, but it didn’t budge. He banged his fist against it. “Lucy! Open this door right now!”

Nothing but silence met his demand.

“Lucy, I’m warning you . . .”

With the door shut, the room’s only illumination came from the streetlight outside. Nealy hurried to the open window and looked down at the motor home in time to see the teenager run inside. She pressed her cheek against the glass. “You’re wasting your breath.”

He came over to stand beside her and followed the direction of her gaze. “This time she’s gone too far.”

Nealy wasn’t ready for their argument to end. She’d been ill-used, abused, and she had a whole litany of sins that she still wanted to rain down on his head. At the same time she wondered how he could look so good in a worn white T-shirt and gym shorts.

Straightening, she let the curtain fall back in place, turned on the small light that sat on top of the dresser, and glared at him. “This is all your fault.”

He pushed himself back from the window and sighed. “I know.”