Seven years prior
Lucas woke to a soft tapping. For a second he couldn’t figure out where he was. The bed smelled like sun-warmed sheets and something sweet that made his chest tighten. Then he realized it was Celia’s bed. He was curled up on his side, half tangled in her blanket, still wearing the clothes from yesterday.
His mom and dad had another fight the night before, the memories filtering back into his mind. The yelling, the sound of his father’s hand connecting with his mother’s face, her cries. He had run out before he could overhear anything else.
His eyes slid to Celia. She was fast asleep next to him, her blonde hair spilling over her pillow, one hand tucked under her cheek. Her face looked so peaceful it made something funny twist in his stomach.
That was new. He’d slept b
