Chapter 9: The First of the Month

Eli's POV

I said "Out" to my father, and he went.

He walked out of his own pantry with his hands in his pockets and his face perfectly calm.

That was how I knew he was angry.

My father is never calm unless he is losing.

Hannah stood against the stone counter with her arms wrapped around herself.

"Come on," I said. "I'll get your coat."

I got her coat from the waiter, and Willa's from the same rack.

I put Willa in a cab with a hundred dollars and an instruction to stay at her friend's tonight.

Then I put Hannah in my car.

She didn't talk.

She sat with her hands between her knees, and I drove with my jaw so tight my teeth hurt.

Gordon's words kept coming back.

You signed with me.

She had signed something.

I had stood in the pantry doorway for ten seconds only.

It was enough to know my father had been talking to her for a long time.

At a red light, I looked over.

"What did you sign?"

"Not tonight."

"Hannah."

"Please." Her voice cracked on it. "I'll tell you. I'm not going to lie to you. Not tonight, I can't. Take me to my dad."

I looked at her face under the streetlight.

She was white, and her mouth was shaking.

The light turned green.

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