Don't Look Behind You (Don't Look Series Book 1) by Emily Kazmierski (ereader iphone txt) 📕

Peeling back the thin coverlet, I sit up, fully dressed. With careful hands, I pick up the stuff on the desk under the window and set it on the floor. The old house creaks, making my pulse leap. I go still. Waiting. Nothing stirs.

My eyes fall on the silver bracelet sitting on the corner of the desk, and I slide it on so she’s with me.

Climbing onto the wood veneered desk, I crouch to open the window. Hopefully it cooperates. I haven’t actually tried it since I claimed this room. It’s been so hot outside we’ve had the AC running constantly. It didn’t even occur to me that it might not open until right this second, but it’s a distinct possibility judging by the layers and layers of paint on the sill. After some maneuvering, and time spent pushing and pulling at it, I’m able to dislodge the sliding lock. Moment of truth time.

The window screeches as it rises, causing my heart to sledgehammer my ribcage. Frozen, I strain for any trace of movement that indicates Aunt Karen heard. She could barrel into the room any second. If she catches me fully dressed and attempting to sneak out, she’ll probably put me on full house arrest. GPS anklet and everything.

Mercifully, nothing happens.

That’s right, I think. I make magic happen. This is happening.

Climbing out, I stand upright on the patio cover that runs along the front of the house. Inching forward, I sit with my legs over the edge. Good thing I know how to fall without seriously hurting myself. Leaning forward, I aim for the patchy grass, keeping my legs loose.

My sandaled feet hit the grass and slide out from under my body, landing me on my butt.

A huffed laugh pulls my attention to the side of the house where a tall figure materializes out of the shadows.

I go tense with fear until I realize it’s Esau moving closer to me, his black hair streaming around his shoulders over his white tee.

“You were supposed to wait in your truck,” I hiss, standing up to brush myself off. “If Aunt Karen hears us, she’ll kill us both.”

“You’re late. I came to make sure she hadn’t busted you,” he whispers back.

“Does it look like I got caught?”

Esau shakes his head, amusement playing about his eyebrows as he looks at me. Snaps that intriguing rubber band. “Come on.” I can’t help but notice the way the moonlight caresses his hair as Esau leads the way down the driveway to the street. The scuffed and muddy pickup truck he drives is parked in the shadow between the streetlights a couple houses down.

The truck’s doors shut after us, and I turn to look back at the old house. The way its shadow looms long over the dry grass. The way it’s set back from the road and surrounded by trees makes it look sort of like a creepy farmhouse in a horror movie. No lights have come on. There’s no movement. Looks like I’m going to get away with sneaking out. Take that, Warden Karen.

The interior of the truck is much cleaner than the outside, except for a rip in the upholstery in the middle of the bench seat. A satisfied smile rises to my face as I face forward.

“You ready?” Esau asks, glancing over at me, arms slung over the worn steering wheel. At my nod, he starts the truck, expertly using the stick shift to chug down the street. I never saw anyone driving stick before, but the way Esau does it so easily is kind of attractive.

Thankful that it’s dark enough to hide the pink climbing into my cheeks, I look out the window. The downtown is silent as we coast through. We’re the only car stopped at the red light. Down a side street, headlights flash as we pass. I guess someone else is awake in this sleepy town after all. I try not to think about who it could be. So far, whoever’s passing me angry notes has only done it during the day. Hopefully, the dark of night will hide me from prying eyes.

Forcing that idea away, I turn to Esau.

His left hand hangs casually out his window, which is rolled down all the way. We’re driving slow enough that the breeze picks up strands of his hair, making them float around him in a dark crown.

Using the hand crank, I roll down my own window and breathe in the fresh country air. There’s something so serene about being almost the only people awake. The quiet and the dark are like balms in my soul, shoring up some of the tiny cracks that have splintered in my core. I didn’t know it, but I desperately needed this. The freedom of being out of that house, out from under Aunt Karen’s thumb, even for just an hour.

Esau slows the truck as we approach the farm where I suppose he works, but I’m not ready for this to end.

“Keep going,” I say, shooting a glance at the boy beside me to gauge his reaction.

Esau actually smiles, and he speeds past the wrought-iron gate topped with metal roosters.

We drive around in the tranquil stillness of midnight for over an hour, reveling in the cool, damp air. After about twenty minutes, I’m shocked to discover that I’m comfortable here with Esau. He’s not barking orders or glaring at me or sending me on stupid errands. Hell, we’re not really talking at all, but it feels… right somehow. Like this is where I’m supposed to be tonight.

After a while, Esau turns on to a dirt road beside a wide almond orchard and pulls around back, shielding the truck behind the long, narrow rows of meticulously maintained trees. The boughs shimmer under the high moon, their canopy blocking all but the slimmest threads of silver. “Want out?” Esau asks, swinging his door open and climbing out at my affirmative nod.

I follow around the back and we sit side