Page 129 of When Ben Loved Tim

“This is your big breakthrough moment!” I say, passing the dish brush to him. “It’s all you!”

My dad takes the mic and keeps singing, but only another line or so before he notices that I’m retreating from the room. “Hey! What about the rest of these dishes?”

“Just think of all the exposure you’ll get!” I call over my shoulder. “It’ll be so worth it!”

I hurry to the front door, hoping Tim has come to share news of the application he submitted. Everything rides on him getting accepted. Otherwise we’ll end up in different cities. Although, unlike my best friend, I would be willing to try a long-distance relationship.

I open the front door to find the very person I was just thinking of. And for some reason, Allison is wearing sunglasses, even though it’s already dark out.

“You look so mysterious!” I say with a chuckle. “Are you practicing how you’ll avoid reporters when you’re famous?”

“Has my dad been here?” Allison replies.

“No.” Concern drags my smile back down. Something is wrong. “What’s going on?”

“Can we get out of here?” Allison asks, her voice sounding shaky.

“Yeah, of course! Let me just grab some shoes.”

“I’ll wait outside.” She walks away without an explanation.

My heart begins to race nervously as I slide into a pair of sandals. If not for her opening line, I’d assume that Allison and Ronnie had gotten into some sort of argument. When I step outside and she hands me the car keys, I’m even more worried, because neither one of us is a great driver, but she’s definitely better.

“Where are we going?” I ask once behind the wheel.

“Anywhere,” Allison says. “Just don’t stop.”

I wait until we’re a block away before asking her what happened.

“My dad,” she says, her voice strained. “He came home early and caught me and Ronnie messing around.”

“Oh shit!” I glance over at her in concern. “Wait, why are you wearing sunglasses?”

“Don’t freak out,” Allison says.

I pull over and park under a streetlight. “Take them off.”

She does so with reluctance, revealing a nasty swollen welt on one cheek, just beneath her eye.

“My dad hit me,” she croaks.

“With what?” I say, the blood pounding in my ears. I already want to kill him! “Never mind,” I say, shaking my head. “We’re going to the police.”

“No!” Allison cries.

“Why not?”

“Because I love him.”

“That doesn’t matter! This isn’t okay!”

“I don’t need a lecture right now,” Allison snaps. “I need you to listen!”

I take a deep breath and exhale, trying to calm myself. “Were you and Ronniedoing itdoing it?” I ask. “Why would your dad attack you like that?”

“We weren’t dressed,” Allison says glumly. “And I think he was already drunk when he got home. It’s my mom’s birthday.” Her face crumples before she buries her face in her palms and begins to sob.

“I’m sorry,” I say while rubbing her back. “This is so messed up. You don’t deserve any of it.”