“What?” I repeat though I heard Jack clear as day.

“That sound. It’s the garage door opening.”

“Your mom’s back already?”

Jack searches in the tangle of blankets for our clothes. “I guess.” He finds my pants on the floor and throws them to me. They’re inside out and I frantically turn them. Jack is naked and looks around in a panic for his clothes. His mom was right about his room being a mess. He grabs the first pair of boxers he sees on the ground and puts them on.

I yank my pants up and scan the room. “I can’t find my bra.” I pull the sheet back. “Where did you take it off?”

“Fuck. I don’t remember. Downstairs?”

We both freeze and look at each other in horror. Then Jack shakes his head. “No. You have underwear back on already. I took those off first. So it’s here. I think. Shit.”

I drop to my knees and look under the bed. I find one of my socks and my shirt on the floor by the door.

“Jack?” Mr. Harrington’s voice echoes up the stairs. “Are you awake?”

“Yeah.” We continue to look for the damn bra. It’s nowhere to be seen and I’m convinced it’s disappeared into the same black hole socks fall into. Jack shakes his head, giving up. “Just put your shirt on?”

“It’s way too cold to not wear a bra.”

“Wearing your shirt and no bra is better than no shirt and no bra.”

“This is true.” I pull the T-shirt over her head and the tension leaves Jack for a split second as he takes in the sight of my bare breasts. We’re in full-on crisis mode here, but I can’t help but love the power I have over him in this aspect. As soon as my shirt is on, he blinks and looks for my bra again. “Socks, I need socks. I only have one of mine.”

“Top drawer on the nightstand behind you.”

Jack pulls on his T-shirt and tries to tame his hair. It’s always messy, but he needs to get rid of the evidence of having spent a decent amount of time with his head between my legs.

“Have you spoken to your mother?” Mr. Harrington asks, voice getting louder as he comes up the stairs.

“Go,” I whisper and motion to the hall. “Stall him.”

Jack nods and leaves the room. “No, why? Is everything okay?”

I smooth out his sheets and toss the navy blue comforter over his bed.

“Veronica is being admitted to the hospital.”

I momentarily stop fixing the bed at his words. Veronica did look sick.

“Is she okay?” There’s panic in Jack’s voice.

Mr. Harrington is on the landing now, and I throw Jack’s pillows back on his bed and grab two books and a notebook from his backpack, which is open on the floor. This is one time I’m glad he lacks organizational skills. “She will be. It’s preventative, given her history. Once she gets some IV fluids, she’ll feel much better. Do you know where she keeps her stuff? She gave me a rather extensive list of things to bring to the hospital.”

He takes a step forward, forcing Jack to move back. He looks right past him and spots me sitting on Jack’s bed.

“Hi, Mr. Harrington.” I look up from a book and smile, pencil in my hand.

His eyes flit from Jack to me and back again. “What are you doing?”

“Math,” Jack blurts. “Studying math.”

“In your room?”

“All my stuff is up here.”

Mr. Harrington isn’t buying it. An awkward few seconds tick by before he speaks. “Get an overnight bag ready for your sister while I pack your mother’s things.” He pulls a list from his pocket. “This is what she asked for. Maybe Nora can help you. She’s Veronica’s friend, after all.”

I get off the bed, bringing my hair over my chest to cover up my nipples. “I’m sure I can. I did help Veronica reorganize her room over Christmas break.”

Jack lets out a breath as soon as Dad goes back downstairs. “Do you really know where her stuff is?”

“I should. Well, assuming she hasn’t moved anything and kept her room clean. If she takes after you, I’m out of luck.” Jack hands me the list. “Is she going to be okay?”

“I feel confident saying yes. Not to make it sound like it’s not a big deal, but this happens almost every time she gets sick. It has to do with her being born prematurely and her immune system being weak or something like that.”

We gather the stuff on her list, putting it all into a duffle bag. Mr. Harrington is waiting for us by the door.

“I’m going to take this to the hospital and go back to work. I won’t be home until late tonight. Are you okay on your own for dinner?”

“I can feed myself, Dad.”

“Actually,” I start, “Stephanie always makes something. You can join us. I can quiz you over the math homework again.”

“Stephanie and Doug will be there?” Mr. Harrington asks.

“Yes. Stephanie is home now in case you want to talk to her. I’m positive she won’t mind though. She always makes too much food anyway.”

Mr. Harrington considers it for a minute. “Okay. Don’t stay out too late. You have school tomorrow,” he says to Jack.

“I know.”

“Grab your stuff. I’ll give you a ride over.”

“We’re going next door,” Jack says slowly.

“The sidewalk has a good foot and a half of snow on it. Actually, grab a shovel and clear it. I’ll walk Nora to the door and make sure Stephanie really doesn’t mind you staying for dinner.”

Shit. He’s not going to let us be alone. “I’ll grab my coat.”

My shoes are uncomfortably tight since I have Jack’s socks on. Good thing we’re not going far. Mr. Harrington opens the door for me and motions to his squad car.

“Ever been inside a cop car?”

“Once.”

He wasn’t expecting that. “Why?”

“Our school put on a fundraiser for the LAPD, and a few officers came to hang out with us while we were raising money. Everyone took turns taking selfies in the back, pretending they were arrested for something.”

“Oh. That’s very…very considerate of you.”

I get in the passenger seat. “A good and bad thing about private schools in L.A. is most of the parents have money but no time. They’d donate to make themselves feel better without having to set foot inside the building.”

Mr. Harrington backs out of their driveway. “You’re a good kid, Nora, and I have to say I’m impressed with your perseverance considering all you’ve gone through.”

I feel awkward like I always do when people compliment me, and it’s amplified knowing that Mr. Harrington most likely is aware Jack and I had sex not even twenty minutes ago.

We’re at the Kellers’ not even thirty seconds later, and I step in my footprints from earlier to avoid getting snow in my boots. Shoveling snow away is a weird concept for me and I didn’t even think of it.

“Hey, Nora.” Stephanie’s in the living room and stands as soon as she sees Mr. Harrington. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I say and look behind me at Mr. Harrington. My heart is in my throat. He’s going to tell her Jack and I are sleeping together. There’s no other reason for him taking me over here alone. I take my snowy boots off and leave my coat on. It’s way too cold to go braless in a thin T-shirt. “Veronica is sick though. She’s being admitted to the hospital.”

“Oh no. Is she going to be okay?”

“She will be,” Mr. Harrington answers. He doesn’t take his shoes off or make a move to come in past the rug in front of the door. “Laura is there with her and I’m going back to the station. Nora invited Jack over for dinner, but I wanted to hear from you before I allow him to come over.”

“Of course. I have chicken in the crockpot already. We’ll eat in an hour or so when Doug gets home. Do you or Laura need anything?”

“Make sure Jack leaves by seven. Right after dinner is better. We don’t—” His phone rings, and he cuts off to answer. My heart is still racing as I’m certain he was about to tell Stephanie he doesn’t want Jack and I alone together. “It’s Laura. I gotta take this. Thanks, Stephanie.”

“Need help with dinner?” I ask Stephanie.

“No thanks, hun. The beauty of crockpots is it gets it all done at once.”

“Okay. I’m going to put my PJs on. I’m still not used to the cold.”

Stephanie laughs but doesn’t say anything more. I hurry to my room and sit on the bed, exhaling heavily. Jack and I almost got caught.

Twice.

On the same day.

It should shake me. It should make me take a step back and realize how careless we’re becoming.

But all it does is excite me.

All it does is make me want to push it even further next time.

If we go down, at least we’ll be together.