Serendipity

Chapter 10. Secrets

Chapter Ten ~ Secrets

This was beyond wrong.  

If Dad knew what I was doing, he’d kill me. But I knew somewhere in my heart that Phil was a nice man and I wasn’t going to allow this to happen to him. I knew that having these feelings were wrong. Dad said that we never show remorse for anyone because people weren’t trustworthy. 

But who was he to say that?  

I led Phil up the stairs and into the house, shutting the door behind me. I scurried over to the windows and closed the blinds. 

“A nice place you got here,” I heard him say.  

I nodded in agreement as I tossed the keys on the coffee table. “You can make yourself at home on the couch. I'll make you something quick to eat.”  

Phil tipped his head in gratitude and made his way into the living room, slowly setting himself down on the sectional. “Do you live here alone?”  

“No,” I said quickly, reminding myself that Dad could walk in any minute now. I reached into the freezer and pulled out a boxed dinner. “Is a frozen dinner okay with you? I have to go somewhere soon so I don’t have that much time to cook.”  

“Anything is fine, son.”  

I tore the box open and placed its contents into the microwave. “I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping but my father does not know that you’re here so it would be in your best interest to stay out of sight.”  

Phil cleared his throat. “Living a secret life, am I?”  

I forced a smile, “Unfortunately.” I walked over to the living room and took a seat on the couch opposite of Phil. “My dad isn’t exactly the kindest person in the world but I want to help you so please--”  

“I got it, boy.” Phil interrupted. “Stay out of sight.” 

“I hope that it’s not asking too much of you.” 

“Asking too much of me?” he scoffed. “Boy, I’m asking too much of you by asking you to stay in this house. I thank you for that, from the bottom of my heart.”  

I flashed him a quick smile then ran into the kitchen once the microwave beeped. I pulled out the boxed dinner from the microwave and set it on the counter. “I have to get going pretty soon. Do you think you’ll be okay?”  

Phil looked over to me and shrugged. “I assume.”  

“Keep the door locked,” I warned him, “If you hear someone opening the door, go upstairs to the second door on the right and stay in that room.” 

“Got it.”  

“Your food is ready,” I notified him before grabbing the keys and heading out of the door. 

*          *          *          *

I left the house hoping that Phil would stay out of sight so that I wouldn’t get into trouble and drove to the pizza parlor at the edge of town, just like Levi said. Levi was standing outside of the parlor, but he was not dressed formally which was a good thing because it was just pizza.  

When I approached him at the entrance, I couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you waiting outside?”  

He laughed almost instantly. “Jumping straight to the questions, are we?”