After school, Noah goes home to an empty house. There’s a note on the fridge from his mom saying she ran out to the store to get something for dinner. Why they can’t keep food in this house, he doesn’t know.
As he searches the cabinets for something to snack on, the front doorbell rings. He groans—it’s probably Melissa, back to pester him again. Why the hell does she insist on tormenting him?
Maybe if he doesn’t answer, she’ll give up and go away. He holds his breath and waits, but five seconds later the doorbell rings again, longer this time, persistent. Whoever it is knows he’s home.
Damn.
Noah waits for the third ring before he flings the front door open, pissed all over again. “What the hell—”
The rest dries in his throat when he sees Doug Hathaway filling the door frame.
Noah
