He lowered me to the ground, then pulled back a little. “Are you okay?”

I wiped my face to make sure it wasn’t streaked with tears and nodded. “When I came here, I wasn’t sure if I could ever really forgive Laila for everything that happened with Duke.”

“And now?”

“Now, I don’t know how I’m going to live without her.”

“This isn’t just for me, right? Staying here?”

“You would be enough, but no, my dad’s here too.” And I could not go back to the Compound now that I knew the lengths they were willing to go to in order to make sure their citizens were all mentally capable. The lengths they were willing to go to in order to fulfill their agenda. “Speaking of, it’s almost one a.m. I think I’m going to be in big trouble.”

“I’ll take you home.”

“Thanks.”

He walked me to the front porch. “It was an interesting night.”

“I never got to ask you about Steph. Is she going to murder me in my sleep?”

“She’s just humiliated. She’ll be fine.” He took my hand and started drawing circles on my palm with his finger.

“And if she’s not?”

“Addison, you are the only person I’m concerned about now.”

“Good answer.”

He gave me a half smile. “Where were we the first time I kissed you?”

“In my dream, we were in your bedroom.”

He nodded once, seeming to understand why I had said it like that. “In my bedroom? Was it a mess?”

“For once, I wasn’t thinking about the less-than-organized state of your room.”

He inched closer until our lips almost touched. “What were you thinking about?”

“I don’t remember right now,” I whispered as his familiar breath filled all my senses. He kissed me then, his fingers gripping my waist until I barely stood on the ground by the tips of my toes.

The front door opened, and he let go of me. Without his support, I stumbled backward and nearly fell. “Dad.” I meant to say it with excitement, but it came out like a sigh.

“You’re late, Addie. Get inside.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Trevor said. “It was my fault, but unfortunately necessary.”

My dad analyzed his statement, nodded, then escorted me into the house, effectively cutting Trevor off by shutting the door. Without waiting for a verbal berating, I hugged him. “I’m sorry about our fight, Dad. I’m so sorry for accusing you of lying. You’re right, I’ve been very selfish. I’ll go home for Christmas, but then I want to stay here with you.”

His mouth opened, as if everything I’d just spewed had made him speechless for a moment. He regained his composure enough to say, “Really? Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.”

As if he thought my speech was an attempt to get out of trouble, he said warily, “You’re still grounded for two weeks.”

I laughed. “Fine.”

He analyzed my face, then smiled. “Maybe one week would be better.”

“If you think so.”

He put an arm around my shoulder as he walked me to my room. “Or maybe I’ll give you a warning. This was your first offense, after all.”

I was so glad to know the truth. It was amazing how much perception could change my opinion about a situation. All things considered, he was very kind to me in the midst of all this. I smiled and hugged him again. “Good night, Dad.”

I shut the door, and almost immediately there was a tap on my window. I threw back the curtains, and Trevor stood there with a grin on his face.

“Are you grounded?” he asked when I opened the window.

“No. But if my dad sees you, I will be.”

He put his hand on the screen, and I put mine up against it.

“Thanks for choosing me, Addison.”