CHAPTER 16

Matt felt the heat rise to his cheeks as he recalled the argument and repositioned his face so the cool window glass pressed and chilled his cheek. It took everything in his body and mind to not punch his dad. He wasn't sure what would've happened if he had. It scared him that his dad might've hit back and harder, but it scared him most that if he would've hit his dad, he might not be able to keep himself from striking him again and again and again. If it wasn't for his family being there, the Wisconsin countryside was actually quite peaceful. By the time they neared the camping grounds, Erica and Jordan had shouted themselves in circles until they retreated to their corners of the car in a silent pout. They had the windows down while they snaked down the road between thick wooded forests. Aside from the occasional whiff of exhaust from his father's Audi up ahead, the smell was of clean and fresh air, like it was freshly minted by the trees just for Matt. Erica would point out the bea