crushing him, but he fell asleep before I could get the words out.
I wrestled a hand free of the soft confinement of the comforter and lightly ran my fingers across the furrow that was still marring his brow. I hated that he had worries so big they followed him into his dreams.
Sighing heavily, I settled down on top of him and tried to believe we would have more good moments than bad, but with our combined luck, that seemed highly unlikely. He told me I had to stop thinking he would always get everything right, but I needed to get out of the habit of thinking everything I did was wrong. Those thoughts were a holdover from dealing with Sawyer throughout my entire childhood. All I wanted was to get to a place where things felt simple, not like a fight for survival every minute of every single day.
It took me a lot longer to fall asleep than it normally did when I was cuddled up next to him. No matter how right it felt to be pressed up against him surrounded by his warmth and security, there was always still that dark presence lingering outside of my consciousness, just waiting for a chance to sneak back in and take over.
Huck
I grunted and tried to stay on my feet as Vernon plowed into me. He was a lot lighter than I was, so the fact he almost took me down to the ground with the impact was a testament to how fast he was moving.
I caught his slender arms in my hands and pulled him upright as he flailed about. His eyes were huge in his pretty face, and he looked pale under his naturally bronze skin.
“What are you doing on this side of campus?” The Computer Science building was a solid fifteen-minute walk across the campus, so I rarely saw Vernon when we were at school. “Did you forget your phone or something?”
It was weird that he sought me out in person instead of just shooting me a text message. But maybe he was trying to make amends.
After filling him and Harlen in on Fisher’s ill-timed visit, and the fact that he was the one behind the fixed stairs, Vernon sheepishly admitted that there was something on the counter a few weeks ago, but he spilled something all over it before he looked at what it was. He tossed the note in the trash, figuring it was from one of the roommates and wasn’t anything super important. Just like me, it never occurred to him that Fisher might be the one wandering around the house unannounced.
Vernon shook his head violently, which sent his white hair flying in a million directions. He sucked in a breath and looked up at me with huge eyes. “I finally found someone who could get into your brother’s files and we figured out why everything was so hush-hush and encrypted. His medical records after the accident were just the tip of the iceberg.”
I immediately went cold all over. Using the grip I already had on his arm, I dragged Vernon away from the entrance of the building and found a quiet spot away from foot traffic and other milling students.
“What did you find out?”
Vernon shifted his weight and wrenched his arm free. He scowled at me as he rubbed the spot where I’d clamped my hand. It was already red and angry. He was probably going to have a bruise tomorrow. I forgot how delicate he could be on the outside because inside, he was pure iron and steel.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’ve just been on edge since we decided to dig into Sawyer’s past. It feels like we’re summoning a demon.”
Vernon pouted, but I knew he couldn’t stay mad at me for too long. “Everyone is anxious, so I get it. That’s why I rushed over when I got the news.” He lifted a hand and pushed his hair out of his wild eyes. “I’m not sure if it’s good or bad news, but Sawyer Richman really couldn’t walk after the accident. He has a T-10 fracture for real. His mother did try and keep his condition quiet like you guessed, and it looks like she had him participate in a whole bunch of experimental therapies. Until recently, they were exploring some really outrageous treatment options to try and help him gain mobility. It seems like she was the one trying to keeping the severity of his condition quiet, like