When You Come Back to Me (Lost Boys #2) - Emma Scott Page 0,48

so fucked up right now. Like trying to steer a sinking ship. My dad’s kind of falling apart, and my sister barely talks. It’s just not a good time for me to…upheave everything. The other night…that can’t happen again. It won’t. I was drunk…”

I gritted my teeth. “You’ve made that abundantly clear.”

“But that doesn’t change what I said.”

I’d kill them… Anyone who tried to do it again…

“You said a lot of things. I don’t even remember—”

“Yes, you do.” River’s voice grew deep and solid now. “What they did to you was fucking wrong, and it means something that you told me. I just want you to know that.”

For the first time in years, my whirring, chirping brain had nothing to say. No witty comeback or barb to deflect how his words hit me hard and then sank in softly.

River mistook my silence and gusted a sigh. “Okay. So, that’s all I wanted to say. Thanks for listening and…everything else. That night was just like you said. A timeout. And I needed it.”

“Will you be back at school tomorrow?” I asked and cringed at the pathetic hope in my voice.

“I don’t think so. Just trying to make it through the night.”

“The reason I ask is that you’ve missed a lot of Calculus,” I added quickly. “If you want me to tutor you, just say so. No need for drama.”

He laughed a little. “Glad to hear that offer still stands.”

“Always.”

“Okay well…goodnight, Holden.”

“Goodnight, River.”

The line went quiet and I stared at the phone in my hand for long moments, then climbed into bed.

It can’t happen again.

There it was. The official end to whatever the hell happened on Saturday night. Just another painful moment like every other painful moment in my life; a teetering stack my sanity tap-danced on. One day it would come crashing down.

In the meantime…

I wasn’t a praying person by nature, mostly because when I’d needed help, there was only cold silence. But that night, I prayed to whatever God or gods that might be listening to give River and his mom a little more time. Another day, at least. Let whatever needed to happen, happen when the sun was shining and not in the black, indifferent night.

The next morning, a text was waiting for me.

She made it. They’re even talking about letting her go home this afternoon. This is heavier shit than you need to be dealing with, but it didn’t feel real until I told you. Thank you. –R

I held the phone to my chest, almost hugging it. A knock came at my door a moment later.

“Mr. Holden?” Beatriz called. “Venha comer. Você vai se atrasar para a escola.”

Come eat. You will be late for school.

I squeezed my eyes shut, as a small smile spread across my lips against my will.

“Mr. Holden? Você tá bem?”

Are you okay?

“Tô bem,” I called back. “Today, I am okay.”

Part II

Chapter Ten

December

If I’d known it was going to be the last football game I’d ever play in my life, I still wouldn’t have changed a thing.

The Campbell Coyotes were ranked number two in our league, right behind us. We’d already clinched the championship, but winning that day would make us undefeated, something that had never happened in the history of Santa Cruz Central football.

We were down 18-21 with fourteen seconds left, our ball on their forty-seven. Coach’s play was a short pass up the side to our tight end. His job was to get out of bounds to stop the clock and give our kicker a chance to tie it up.

But none of the guys in the huddle wanted overtime. They wanted the win. It was the last time this team would ever play together. I’d been ready for the end of the season for weeks, but a twinge of nostalgia bit me anyway. They deserved whatever I could give.

“Coach called the play, so we’re running the play,” I said, but shot Donte a fast, knowing glance. He nodded imperceptibly and the huddle broke up.

Our offense lined up against the Coyote defense—a row of scowling faces gunning for me.

“Hut two, hut two!”

Chance hiked me the ball and I dropped back, faked a handoff to Isaiah, and scanned the field.

As planned, their defense anticipated our play and had our tight end and running back double covered. Only one guy on Donte. A mistake.

I dodged a defender who got past my line. He managed to snag my arm, but I tore out of his grasp and sidestepped him as he crashed to the ground. Donte was