at the tower’s highest ledge, Leo unzips his backpack and pulls out a thermos, snacks, and a paperback novel. It’s the same one he was reading the night before. “What’s the book about?” I ask.
He huffs out a breath as he sits down beside me, our legs dangling off the edge. “I’m not sure yet.” He doesn’t elaborate further, and so I leave it at that. “I need to ask you a question,” he says, hesitant, as he concentrates on dividing the snacks between us. “And you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to…” He peers up at me through thick lashes, a strand of dark hair falling over his brow.
My pulse picks up, anxiousness swarming through my veins. “Okay…”
After clearing his throat, he stares ahead into the breaking dawn. He cracks each of his knuckles before turning to me, the intensity in his gaze creating fear in my chest. “Last night, my dad asked you if my brothers and I were—”
“I’m sorry,” I cut in, looking away. “I shouldn’t have lied to him.”
“I don’t care that you did,” he rushes out. “I just wanted to know why you did it.”
With a shrug, I say, “I didn’t want you guys to get into trouble.”
He doesn’t respond, and I can feel him watching me, scrutinizing.
Leo may like the quiet, but I don’t like the silence, especially when it’s between us. Hoping to make a sound, I kick my feet back and forth and shove my hands under my butt to hide their trembling.
Minutes pass, neither of us saying a word, and I keep my head low, my eyes shut. Finally, he says, “Is that why you’re like that with your mom?”
My gaze snaps up, locks on his. “Like what?”
His eyes widen in the way they do when you’re stating something obvious. “Like, you just let her treat you like shit.”
I wince at his curse and shake my head, annoyance mixed with hurt causing heat to form behind my eyes. “I don’t want to talk about this,” I murmur.
“I’m sorry,” he almost whispers. “I didn’t mean…” His tone’s so solemn that it has my chest aching. “I didn’t mean to make you mad or sad or… I shouldn’t have said anything.”
I don’t respond, too busy trying to fight back my emotions.
“Mia?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I say, looking up at him. “It’s just that—”
His head shake cuts me off. “You don’t need to explain anything. I won’t ever bring it up again.” He draws a cross over his heart, a sad smile marring his lips. “Swear it.”
I offer a nod, grateful for his response.
He kicks his foot against mine. “It’s time,” he says, pointing toward the horizon. The sun’s just breaking through in the distance, with silhouettes of trees splintering its appearance. The ground is a fog, a blur of existence. But it’s the sky that leaves me breathless… the darkness that enveloped us only minutes ago is replaced with all the hues of reds, pinks, and purples, stretching beyond what the eye can see.
It’s endless.
Infinite.
“It’s as if the world’s being split in two,” I breathe out.
“I know.” He pauses a beat. Then: “It reminds me of you.”
Chapter Four
Leo
I’ve never taken anyone to the water tower before. It had always been my spot, somewhere I could get away from the shouting and crying and general chaos of the house. Dad knows I go there some mornings, and as long as I’m back for breakfast, he doesn’t seem to mind. He doesn’t seem to mind a lot of the things I do or didn’t do, as long as I’m “present” for the things that matter. Physically and mentally. This morning though, I lost track of time. I could’ve spent the entire day with her there, sitting in complete silence, as long as she was by my side. It felt like seconds, and I wish those seconds could be minutes, hours, days.
My legs are burning by the time I get us back home, cursing internally when I see Dad walking down the porch steps with his work gear. He pauses when he sees us, and I slow to stop in front of him. “Sorry,” I rush out, careful to balance the bike long enough for Mia to hop off. Her cheeks are flush, either from windburn or embarrassment, I’m not sure.
“Morning, Mr. Preston,” she says quietly, removing the backpack I’d given her. I already miss her touch, the way her hands gripped my shoulders as we rode.