Page 58

Toward Conner’s.
Rounding the block, I cross the street and cut through their neighbor’s yard, flying up the porch steps to pound on the Gilroy’s front door.
I haven’t been here since my mother’s funeral.
No, that’s not true.
I came here once to get Henley. I walked through the house and stood on the back porch steps with Declan and pretended that I hadn’t broken down on them. Let him hold me while I cried because my mother—
I push the thought away because I don’ have time for it. I don’t—
The door swings open and Declan is standing in front of me in his usual track pants, hoodie and perpetual smirk. “Anyone ever tell you that you knock like a cop?”
“Shut-up,” I push past him, into the house. “Where’s Conner?”
The smirk disappears. “What’s wrong?”
It’s the same thing I asked Ryan less than five minutes ago. “Henley’s leaving. Her mom is taking her some—”
“Tess?” I swing around and come face to face with Mary Gilroy. Declan’s mother. My mother’s best friend. Her face pale and drawn with genuine concern. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Where’s your father?”
I did this before.
Almost exactly this.
I opened the bathroom door even though the note told me not to and then I ran. I didn’t call Mary like I was supposed to.
I ran here.
Tess, what’s wrong. Honey, where’s your mom? Where’s Sophie?
I shake my head, mouth open, looking at Declan for help. His jaw goes tight and he reaches for me.
“His room,” Declan says, practically throwing me up the stairs. “Last door on the left.”
Grateful, I stumble down the hall. Conner’s door swings open just as I fall into it. “Tess, what the—”
“You have to come.” I shake my head, grabbing him by the hand, dragging him down the hall. “Henley is leaving. Her mom—” That’s as far as get before tears he himself out of my grip and bolts past me. By the time I get to the top of the stairs he’s gone.
I don’t stop. I just run.
I’m not even aware that Declan is next to me until it’s over. Until Henley’s mom stuffs her into the back of a chauffeured car and closes her in. Takes her away. Leaves Ryan behind.
After she’s gone we all just stand there, staring at the place she used to be. Nosy neighbors who couldn’t care less about what just happened beyond the juicy gossip that the scene provided. Eventually, people start to drift away. My dad heads back to the garage. Conner’s dad leads his mother away. I think she’s crying. Ryan walks away. Down the street, away from all of us. Only Conner stays. He’s standing in the middle of the street, barefoot, wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts. There’s a book in his hand. The same worn paperback he carries with him everywhere. I have this crazy feeling he isn’t going to move. That’s he’s going to stand there forever. Grow roots and wait for her to come back.
“Conner.” I reach for the hand holding the book, but he jerks away from me, holding the book out of reach like he’s afraid I’m going to try to take it. He looks down at me and I swear to god I’m looking at a stranger.
“Con—” I try again but he looks away from me, his gaze flipping up and over my shoulder, hardening into a glare when it lands on the person behind me.
Declan.
For a split second I’m afraid of him. This isn’t the cocky, affable guy who comes over every day to hang out and help me with the occasional oil change. This is someone I don’t know.
Someone dangerous.
And then he’s gone. Walking away from both of us, back the way we’d come.
“Put this on.”