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Now he’s not, and I don’t know how to process that. Accept it. Because I refuse to believe the strongest, biggest, most capable man I know could die in the snap of a finger, just like that.

Sniffling, I don’t bother to hide my tears as I climb back into the truck, the cigarettes tucked inside my pocket, the whiskey held underneath my arm.

Placing the whiskey between my knees, I wait for Sally to put the truck in drive again.

Instead, she turns to me and wraps me in a tight, warm bear hug. It ain’t the polite kind of hug I’ve shared this week with people like Lollie and Reverend Ford.

This hug is fierce—her face buried in my shoulder, her arms clasped around my neck. I can smell the flowery scent of her lotion, the same kind she’s used for as long as I can remember.

Anyone else hugged me this way, it’d be awkward.

With Sally, it’s just what I need.

I open the floodgates and let out the sob I’ve been holding for…Christ, feels like forever.

“I’m so sorry, Wyatt.” Her raspy voice is muffled against my shirt. “So, so sorry. I haven’t stopped thinking about you or your brothers. I love you, and I feel—my God, I’m hurting so much for y’all. I love you. I love you. I love you.”

I cry harder. Part of me is embarrassed to lose it like this. Tears and snot are everywhere.

Sally, though, just tightens her grip on me. I cry, and she cries, and we hold each other for what feels like a small eternity in the front seat of her daddy’s truck.

Outside the open windows, birds chirp, and a breeze rattles the yellowing leaves on the giant old oaks that bordera nearby pasture. A cow lows in the distance. The earthy smell of hay fills the air.

I don’t get how the world can be the same as it ever was, but life as I know it is over. Dad is gone. Mom isgone, and now I’m struggling to figure out what the hell I’ll do without her.

When I’m finally able to breathe again, I pull back, sopping up tears with the pad of my thumb. “Sorry.”

“Stop that shit.” Sally wipes her eyes too. “Cry all you want with me. I promise I’m not going anywhere—mostly because you’re the one with the liquor and I need a drink after my long-ass drive.”

I let out a bark of laughter. “Using and abusing your best friend? Shameful.”

“Told you college wouldn’t change me.”

I laugh again, my heart swelling to fill my chest. At home, I make everybody else laugh. Nice change of pace to be the one laughing.

Having a good time feels so effortless when I’m with her. I don’t have to put on a show or pretend to be something I’m not.

I can be myself, be a mess, and she won’t bat an eye.

Speaking of messes, my nose is running. I wipe it on my sleeve, but that doesn’t help much.

“Should we go for a swim?” I ask without thinking. “Weather’s kinda perfect, and I need to get all this snot off of me.”

“You do.” Sally scrunches up her nose. “It’s bad.”

I tug a hand through my hair. “Gee, thanks.”

“What? I’m just being honest. I’d love to go for a swim, but I didn’t bring my suit.”

I shrug, ignoring the press of heat in my center at the idea of seeing Sally’s bra and panties. I’ve seen her in a bikini plenty of times. This won’t be any different, right?

“We’ll just go in our underwear. I promise I won’t look.”

Her eyes catch on my mouth before she quickly looks away. “Now who’s being shameful?”

“Please? C’mon, Sally. My parents just died.”

“See?” She scoffs, even as she puts the truck in drive. “Shameful.”