Page 42 of Atone

“That’s nice of him.”

“I guess.” Patience’s expression is difficult to read. “It’s definitely unexpected.”

Her gaze moves to Violet, and her expression softens. As hard as this is for her, she’s trying.

“It’s going to be fine, Patience.” I reach out, taking her hand. “You’ll be too busy with your internship to notice Kole at all. I bet you’ll barely even see him with all your research and mind-numbing study sessions.”

“You know, I actually like studying.” Patience frowns.

“Yes, and I love that for you, but I’ll never understand it.” I smile, and it manages to crack the faintest one on her lips as well.

“Can you do me a favor while I’m gone?” She tugs her purse on her shoulder.

“Anything.”

“Can you keep an eye on my brother for me? You’re always at Sigma House anyway, so people won’t think twice about it. I just need someone to make sure he’s okay and not getting involved in anything he shouldn’t. I can’t lose him again.”

“You aren’t going to lose him.” I try to assure her when I really have no idea if that’s the case.

“Alex went back to them.” Patience’s frown deepens. “After everything that happened, he went straight back into that hellhole.”

“Does it matter?” I ask, trying to bury my own feelings and be a good friend. “He’s out in the world again afteryearsat Montgomery. You have your brother back.”

“Only if they don’t break him again.”

I wish I could promise her they won’t, but I have no idea. I don’t know what happened to him the first time.

“Please, Mila.” Patience’s eyebrows furrow. “You have no idea the sway my father can have. Or what they did to him.”

“I thought you didn’t know what they did to him either?”

“I don’t.”

Her pause tells me she might be lying, but I know better than to ask.

“Don’t worry,” I assure her. “I’ll keep an eye out for him and text you all the updates.”

Patience pulls me in for a hug, and it’s so unlike her, my arms hang limp at my sides for a second. When I realize what’s happening, I finally hug her back.

“Be safe, okay?” I whisper, hugging her tighter.

“I will.” She offers a sad smile as she pulls away.

“And remember what I said… Try to have a little fun. Get a tattoo, sneak into a club, fuck a professor. I don’t know. Something. Anything. You deserve it.”

“I’m there to study.” Patience groans.

“Of course you are.” I wink.

Only Patience could spend an entire summer in LA and not enjoy one second of it.

“Car’s here,” Violet yells across the apartment.

I lead Patience to the door and hug Violet goodbye, making them promise to call when they land. When the door closes behind them, the silence is overwhelming.

Familiar and unwanted.

14