Page 113 of Ebbing Tides

It had been the first gift anyone had ever given me.

It had been my first segue into true friendship—and love.

The words written on these pages had held my hand through years of torment, before being used against me and torn apart.

I had missed them, and although I’d considered buying another copy numerous times throughout the years, no other edition I’d seen in bookstores ever felt right. Not quite like this one.

“Do you like it?” Ricky asked, bumping his arm against mine.

Slowly, I nodded. “Yeah,” I managed to croak, my voice gravely with emotion and gratitude. “This is great. Really fucking great.”

But what I didn’t say was, that book …

That incredible book …

It waseverything.