Page 110 of Fireworks

“You doing okay?”

Ryder's voice was low and filled with concern as she walked back down the steps with me to grab more boxes. I knew I could be honest with her, and she wouldn’t judge me or tell me to just move on.

“His mom insisted I take his truck and I couldn’t tell her no. He would hate knowing I was driving this thing.”

Asher pushed the last few boxes to the edge of the bed as we walked up to Nate’s truck. It would never be mine and somehow it hurt more knowing it would never be his again.

“How many more years of lugging your things back and forth do you have again?”

Asher was out of breath as he hopped down off the bed. Ryder immediately answered.

“So long as this one isn’t a bad influence on me and I keep my grades up, my dad said he would help cover the rent until we graduated.”

His eyes narrowed on me as he handed me the keys to the truck.

“I don’t feel like moving you again, so you do whatever her dad says.”

I tried my best to smile as the keys weighed down my hand. Having his truck didn’t feel right. None of this felt right.

“Let’s just get these last few boxes in so you’re not late for your flight.”

Grabbing a smaller box, I headed back into the building. It wasn’t long before Asher and Ryder joined me in the living room. The place wasn’t huge, but it was better than a dorm room. After saying goodbye to Asher, I went into my room to put my bed together. I was exhausted, and all I wanted to do was sleep. That was all I ever wanted to do lately.

I could hear Asher and Ryder in hushed tones by the front door.

“You have my number, right?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, Asher. I will take care of her.”

“Thanks Ryder. I don’t know how she’s going to make it through the semester. She’s a mess right now.” She patted his shoulder.

“She’s strong and I’ll be here for whatever she needs. I’ll make sure she gets through this. You still think he’s out there somewhere?”

His lips closed tightly as he nodded.

“I really do. Thanks for everything.”

Turning away from my door before either of them saw me, it broke me even more knowing that Asher was so worried about me. I didn’t have the courage to ask how he was doing. He had to be in as much pain as I was. Hearing the words come out of his mouth would have been too much to handle.

Ryder burst through my door.

“So what meal are we getting to celebrate moving in? Chinese, pizza, Italian, or something else? What are you thinking?”

I hadn’t really been eating much lately, but I knew she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Pizza I guess. Is Paul coming over?”

“Nope, it’s just you and me and the gallon of ice cream I snuck into the freezer when you weren’t looking. We are forgetting about our lives for a while and going to watch whatever nonsense we can find on tv.”

She was going to make good on her promise to Asher, making sure I kept busy and didn’t just sit around getting lost in my own thoughts. Faking a smile, I nodded.

“Sounds like a plan.”

I had officially cleaned and disinfected the entire place since we moved in a week ago. The start of the school year was still looming over my head. Ryder said nothing as she saw me grabbing cleaning supplies from under the sink for the third time today, wiping down surfaces that couldn’t possibly have collected any filth yet.

“So, I have a huge favor to ask you and you can one hundred percent say no if you aren’t okay with it.”

Ryder unloaded the last of the dishes from the washer as I threw away my dirty towel.