Page 33 of Scout

She groans. “We were just together, Scout. I won’t die without you, you know.”

“I know, I know.” I laugh. “But you know I like to stay close. What if you need me? It’s just a short trip. Just the weekend.”

She’s quiet for a second then. “Do you have to go?”

“I do,” I say gently. “But if you needanything, Juniper, I mean it, you call me, text me, morning or night, and I’ll be there. No matter what. Okay?”

She sighs. “I’ll be fine, Scout.”

“I know you will. You always are.”

“I love you.”

My throat tightens. “Love you too, Junie Boo.”

She hangs up first.

I sit there staring at the lock screen for a long minute, trying to swallow the guilt down. It never really goes away. But I’m doing what I have to. For her. For me. For us.

Even if it means pretending this weekend is just business.

Even if I already know I’m lying to myself.

I set my alarm, plug my phone back in, and double check my bag before climbing into bed.

I should sleep.

But all I can think about is this weekend.

13

Xavier

Scout’s waitingout front when we pull up.

It’s early, still cool enough that the air has a bite, but he’s there leaning against his suitcase like this is a scene from some indie movie. His hair’s tousled just enough to look accidental, black backpack slung over one shoulder, and he’s wearing sunglasses like the morning sun personally offended him.

Kendrix rolls down the passenger window. “Morning, trouble.”

Scout grins. “Thought you’d pick me up in a Corvette or something dramatic.”

I gesture at the SUV. “This is dramatic. It has legroom.”

He tosses his bag and suitcase in the back, climbs in behind Kendrix, and pulls the door shut.

The drive’s two and a half hours. Manageable. Barely.

Scout messes with the radio until he lands on a playlist that he approves: pop bops, early 2000s R&B, one moody acoustic version of a rock song that makes Kendrix groan and Scout beltout every word like he’s on stage. I don’t even recognize half of it, but somehow, it works.

A few minutes pass, the road stretching out ahead of us, before Scout leans forward from the back seat.

“So, do I get to be clued in on where we’re going?” he asks, voice light but curious.

Kendrix glances at me, then back at the road. “A condo in the mountains. Not far. About two and a half hours from the city.”

Scout whistles. “Oh? Fancy.”

He pauses, then grins. “So, what’s with the condo? Do one of you own another property or what?”