Page 82

Shane barreled into her room like a thunderstorm.

Furious as he clearly was, he handled her as gently as a baby bird as he climbed onto the bed beside her and wrapped her up in him, his lips on her temple, his hands soft and warm, running all over her like she wasn’t real.

“You scared the shit out of me,” he whispered in her ear.

“I’m fine,” she breathed, sinking into the crook of his arm.

“What were you thinking?” he asked.

“Good question,” came Cary’s voice from the doorway. Shane and Laney both froze, and she felt him tense up.

Laney was annoyed. “Are you serious right now? Jesus, Cary, you snort blow like it’s air!”

Shane frowned. “Laney, you –”

“Don’t even start with me,” she said, looking up at Shane. “You eat pills like popcorn and have a bigger supply of hash than Afghanistan.”

“I gave you a few days, Laney,” Cary said, his eyes flashing. “I gave you a few days to get better. But you’re not off the hook. I expect a fucking explanation. And so does he .” Cary gestured to Shane.

Laney blinked, looking between her brother - his face clouded with rage and worry - and Shane, wearing an eerily identical expression.

“Is ‘Linette’ enough of an explanation?” she grumbled.

Cary, Shane, and Dustin all simultaneously let out a breath, and the tension in the room dissipated.

“I screwed up, okay? I guess mom’s stash was stronger than what Ni – what I’m used to.”

Cary’s eyes narrowed and her heart thumped at her blunder, but he didn’t push her on it.

“I don’t know why you touch that shit to begin with,” Shane spat.

“Because you're so clean?” Cary scoffed. "Who are either of us to talk, really?"

“What I do is my business,” Shane said, his voice steady, “and what you do is yours. But she shouldn’t be touching this shit.”

“I’m right here,” Laney grumbled, “and I’m not a child.”

“I agree,” Cary said, continuing his conversation with Shane like she wasn’t even there. “I’m not happy about this.”

“Me either."

“I have your word you aren’t supplying anything for her?” Cary asked.

“Do I have yours?”

“Um, hi?” Laney said, waving her hand between the two of them. “Right here?”

“I’ve never given her drugs,” Cary spat, ignoring her.

“No, but your friends have.”

Dead.

Silence.

Oh shit.