AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’re leaving this morning.” I placed my hands on her shoulders. “But you can’t tell Collin or anyone else where we’re going.”
“Why not?”
“If they don’t know, then they can’t be forced to telling anyone where we are.”
Disobeying Collin’s parents and possibly breaking the law, I would be the only one who would get in trouble for it. I’d make sure of it.
Alone in Collin’s room with the door closed, I removed the T-shirt I’d worn to bed. His T-shirt. Bringing it to my nose, I inhaled deeply. His familiar scent flooded my heart with longing.
If my mom wasn’t my mom, if I weren’t a daughter rejected by both her parents, if the world were a better place where wishes could shape desires into reality, then maybe Collin and I could have had our happily-ever-after. But I knew now—maybe deep down, I’d always known—that desires were just a strong wish, and wishes didn’t come true for people like me.
Blinking through tears, I carefully folded Collin’s shirt and placed it on his bed beside my note. In it, I thanked his parents. I told Collin I’d always love him, but that we had to accept that everything was different now.
I had to leave. I had to do what I had to do, and after ... well, that was the hardest part because there was no after. Not for Collin and me.
Collin would go on to graduate from high school. I couldn’t return to Southside High, and neither could Rachel. We had to hide from the authorities until I was eighteen and old enough to be her guardian. Once I was of age andhad proper legal documentation,ABCR couldgo on to bigger and better things, and Andy had made it clear that I was no longer a part of that. Starting now, I would remain in Southside, doing the best I could, which meant doing what was best for my sister and me.
Swallowing hard, I smoothed a few wrinkles from the dark blue bedspread. My relationship with Collin would be like that for him, just a short scene in the full-length movie of his life.
I straightened and gave the room one final look. There was no evidence that I’d cuddled all night in the bed with Collin.
I’d tidied the space and made the bed while Rachel had been at breakfast. She was outside now with our backpacks, waiting for me. Swiping the tears from my cheeks, I crossed the room and opened the door.
It was time to go.
• • •
“Addy, hold up.” On the sidewalk beside me, Rachel held up a finger. “Let me just catch my breath a minute.”
“Okay.” I leaned against a light post. After ninety minutes of brisk walking, we were almost to Winston’s, but I was eager for a delay. Any delay.
“Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?” she asked.
Doubled over, her hair a silky curtain, she glanced at me through the strands. I didn’t answer as a lowrider drove by. The tinted windows were rolled down, and Latino music blared from the speakers. Fortunately, the guys inside it wearing La Rasa Prima colors didn’t notice us, and their car with the jacked-up wheels didn’t slow down.
“This is the only way,” I said once the car was out of sight.
I’d filled Rachel in on my plan before we’d left Collin’s house. The streets were our only other option, and they were too dangerous. She wanted there to be another way, and I desperately did too. But there just wasn’t.
“Okay.” Her pretty features settling into determined lines, she straightened and linked her arm through mine. “Let’s do this.”
There was nousin this plan, but I let her believe that. For a moment, I could exist in her version of reality.
Reaching the long building that took up nearly an entire city block, we ducked into the alleyway beside it, marched downhill, and turned. Taking the sidewalk that led to the underground parking garage, we didn’t need the arm to go up like it had when I’d been sitting in the passenger seat of Miranda’s car.
Was that just last night? It felt like a lifetime ago.
We skirted around the wooden arm and entered the garage, passing over numbered but empty spaces. It was the middle of the day. Despite my hopes plummeting, the sun had risen. Time marched on, even if there wasn’t anything in the new day for me to look forward to.
As we approached the door that led into the building, I saw that it was guarded. I anticipated it would be. The few times I’d been able to get free from my job at Dick’s to catch an afternoon sound check with the band, a guard had always been in position here.
“Hey,” I said, making eye contact with the unsmiling man who had to be at least six foot two.
He had one large hand at the ready at his side. The other he’d slid into his blue blazer as we’d approached.
Winston’s security team packed heat. In Southside, if you owned a business, you protected it either by carrying or having allegiances with people who did. In Martin’s case, his protection involved both. I hadn’t thought much of it until now. But Martin had favors he owed, and I would soon have mine.
“Addy and Rachel Footit to see Martin Skellin.” My voice sounded as unsteady as I felt. “We’re on the approved list.”
