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Mumbling something about needing to go home, I climbed into the driver’s seat and cranked the engine before quickly tearing away.
It wasn’t a lie.
I was going home.
I just needed to find him first.
Because that boy was my home.
107
It’s Not the Way Out
JOEY
For most of my life, I felt like I was running out of time. Now, as I sat on the metal railing of the footbridge that separated Molloy’s estate from mine, with the end in sight, it suddenly felt like I had all the time in the world.
The night air whipped and lashed at my face, but I felt nothing. Eyes locked on the raging current of water flowing below, crashing against the foot of the bridge, I felt a level of calmness that was staggering.
Several weeks of rainfall meant that the town’s river was close to bursting its banks.
Good.
The current would take me quickly.
All I had to do was let go.
Just close my eyes and let myself fall.
Eerily at peace with my decision, I tossed my bag into the water and watched as the river swallowed it under and washed it away.
That could be me.
I could just disappear.
I will disappear.
It’s the best thing for everyone.
Especially her.
Because she’ll never stop fighting for me while my heart’s still beating.
And I’ll never stop dragging her down.
“Don’t do it,” a voice called out, and I stiffened before reluctantly twisting around to find a familiar blond watching me from the Rosewood side of the bridge.
“Don’t, Joey.” Clad in an oversized hoodie, Lizzie Young slowly walked toward me. “Don’t.”
“Just turn around and walk away,” I replied, bone-weary, as I turned my attention back to the river. “Just…leave me alone.”
“Please,” she whispered as she slowly closed the space between us. “Please.” Trembling, she reached out and gently covered my hand with hers. “Don’t go over the edge.” The wind blew her hair around her face, but she never faltered when she stepped closer and circled my wrist tightly with her hand. “It’s not the way out.”
I sighed wearily, eyes locked on the hand she wrapped around mine. “Lizzie, please just—”
“No!” Momentarily releasing my wrist, my sister’s friend wrapped both of her arms around my body and pressed her cheek against my back. “I won’t let you do it to Shannon.”
“Do what?”
