“Yeah, if Zander's okay with it. Mal’s birthday is 5 days after Sue’s, so we can celebrate both.”
“I’m sure they'd love to see you.”
We stay on the line as I decide which events I’ll attend. Most of the Friday night events aren’t an issue, since basketball games are on those nights. I end up choosing mostly fundraisers, avoiding the obvious society stuff. Seb keeps me company until I take a sleeping pill. I know the nightmares will be bad tonight, and it’s only Monday, so I need my sleep.
Chapter 16
Summer
Later that week, Zander asks to speak with me while I’m cooking breakfast. “Darling, I’ve had a last-minute job come up, and I wanted to talk to you about it.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Some visiting dignitaries are coming into the state, and they hired us to fly them around, but the other Finn pilot is sick. I’m the only other person at work who has his small aircraft license, so I need to take the job or cancel. I would be gone tonight and Saturday night.”
“I’m fine with it. Let me check with the guys to see who’s available,” I reply, pulling out my phone to send a group text. Surprisingly, Bay offers to stay with me. “Bay can stay. Take the job, Zander.”
“Thank you, Summer. I’ll let Troy know.” Squeezing my shoulder, he walks into the office.
After breakfast, Zander drops me off at school. Opening my locker, I find a white envelope with no name on the outside. Warily, I open the seal and pull out a lined sheet tornfrom a notebook.
Dear sister,
I thought I should write to you at school in case you didn’t get my last letters. Since you didn’t write back like I asked, are you happy knowing I’ll always be in your life? That your dead little sister has a big brother she’ll never know because of you?
Part of that money is still mine. I won’t be in here forever. Someday we will reunite, and I will take what is mine.
Forever,
Ben
Closing my eyes, I pull in a very deep breath, holding to the count of five. He does not get to control me anymore. He's locked up and can’t get to me. I'm safe.
“Summer, are you alright?” Opening my eyes, I see the guys watching me, concern etching their features.
“I will be.” Passing E the letter, I finish switching my books out for the day, slamming my locker a little too hard.One moment at a time.
The guys are passing the note between themselves, reading it. Alex hands it back, brows furrowed. “How many does this make?”
“I honestly don’t know. Zander hasn’t told me, but I need to keep this for Mr. MacLeod.” Pushing it through the slats in my locker, I want to scream. My frustration is mounting. Who is he working with at the school this time? Will this escalate like last year? “Let’s get to class, please.”
All the guys seem to stay a little closer today. None of us like this after the kidnapping last year. Alex informed the principal, and Bay had the idea to put a piece of mesh behind the locker door slats to prevent someone from pushing another letter inside. It’s a long, tiring day, but we’ve done all we can right now.
As we're walking to the parking lot after school, I hear Seb’s name called. We all stop and look around. “Oh, shit,” Seb says. I follow his line of sight to see Beth standing between a row of cars. Shelooks okay, but her eyes are darting around frantically as if she fears something.
I take Seb’s hand as we walk over to her as a group. “Beth, where have you been? You haven’t called or texted,” Seb asks, stepping forward.
“Sebby. I’m so sorry. I lost my phone. Can I talk to you for a minute?” She asks, grabbing his hand and watching us warily.
Seb lets her pull him away until we are out of earshot. “She’s high,” Nick grunts as my concern grows. Nothing good will come out of this.
I see Seb pull his wallet out and hand her some cash. She kisses his cheek and scurries away to the far side of the lot. E and I approach Seb, who hasn’t moved yet. “Hurry, what’s going on?” I ask, taking his hand.
“She wanted money. Her boyfriend cut her off.” He looks so dejected, with shoulders slumped and his head hanging forward.
“Nick said she was high?” E questions.
“Yeah, I think so too.” He leans back, running a weary hand over his face. “She never asked how I was or anything. Just went straight to asking for money.”
