I feel her tense beside me and watch as her feet start to bounce softly. A nervous tic she had in high school. I wonder if she knows . . .
I reach out putting my hand on her knee, squeezing it. Her gaze snaps down at my hand on her leg, and her bouncing suddenly stills.
“I can’t be here right now.” Her words are a whisper.
I retract my hand. “Okay.”
Her brown eyes slide over to mine. “I can’t be inDusty Hollowright now,” she clarifies.
“Oh,” I reply. “Well . . .”
She stands up to slip a piece of paper from her back pocket before she sits back down with a thud and hands it over to me.
I unfold the paper even though I know what it is.
The list.
I don’t need to read the words to be reminded of what’s on it—they’re tattooed on my brain, much like how my skin will be at some point.
“What’s next?” I ask.
“Go somewhere without a plan,” she answers swiftly. “Can you leave tomorrow?”
Sadie could ask me to go anywhere, any day—and I’d follow her.
“My time is yours,” I reply.
“Good.” She nods before she stands. “Pick me up at my house? 8 a.m.?”
“I’ll be there,” I say.
She smiles at me and my heart hammers. “Also, I left something in your classroom,Mr. Carter.You’ll find it where I used to sit.”
When she turns to leave, it takes every ounce of restraint I possess to stay seated until she’s out of sight before I sprint to my classroom, probably beating any 40-yard dash time I ever accomplished.
My classroom is familiar, ghosts of people I once knew sitting in desks and whispering as the teacher talked. I go to her seat, which will always be hers no matter who sits there.
I inspect the desk until I spy a folded note taped to the bottom. I grab it and unfold it quickly.
Hot Shot,
Something you don’t know about me:
When my dad was in the accident, I didn’t cry for six weeks. I was so mad I couldn’t cry, but I figured I was in a drought season from crying over you. So, I did what I do best. I solved problems, and the biggest problem was my dad’s business.
I hate my job, but I don’t even know what I’d do if I didn’t have it.
I just want the chance to figure it out. Is thatso bad?
Bookworm
My heart twists.
I want her here right now. I want to pull her in close and fight every lie she believes in her head. I want to lend her my strength until she remembers how strong she really is. I want her to know she doesn’t have to do hard things alone.
Which means, Sadie needs a teammate.
And wherever she’s going next, I already know my position.
