“From high school?” Zeke asks.
“Yeah.” I pause, realizing that he doesn’t know. “He’s dead.”
Z starts. “He drugged Drew, Eli found her on his porch, and killed him.”
“What?” Zeke looks at me, both surprised and impressed.
“I forgot I had put it in my pocket. I guess it fell out cause she found it on the floor the next night when I got to her house.”
They both shake their heads.
“She made a joke about cherishing my sacrifice. The next time I saw her, she had arts and crafted that shit into a necklace.” It actually makes me smile as I think about it, the emotions from that taking over the fear. “I’m surprised she still wore it.”
“I’m not.” Zeke mumbles. “It’s creepy, but not surprising.”
“What?”
“Liez told me months ago something was going on with her. She just wasn’t sure what, and well, the timeline matches. I think we all noticed then that she was upset about something.” He pauses, looking at me again. “We just didn’t know that thing wasyou.”
“Well, she had a few more things going on than that. I mean, I had to talk to her about it even though I swore I’d keep mydistance.”
“Like what?” Zeke asks me. Z gives me a look, knowing that he’s aware of what I’m talking about.
“Nah,” I shake my head.
“Wait,” Zeke starts as we start down the staircase. “Is that why you were talking to her at the hospital?”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Yeah. Liv had just let it slip —” abruptly stopping as I realize what I’m about to say.
“Let what slip?” Zeke asks.
“It’s really not my place to tell you.”
“Eli.” Z stops. I don’t even have to look over at him to know he’s staring at me with that disapproving look. I know he’s put together the story. He’s aware what Liv let slip, and he’s telling me now isn’t the time.
“Yeah,” Zeke starts again. “If you know what else was going on with our sister, tell us. I mean, you already had us dispose of someone’s body that you killed because he drugged her.”
“I can’t.”
I’m pushed to the side, slammed into the wall, Zeke glaring down at me. “Why do I feel like you’re trying to save yourself?”
Cutting my eyes at him, “Don’t you think there’re bigger things to deal with, like someone kidnapping your fucking sister?”
“He’s right.” Z pulls his brother backward and turns back toward the door. “We’ll find Drew and then deal with this shit.” I know he means that.
I realize that thinking they’ve moved past what’s going on is a joke. I’m not sure they’ll ever accept it.
* * *
We watch Zeke walk back towards his bike as Z cranks the van.
“Why didn’t you tell him?”
Z clears his throat as he looks over at me and shrugs. “Cause I understand theonlyreason you told me.”
“What d’you mean?”
“I understood how you were feeling.”
