Page 92 of Grown

Another familiar voice. Tony.

I think of calling Shea, but I don’t want either of them near my sister. I’d give up my life first.

“This way,” he says, leading me down the block to a black truck. He drives around the corner to the underground parking, then down three levels.

There, a car I don’t recognize sits parked in the far back, engine running.

Tony opens the back door and shoves me inside. In an instant, I’m wrapped in Korey’s arms and my body turns to stone.

“Bright Eyes,” he coos. “Damn, I’ve missed you so much.”

I pull away from him, sliding on the red leather seats, squeezing myself to the door.

Korey’s black hoodie is pulled up. But even in the darkness of the back seat, I can see he’s hurt by the move.

“What... are you doing here?”

“I—I thought you’d be happy to see me. Here I am, come to save you again.”

I’m stunned to silence. Korey looks broken, shattered... older. And the part of my heart that loved him beats a little harder, despite how I willed it not to.

He hangs his head low.

“You left me,” he murmurs. “You promised you’d never leave me.”

“Korey, please,” I beg, trembling. “You have to let me go.”

“We belong together, remember? Like Tammi and Marvin.”

“Tammi died.”

“So did Marvin. Is that what you want me to do? Die?”

For a bristling moment, I almost say yes.

“Just... please, you can’t be here.”

“Aight, one more question, then... I’ll leave you alone.”

I swallow. “OK.”

“Did you ever love me?”

It’s the same question I’ve been asking myself for weeks. Didheever really love me? Because I loved him. Our love felt deeper than the ocean, endless and beautiful.

“Yes. But... I can’t be with you anymore.”

He pulls me into his arms again. “I’m sorry, baby. We’ll... we’ll try again. It’ll be better this time. I’ve changed. I saw you sing the other day. You were so beautiful.”

He was there. I knew it!

“I... I have to go.”

“Bright Eyes, you’re eighteen now. We can be together like we talked about.”

“Please, Korey,” I sob, grabbing the door handle. “I can’t.”

His face darkens. “You leave me again, you’re going to regret it. You need to come back where you belong.”