Page 97 of Resurgent

“I’m fine for now, but if you could stand by just in case I need an extraction?”

“The fact that the humans around you can’t immediately see that you’re a Ghost Walker just proves how stupid they all really are…And yes, I’ll be close by. Just say the word, and I’m there.”

“Which word?”

“Never mind, THEY might not be the problem,” Tyr teases as I mentally flip him off.

“Did I hear someone say celebrate?” Emily cheers enthusiastically until Matt stops just in front of her, his eyes shooting between my dad and me as his grip on the glasses grows tighter.

Gently, I shake my head, though I’m not even sure what I’m asking Matt not to do.

Not to go another round with my dad right here and now? Not leave me stuck between my abuser and my unaware, brown-nosing date?

Never letting his eyes stray from my dad, he gently places my glass of champagne in front of me before taking the seat on the other side of Theo.

Minutes feel like hours as Theo peppers my dad with questions about being the sheriff and blows smoke up his ass about his hard work and dedication rubbing off on me since I was the first of my class to bond, and came back to classes so quickly after the rockslide incident during Vanguard.

Every question stirs a memory worse than the last, but still I listen.

“You guys should really take a walk through the exhibits, they’re jaw-dropping,” Sasha says, eyes still focused on Antonio as she falls into the seat next to Emily.

“It was the exhibits, was it? I thought it was the thing I did with—”

“Nice to see you’ve made so many new friends,” my dad cuts in loudly with a smile. “It’s too bad some just can’t seem to let go, even when they're no longer useful,” he adds, eyes locked on my Mattey.

Matt’s chair scrapes against the floor as he stands abruptly, and I'm up just as fast, my hand settling on Matt's chest to keep him from causing a scene.

"He's not worth it, ok? He can't hurt me here," I whisper.

"That doesn't mean he won't try."

"Mattey, look at me. I'm fine."

His eyes drop to mine, too many emotions in them to read.

"I'm sorry, he just—"

“There he is!”

A booming voice cuts through the tension before either of us can say another word.

Matt spins toward it, and my breath catches.

Standing a few tables away, somehow looking even younger than he looked mocking us through our cell doors, is Matt's father…and beside him are two people who look so unmistakably like Sasha that I can practically list out who she gets every feature from.

“Mom! Dad! You made it!” Sasha squeals, jumping up from her seat and launching into their arms.

“Do you mind if I take this seat so I can sit by my son?” Matt’s dad asks Emily.

“Of course,” Emily says immediately, sliding out of her chair and moving toward the open spot beside my dad, even as Matt starts insisting it isn’t necessary.

“Ahhh, if it isn’t our adopted daughter,” Sasha’s mom says as she pulls me into a hug. “We’re so glad you’re feeling better since the…” her voice softens. “…incident.”

My throat tightens.

“Thank you,” I whisper, squeezing her back. “For everything.”

With a gentle squeeze of my arm, she turns toward the rest of the table.