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Hunter was incredulous. “Where do you guys fit into that?”
“Out of town. Weekend college visit for Nick. Missed the whole thing.”
Hunter opened his mouth. Closed it. “Wow.”
“It’s helpful that Layne’s dad is smoothing things over with the cops. Mike keeps saying that guy is brilliant with spin.”
“What about the kids?”
“They said what we told them to say. You think they wanted to take the fall?”
“Are they all safe?”
Gabriel lifted one shoulder. “Confused.” He paused. “There’s no sign of Calla. We’re trying to figure out exactly who’s involved so we can try to keep them out of trouble.”
“More Guides will come.”
Gabriel nodded. “I know.”
Then they fell into silence for the longest time, until Gabriel pulled his chair even closer and rested his arms on the bed rail. “How did that guy know where to find you?”
Hunter looked away from him, at the speckled tile of the hospital ceiling. “Just lucky, I guess.”
Gabriel hit him on the top of his head. Hunter swung around to glare at him.
“Try again,” Gabriel said.
Hunter was so sick of lying. He sighed. “I turned on her phone.”
“Why? Why did you do that?”
“I didn’t realize he’d get there so fast.”
Gabriel waited, but Hunter didn’t say anything else.
“That doesn’t answer the why,” Gabriel finally said.
“I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt. I was going to kill him. And if I couldn’t do it, I was going to blow up the school with him in it.”
“Jesus, I could shake the crap out of you.” Gabriel shoved him in the shoulder. “When you’re going to do awesome stuff, let me in on it.”
Hunter had to look at the speckled ceiling again. “I didn’t expect to survive it.”
Gabriel’s voice was quiet, no mockery at all now. “Why?”
Hunter was suddenly so tired. “Go away, Gabriel.”
“No. Why would you do that?”
Hunter squeezed his eyes shut. His lashes felt wet, and he pressed his fingertips against his eyes. “Because Kate sacrificed herself for me. She was the only person who’s ever trusted me.”
“Dude. Hunter. No. She wasn’t. She was just the only person you’ve ever trusted back.”
Hunter opened his eyes. Gabriel was right. He should have trusted the Merricks long before this.
He had a lot to make up for.
“I’m sorry I was a shitty friend,” he said.
