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Remi promised me we wouldn’t talk about it. It was the only reason I agreed to come down here, but it seems that my idiot twin brother didn’t get the memo.
“Fuck you, man.”
“Nah, I’m not that desperate, bro.”
I flip him off as he relaxes back with his beer.
“So what’s she doing for Thanksgiving? Heading home?” he asks me, the twinkle in his eye telling me that he’s trying to piss me off.
“I highly doubt that,” I scoff, desperately trying to cover up how just thinking about her makes me feel.
“Why?” both Remi and Conner ask simultaneously.
I understand why Conner has no idea, but it still surprises me that Remi has no clue about Hadley’s secret past.
“No reason,” I mutter.
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” Conner asks, suddenly sitting forward. “She’s spending the holiday alone in the dorms?”
“I’m sure she’s not alone,” I say, but the ache in my chest doesn’t like the idea of her being there in her room while most others have gone home to their loving families.
“That’s bullshit.” Conner pushes from his beanbag. “I’m not having that.”
“What are you suggesting?” Remi asks as the ball of dread in my stomach grows.
“Let’s go get her. She’s one of us, she shouldn’t be alone.”
“Conner,” I growl, pushing to stand before him.
“What?” he asks. “You going to hit me again for being her friend? For supporting her after you abandoned her?”
My fingers curl, but I don’t move my arms from my sides.
“I’m right, and you know it.”
My teeth grind. I hate the thought of Hadley being alone. But her being here? I already can’t think of anything worse than a bullshit family meal tomorrow. Having her here too… I’m not sure I’ll survive it.
“Do what the fuck you want, but don’t expect to see me.”
I blow out of the pool house to the sound of the three of them calling after me.
I might agree with them, but that doesn't mean I need to join the Hadley welcome party.
Swiping the first bottle I find, I walk straight out the front door and toward the beach.
Why James keeps restocking his liquor cabinet is beyond me. It’s like he’s asking me to get shitfaced every other day.
I’ve just twisted the cap off the bottle of whiskey when my cell starts ringing in my pocket. My heart jumps into my chest for a beat before I remember putting that bullet through Donny’s fucking head, and I relax slightly. No one else ever rings me, and both Conner and Ace know when to leave me alone.
Pulling it from my pocket, my brows pull together when I find Coach’s name staring back at me. I guess it has been a few days since he attempted to rip me a new one for my behavior.
“Coach,” I bark down the line the second the call connects.
“Cole, how are you doing?”
“Uh… yeah, you know.” He doesn't, but what exactly am I meant to say?
“Good, good. Listen, I have some good news for you.”
