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She picks it up off the bed and presses her lips to my cheek before leaving again. All I can do is stare at the place where she just stood, too shocked to move.
I WAIT FOR KAYLEIGH to fall asleep that night before I lose it, grabbing my phone and heading outside to call Brandon. Everything from the last week and a half is playing through my mind like a movie reel. The way she would wake up irritable, only to leave and come back a little while later in a much better mood. How she keeps going out with some new friend she doesn’t want me to meet. Her tendency to argue with me more. They’ve all been signs that I’ve been too blind to see for myself.
The phone rings and goes to voicemail but I hang up and call again. This is urgent. He’ll understand.
“Hello?” Brandon answers sleepily.
“Bran.”
“H? What’s wrong?” The panic in my voice wakes him up in an instant.
“I-it’s Kayleigh.”
“What happened? Is she okay? What’s going on?”
I groan and throw my head back, sitting on the curb a little ways down from my house. “She’s in some trouble.”
“More trouble? Is this the eating disorder thing again?”
“No. Well, I’m sure it has something to do with it, but no. I think this may be worse.”
“Worse?!” He sounds worried.
I nod even though he can’t see me and take a deep breath. “She’s doing coke.”
He starts to laugh. “Christ, Holden. Don’t scare me like that.” I’m quiet until he realizes I’m not joking. “Wait, you’re serious?!”
“Yeah.”
“How the fuck did that happen?! She was hesitant to try smoking weed not even two months ago.”
“I know, but I got her to try it anyway. That’s what I mean. Is this my fault? Did I start her on another destructive path? Did I do this?!”
“No.” He answers immediately. “Not at all. This wasn’t your doing. You would never allow her to get into something like that.”
He’s right, but it’s harder to convince myself of that. I feel insanely guilty. “What do I do? I’ve had a hard-enough time getting her to listen to me about eating. How can I possibly get her to beat this too?”
Brandon exhales. “That’s tough. Honestly, I would just try to keep a closer eye on her. Get her to avoid doing it as much as you can.”
“Should I tell her I know about it?”
“I wouldn’t. It could cause her to get defensive and push you away. How did you find out?”
I run my fingers through my hair. “Her friend’s dealer is a friend of mine. Well, was at least until I found out what he was doing. He told me and I said he was wrong. Then today, I found some hidden in her locket.”
“Okay.” He says after a moment. “That could be beneficial to you though. Try asking him not to deal to them anymore. Start there. In the meantime, keep Kayleigh away from the girl she’s getting it from as much as possible.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll try that. Thanks man.”
“Anytime.”
We hang up the phone and I instantly search for Jordan’s contact. When I find it, I send him a text.
Me: Hey man. Don’t deal to Kayleigh’s friend anymore.
His response is almost instantaneous.
Jordan: Finally realized I was
