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“Mom. Stop. I changed in the bathroom, and I’ll be at the church in a half hour.” She sighs, and I swear to God I want to scream.
“If anyone asks, your sister couldn’t get away from school long enough to come home.”
Mom never stops making excuses for Haley. She’s been out of rehab for over two years, but she doesn’t want to come back to Kroydon Hills. That’s her choice. I’m not sure why my mom insists on keeping it some kind of secret.
“Yeah, Mom. I know.”
I caught the red-eye last night so I could be home for John Kingston’s funeral today, and I’m catching another red-eye tonight, so I don’t miss any classes tomorrow. My sister can’t drive a few hours to get here, but apparently, being a few minutes late after flying across the country is unacceptable.
“Mom,” I cut off whatever she’s saying that I’ve already tuned out. “I think I see my Uber. I’ll see you soon. Love you. Bye.”
I slide into the back seat. “Hi. How long will it take to get to the cathedral?”
The driver looks at his screen and tells me it’ll take twenty-seven minutes.
“Thank you.” I unzip my carry-on and search for my black, patent-leather heels, then slip them on, and dig out my makeup case so I can try to make myself look as presentable as possible. Not the best I’ve ever looked, but it’ll have to be good enough.
Once we get to the cathedral, I grab my bag, get out of the car, and look up at the long, daunting marble stairs in front of me, second-guessing my choice in shoes. Maybe heels weren’t the best move.
People are mingling at the bottom of the steps, and Sawyer and a few of his siblings stand at the top near the doors. His sisters, Scarlet and Lenny, are speaking to and consoling guests as they leave the church, while Sawyer and Hudson stand behind them, looking stoic and not saying a word.
I guess the viewing is over and the service is starting soon.
I slowly and carefully climb the steps and hug the girls first. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks for coming, Wren. I think we’re about to head inside,” Scarlet tells me as Hudson wraps an arm around Lenny and guides her through the doors.
My eyes dart to Sawyer, who hasn’t looked up yet.
I haven’t seen him much during the four years since I left Kroydon Hills, but I follow his socials and know what he’s been up to. He’s become so successful for a twenty-two-year-old, I’m constantly blown away but not surprised.
“Thanks, Scarlet. I’ll be in, in a second.”
She looks between Sawyer and me and nods her head. Everyone knows we have more of a hate/hate relationship than a love/hate one, but today... Today, I push that all aside. I want to be here for him. Scarlet walks into the church, leaving Sawyer and me alone on the steps.
I drop my bags, and without any forethought to my own sense of self-preservation, I walk into his personal space and wrap my arms around his waist. “I’m so sorry, Sawyer. I know how much your dad meant to you.”
I bury my face against his black suit coat and realize what a dumb move this probably was, just before Sawyer’s strong arms wrap around me, and his chin rests on my head. “I just can’t believe he’s gone,” he answers in a watery voice, and his hold on me tightens.
We stand there in silence for a few minutes, holding each other in a way we never have, and something about it feels oddly normal.
Like we aren’t the same two people who fought like cats and dogs to be valedictorian of our senior class. The captains of the boys and girls swim teams, who bickered over whose team was better. Like he wasn’t the same asshole who dared me to jump off Kroydon Falls into the lake below, then laughed when I came up for air and my bikini top was missing.
And that was before everything changed.
None of that matters now.
Right now, we’re just Sawyer and Wren.
Two people who’ve known each other our entire lives.
Even though I wouldn’t call him a friend, he’s hurting. And that, by itself, hurts my heart.
I let my hands trace the planes of his back, sliding them up and down and attempting to soothe him. I’m not sure if it’s working, but it’s definitely having an unexpected effect on me. I force myself to stay put until Sawyer drops his hands. He runs them over my hair, then picks up my bag for me.
“We better go inside before they start the mass without me.” Sawyer places his palm on the small of my back, and a small tremble runs down my spine.
He walks me to the pew where my parents are seated, which is across the aisle from where his siblings sit. I kiss my parents and sit down, but my eyes are drawn to where Sawyer takes his place between his siblings. They’re seated oldest to youngest, starting with Max and ending with Jace.
