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I needed to know what they meant by that, but before I could reply, my phone started buzzing in my hand, telling me that I had an incoming video call.
Hailey.
My friend who’d been there that night. She’d been at school with Tim while I was away at Hatherley Hall, but we’d always been close. And she was the only person who knew about Zayde, until now.
“Hailey.”
“Fal, are you okay? I got your text, and I’d planned to call you tonight anyway, but then I saw the papers online. Those bastards. I just knew everyone would jump to conclusions, but I know for a fact that you’d never have anything to do with a story like that.” On the screen, I could see her face pulling into a frown. Behind her, through a sash window, I could see the cobbled street she lived on gleaming in the rain, thrown into sharp relief by the glow of the lamp posts.
I glanced over at James. He coughed, climbing to his feet. “I’m going to check out some stuff on my laptop in my bedroom.”
Glad that he could sense that I needed a bit of space, I settled back into the sofa cushions, angling my phone so that my face filled the screen. “I’m not really okay.”
By the time I’d finished giving her all the details, her brows were pulled together in an even deeper frown, and her bottom lip was red from where she’d been biting down on it. “Disregarding the paper for just a minute, exactly what happened that night? Because I remember Zayde’s face, Fallon, and I’ve never, ever seen anyone so utterly devastated as he was.”
Fuck.
“I-it hurts too much to think about it,” I whispered. “I don’t want to remember.”
“I know it hurts. But you have to. Please. Listen to me. It’s the only way you’ll be able to move on.”
“I can’t.”
“You can.” Her voice was firm, and her eyes were brimming with empathy. “I know you can.”
I took a deep, shuddering breath. “I know you’re right. I’ve just…I’ve been holding on to the hate for so long. What happens if it’s gone? What if it turns out it was my fault?”
“Fallon. Listen to me very carefully. Tim’s death is notanyone’sfault. It was a horrible, horrible accident.”
“You don’t…I don’t…I can’t…”
“Hey. It’s alright. Take some time. You don’t have to have all the answers straight away. I know you can get through this, but if you need moral support, I’m only a phone call away, and I can come back to Alstone if you need me. You don’t have to face this alone.”
“Th-thank you.” I hoped she could see just how sincere I was. “I need time to think about everything. Can I phone you again when my head’s not all over the place?”
She gave me a soft smile. “Whatever you need.”
We said our goodbyes, and when she was gone, I felt like a tiny bit of the weight had been lifted.
I had about ninety seconds of respite before my phone chimed with another message.
Unknown:Outside. We need to talk
Racing to the nearest window, I lifted the blinds, scanning the street below.
A matte-black motorbike was parked in the glow of a street lamp, the rider dressed all in black, their head tilted upwards, towards my window, their face obscured by the visor of their helmet.
My heart stuttered, then kicked into high gear.
“James?” I called. “I’m going out. Don’t wait up for me.”
The sound of the blinds being yanked up, followed by a muffled curse, rang in my ears as I closed the door behind me and raced down the stairs and out of the building. I didn’t stop running until I was right in front of Zayde’s beast of a motorbike, its owner holding it upright between his powerful thighs.
He handed me a shiny red helmet, and I wasted no time in jamming it on my head and straddling the bike behind him. When I’d wrapped my arms around his waist, he twisted the throttle, and then we shot off down the street. A smile of pure joy spread across my face, unexpected and bright. Just being here in this moment, forgetting everything else, I was free. Untouchable, flying along the open roads, protected by the warm body in front of me. It was a heady rush that I didn’t think I’d ever tire of.
We reached the Four’s driveway, and he pulled up next to a row of cars. Every single one was matte black, as was Zayde’s bike.
Lifting my visor, I climbed off the bike. Stretching out my arms and legs, I glanced over at Zayde, who had lifted his own visor and was pulling off his thick leather gloves.
