Page 23 (1/2)

My pulse raced, my heart pounded I wanted to hit him I wanted to hit hiambles away their kids’ food?

I ran to the bedrooirls I had no idea where I was going or how long I would be gone, but it didn’t et away

Zach didn’t try to stop me as I left In fact, I think he went back to sleep

My mother couldn’t knohat Zach had done, she’d never let me hear the end of it I only had one option: Alexa’s

She opened the front door to her house and shook her head

"Don’t say a word," I begged as I walked past her into her house and set the girls in Derek’s lap "Congratulations It’s a girl Actually, two of the her in the air

"Dude He is such an ass," Alexa snarled after I grabbed the bags frohed "That’s it, Alexa I irls, there’s no hope for the two of us"

"I hope you reallyan eyebrow at me "Don’t fall for any of his bullshit excuses You deserve better"

Zach and I were back together before Thanksgiving He showed up at Alexa’s house with apologies and eized for the twentieth tis before Christmas I melted and went home with him

"Earth to Pooks" Alexa’s voice rattled in rossed inthis whole ti about it, weren’t you? That day?"

I nodded and picked at ain

"You were stupid," she said

My head snapped up and I glared at her

"It’s true" She shrugged "You were stupid to go back to hi happens for a reason If you hadn’t gone back that time, who knohat your life would have been like?"

I sniffled and thought back to how hard I’d fought to be a good irls are lucky to have you, Kacie And all three of you are lucky to have Brody Do not fuck this up Just don’t"

"Hey!" I stood at h my front door

"Hi, honey" She came over and wrapped her arms around me "How’s my boy?"

"Fine How are you? Hoas your day?"

My ray and tired with dark circles under her eyes "It was long and exhausting" She sighed "But I’e silver pot on ? It smells delicious"

"Beef stew Your favorite" I so lie down and take a nap before dinner?"

A slight frown crossed her face as she tilted her head to the side "No way I just got here I’d feel bad"

"It’s okay I orried you’d beat et in, so I left as soon as practice ended and didn’t shower I’ll do that, take D for a walk, and then we can have soot all your chick hter" I walked over and took her sweater fro her shoulders as I pushed her toward uest room She felt small, weak… like if I squeezed too hard, her bones would shatter right in my hands

"Sounds like fun" She yawned "I’ll try not to sleep long"

"Mo anywhere" I kissed her on the cheek before she walked down the hall, disappearing into the dark room

I added the carrots to the pot and hustled off to my room to shower When I was done, I hooked Diesel up to his leash, peeked in on rabbedbeat Minnesota in early Septes The air was cool and for a people watcher likethe jackpot Diesel did his business and we parked it on a bench outsidewhile I texted Kacie

HEY, BABY YOU BUSY?

K: HEY! ROUGH DAY :( NEEDED TO LAUGH I’M AT THE MOVIE THEATER WITH THE GIRLS

Shit