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His hand was back in mine the moment he was beside me

I didn’t hear much that was said after that I was too focused on West and the rigid way he was standing It was as if he’d turned to stone His grip onon to me for fear I’d run off

I was okay with that I didn’t intend to leave hirave, West inhaled sharply, and hisinto hiainst hian to leave So to his mother, but it was all very quiet Brady, Asa, Nash, Gunner, and Ryker all walked up and stood behind West Each one squeezed his shoulder and said things like, "I’m here if you need me, man," and "Love you, bro," and "You need ed all of theed Olivia, which only made her cry more Once they were done, they all sloalked away I didn’t knohat West wantedon lanced over at his ht?"

I could do whatever he wanted me to do I nodded

"I’ll be at the bottom of the ladder at eleven"

"I’ll meet you there"

There was a knock on ht I knew my aunt and uncle were already in bed, so the only person it could be was Brady I had stayed up here the rest of the day and tried to read But my mind had been on West and his mother If he needed me and called, I wanted to be alone so I could answer hi the door to Brady, I stared up at him curiously He never ca to me anymore I couldn’t blame him It was hard to talk to someone who didn’t talk back

"Can I co back so he could co he never did I knew this was about West I i about him today too It was hard not to after the last few days

Brady walked in, his hands tucked into his front pockets, looking unsure of what to do or say

"Mom and Dad are asleep, but sound travels down that hall Could you close the door?" he asked

I did as he asked

"I saw you talk to hiht I saw it before, but I definitely know I saw it today"

I had expected this, eventually Although I had tried not talking to him where people could see, there were ti other than co West

I didn’t reply What did he want me to say? Did he expect e everything Tomorrow I’d have to face a life where people expected s I didn’t want to tell the was o

"I didn’t see it once, Maggie I saw it several times And I’ve seen it at school You don’t alwaysto you I can tell by his expression" Brady sighed and ran a hand through his hair "I’m not here to demand that you talk to me Or anyone I’m justI’m confused If you can talk, ouldn’t you talk to everyone? Why just West?"

He was asking questions Questions he wanted ht I walked over to get the note pad on myseat I wrote:

He needs me I understand him and his pain