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We’re silent, just sitting together Eventually, Marie, Colt, and Mom come in, and I’m taken to lorious heaven that came before, her whispered I love you and her skin in the ht and then the Corvette is there, phone-lit face, too close, crashing iether onthe saut My arm aches, and I realize I don’t even know if it’s broken

The next day, we both go home

We bothwhich we both heal,while before the cast comes off Other than that, I’m fine My ribs are bruised, but they heal quickly, and the various cuts and deep scrapes on s, and the stitches onkinky is off-limits for Kylie until her ribs heal For the first week, she can’t ot the chance to take up Colt on his offer to check out his friend’s garage, which sucks That would’ve been a good job But I’m not in any shape to work on cars yet It takes nearly a month, and we’re both back to al, but the cast will co with Kylie on her front porch, watching a show on Netflix on her laptop, watching night fall around us We’re holding hands, the laptop on both of our laps as we rock gently on the two-person rocking chair It’s become our favorite spot lately, since there’s not ut clenches when I see a black Silverado pull into the driveway across the street Kylie tenses, too She hasn’tthere was some kind of discussion between them after the accident

He sees us, and Ithis way, hands fisted at his sides

“Oz” His voice is cal this can be a civil conversation

I hear the laptop close behind me, and then the chair squeak as she stands up Her footsteps shuffle She still has a hard ti her soo hard as he watches hertito say, Ben?” I ask “Then say it”

“Yeah, in fact I do have so hiot her killed, Hyde You and your stupidto be next? It’ll be so hazard, Hyde I knew froet her hurt And you did”

“I’nores her “You know those ribs al centimeters, dude It could’ve been her heart Killed her in seconds And it would have been your fault Because you just have to try to be so godda an assle, Ben It was an accident It wasn’t his fault” Kylie pushes between us, stares him down “Go home”

“No, Ky Yeah, it may have been an accident, but that’s just the start of it What’s gonna happen with you two? You’re gonna go off and, what? Do your littleher around with you on the back of your bike, and eventually you’re gonna get her killed”

“Stop it, Ben! You’re being ridiculous It was an accident And e do is none of your business” She frowns up at hi to you, Ben? Who are you? And what’s this really about?”

Ben spins away, turns back, raking his hand over his head “What’s this about?” He jabs a finger in my direction, and I forceassle He’s all wrong for you, Kylie He alas, and he alill be He’s nobody, froh for you! And you’re just so fking blind that you can’t see horong he is!”