page76 (2/2)

“I’ether, but it’s been more off than on over the years Liza didn’t want to be tied down, and Sledge was the only one to give her the freedom she wanted”

I study her expression, wondering why she looks a little upset

“This is good, Maya Means I don’t have to bust up a friend to keep hi to bust you up”

She peers up atabsently

“It is good,” she agrees “Just didn’t realize how hard you had to be on the ground floor Makes me wonder if they ever even cared about each other I mean, truly cared My father would have never believed so like that about my mother, even if he’d seen it with his own eyes”

She stands and joins me

“Are we still going outside?” she asks abruptly

How hard you had to be on the ground floor? What does that mean? I’m tempted to re with the wrong people when her Family was attacked But it seems a little cold to throw in her face like that

Instead of saying anything and prolonging this unexplainable aard tension that’s settled between us, I nod and puther out We walk out to join the others who have a fire burning as Drex writes in the sand with a stick

It’s rare they light up a joint, but tonight…well, hell It’s been a shitty tis lately

I wave it off as a blunt is offered to me by Drake, and opt to simply drink beer

Maya joins Colleen, who I’ainst the back of a SUV to talk to her

One day, I’ll fucking figure out what’s going on in her head, but apparently that’s not today

Just as I take a seat by Drake, who is obnoxiously spilling out his own conspiracy theories about ent down today, I hear what Maya said earlier I really hear it As though it’s just now sinking in

The words echo inthat happened o