I keep my focus on Cory. “You become the company you keep. You should surround yourself with people who are going places. People who will lift you up. Not the kind of people who drag you down with them.”
“Yes, sir.” He lifts his eyes to mine, and something familiar tugs at my heart. There’s an innocence in his eyes, something I once saw when I looked at Leo.
I release his wrists and cross my arms over my chest. “I’m letting you go with a warning.”
Phil’s mouth drops open. “Another warning? Come on, man. These punks will just do the same thing again tomorrow.”
“Then we’ll bring ’em in.” I shrug and glance between the boys. “This is your last chance. Don’t fuck it up.”
They take off running in the direction their friends ran before.
“You’re too nice for your own good.” Phil blows a low whistle and shakes his head. “You know you’re gonna regret this decision, right?”
“Probably.”
I pull off my shirt and toss it into the hamper before collapsing on the bed.
I slip my legs under the covers, telling myself I won’t look into Phoenix’s window even though I know I will. I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to her.
What would she think of me if she knew I spied on her every night before bed? Would she be creeped out? Angry? Would she stop speaking to me?
I crack open the book on my nightstand and settle against my headboard to read. But I keep reading the same sentence over and over again, until I toss the book onto my comforter, and lift my eyes to the window.
She’s sitting up in bed with her elbows resting on her knees. She’s staring at her phone, the glow from her screen illuminating her face in the darkness. Then she wipes her eye with the back of her hand and hangs her head between her knees.
What is she looking at that’s making her so sad?
She didn’t tell me the whole truth about what happened between her and her mother. I didn’t want to pry, but I could tell there’s more to the story than what she told me.
My heart thumps a quick rhythm as I watch her body shake with her sobs. I can’t go over there. It’s late, and I can’t let her know I was watching her. Yet it pains me to see her upset and not be able to do anything about it.
I snatch my phone off the charger, and type out a text:
Me: You up?
I watch as her head pops up to look at her phone. Her lips curve up, and my chest squeezes at the mere sight of her almost smile. I hold my breath in anticipation until my phone vibrates in my hand.
Phoenix: Yup. What are you doing up?
Me: Just got home from my shift.
Phoenix: Catch any bad guys?
Me: Not tonight. Just some punk teenagers.
Phoenix: Ever shoot somebody?
Phoenix: Wait, is that too personal?
Me: Yes, and no.
Phoenix: You killed someone?!
Me: I said I shot someone, not killed.
Phoenix: *phew* Breaking and entering is where I draw the line.
Me: Gotta have standards.