Lily pulls her mouth in for a tight smile and James paces away a few steps. I can’t help but consider what the mediator said this morning—people don’t know how to interact with me since Anika’s death.
“Speaking of my mom, I think I have some unfinished business there too. I don’t suppose you would be up for a trip to Charlestown?” I can tell by Lily’s instantly frozen features that the thought of meeting my mom today terrifies her.
“Even if it’s just for the ride in. I could use the company, maybe practice my speech before I confront her and my stepfather.”And maybe have a getaway driver on hand if I decide to toss Neil from the balcony.
“I’ll go with you. And if you want me to wait in the car, I will. But if you want me to go in with you, I’ll do that too.” She tugs her bag up on her shoulder and slips her feet into her slides before reaching a hand to me. I squeeze it tight before loosening my grip, a silent thanks for her willingness.
We leave the fieldhouse with James, and he ditches us when we get to Hayden Hall. I follow Lily inside and sit on her bed while she searches through her basket of laundry for a pair of jeans. Morgan and Brooklyn are each sitting on their beds with headphones on, but it’s rather obvious by the way they alternately pick up and put down their phones that they’re texting about me. I pull my phone out and send a message to them.
ME:I’m in the room if you want to ask me anything.
I rest my phone on my leg and scoot back on Lily’s bed while they both pick up their phones at the same time then flip their heads up to look at me. I smirk and wave.
“We didn’t want to be nosy,” Morgan says, slipping her headphones down to her neck.
I laugh so loud it pulls Lily out from the closet to see what’s going on. I point to Morgan, still laughing.
“She didn’t want to be nosy,” I say.
Lily smiles and laughs.
“You guys! Stop, that’s not nice. It’s not like I’m in everybody’s business,” Morgan protests.
Brooklyn’s headphones are off now too, and the three of us exchange glances before finally breaking into hard laughter.
“Ugh! Fine, I don’t care what happened to you today. I hope you got kicked out and then shipped overseas to some zoo.” She finishes her tantrum off by sticking out her tongue and pulling her headphones back on.
I glance to Brooklyn.
“I’m not in any big trouble. I have this get out of jail free card,” I say, forcing a crooked, sad smile on my face.
“For what it’s worth, it was nice to see Oliver Raskin get his ass kicked,” Brooklyn says.
“What do you think? Am Imeet-the-momappropriate?” Lily steps out in her Welles sweatshirt and a loose pair of jeans. My mom will probably like the lack of holes in them.
“You look gorgeous,” I say, pushing up from her bed and crossing the room to pull her in front of me and take a selfie of us in the girls’ full-length mirror.
“And. . . time for my headphones to go back on,” Brooklyn says, making a fake gagging sound. Lily pushes her friend’s knee, and they share a short laugh.
I hold on to Lily’s hand as she grabs her wallet, phone, and keys and leads me out the door. I pull her close to my side as we walk down the hallway to the stairwell, and I kiss the top of her head before we open the door.
“I like seeing you that way with your friends,” I say.
She sucks in her bottom lip and smiles up at me.
“Me, too.”
* * *
It’s an hour drive to my mom’s house. Sunday traffic is light. I run through a few talking points with Lily during our trip, but I’m still not fully prepared for confrontation when we pull up outside my mom’s house.
“Is that the car?” Lily asks, gesturing to the bright red classic sitting near the house. It’s been covered for months. Neil left it here that way. The fact it’s not now means he’s been driving it, which means he’s here a lot. Probablymorethan a lot.
“That’s the one.” I kill the engine and lean back in my seat, giving the car a long, hard stare.
“We don’t have to do this. Not if you changed your mind.” She’s reassuring me and it’s sweet, but I think we both know I’m not going to be able to focus much this semester if I don’t take care of this thing with my mom and Neil.
“Ready?” I shift my gaze to her, and she reaches across the console, placing her hand on my mine and squeezing.