This song always brings the best memories, followed by the darkest ones that have haunted me for years.
Adam stares at me from under his brows, pouting as he stands Mom’s favorite 1953 Corvette and she revs up the engine. “Let’s go, boys!”
“Arch, you are a shithead,” my little bro swears. “You ditching us again?”
I make big eyes. “I can’t go right now,” I whisper.
“Liar.”
“Listen, Adam, I’m gonna go meet Emily.”
He wrinkles his nose.
Yeah, twelve, and I was already chasing skirts.
“Always girls.” Adam playfully punches my shoulder with his little fist, then lights up right away like he always does—so easy to forgive. “Don’t worry. I got your back.”
He gives me that crooked wink of his as he gets in the car with Mom.
“Where’s Archer?” she asks.
“He’s not going.”
“What do you mean he’s not going?”
I grin.
In a moment, they are gone.
The next time I see them is at the funeral, the two coffins too out of place on a bright sunny day when we bury Mom and Adam.
44
KAT
Marlow’s been missingfor two days. He never told me what day the Outcasts were moving to the Westside.
So his message arrives out of the blue as I sit at my desk at work.
Marlow: The Outcasts are boarding the boats on the Eastside.
What?
He doesn’t pick up when I call.
Marlow: I’ll call you back in a bit.
How am I the last person to know?
I dial Kai, then Maddy, but no one answers.
Whatever, busy bees. I bite my lip in disappointment.
I can barely sit straight in my seat when, two hours later, Archer walks into the Center and, without acknowledging me, goes straight to his office.
Another minute later, I knock on his door and barge in. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He looks up at me, lazily checking out my outfit. “Tell you what?”