“Yes, you are.” He hoisted his backpack over his shoulder more. “And this weekend, man…I needed you.” His jaw clenched. “Willow and I got into it.”
“What?” Felt like he kicked me in the gut with those words. “What do you mean? You got into it?”
“Got into a fight, man.” He shoved me. “My best friend wasn’t there for me.”
“But you were at her place all weekend.”
“Well, we figured it out while you were off with Pax, getting drunk.”
“Brodie. I’m—”
“Those texts, Preach.” He went to step around me, but I got in front of him.
“I know. I was being a huge jerk. But I’m done with all of that. I’m done with drinking and skipping school. I’m running track. I’m trying to make things right. For real, Wind.” My heart hammered, and my mouth went dry. “You’re my best friend.”
Brodie pushed his shoulders back and exhaled.
“I know it’ll take time, but I’ll make it up to you.”
“It’s not just about me,” Brodie responded. “You’ve hurt a lot of people. Jessa has been in tears for days.”
My stomach clenched.
“Have you talked to her yet?” Brodie asked, his voice not quite as loud.
“She’s avoiding me like the plague, too.” I slouched. “I was hoping that if I gave her some space before trying to apologize again, she’d agree to hear me out.”
He held up his phone and showed me the texts. “They hurt, man. A lot.”
I nodded.
“I get it. You were pissed at…everything.” He shook his head.
“I was. Still am, kind of, but not off-the-wagon mad.”
“You were freaking me out. Willow, too.”
“I was freaking myself out.” I held out my fist. “We good?”
He knuckle bumped me and nodded. “Come on, let’s eat.”
“Can’t. Off to hammer out an hour cleaning out that storage room.” I shuffled back from Brodie. “I’ll catch you later, though. Thanks, man.”
“Have fun with Grace,” he called out after me.
I hustled around the corner toward the stairwell to the lower level.Have fun with Grace.Since yesterday, since the kiss, she was all weird. Got a ride to school from Sam instead of with me and Brodie. And during our independent study hour down in the storage room, she was distant. Short with me. Not that she was normally super chatty, but still.
She was totally regretting the kiss. I knew it. I could tell.
I pulled open the door and found Grace sitting on the floor, staring at an old yearbook. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Grace?”
Her back straightened, and she wiped her face with her good hand, then tossed the yearbook to the floor. “Oh, hey.”
I dropped my backpack and slid to her side. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She coughed, then hopped to her feet. “Just…dust. This place is a shithole.”