“Let me see.” He takes the phone from me and skim-reads the article. “Shit, I didn’t know this about him.”
“Really? It seems like it’s pretty big news.”
“Yeah, sometimes I get lost in my own world, worrying about stuff. Finn says I’m wasting my life with all the worrying I’m doing.” He frowns as he puts his phone onto his lap.
“He might be right, but I think you have stuff to worry about.” I pause with my lips pressed together. “Have you ever thought about trying to get out of it?”
His eyes lift to mine. “Lately, yeah. I think the closer it gets to the day I have to give up my future, the more I think about it. It’s almost like knowing the day you’re going to die.”
I feel so bad for him. “I’m sorry. As much as my life has sucked, I’ve never felt that sort of responsibility.”
He gives me areallylook. “Maddy, your dad threw you under the bus, and now you have drug dealers chasing after you.”
“Is that the same, though? I mean, mine isn’t indefinitely.” Is it?
What if it is? What if my father’s sins always haunt me?
I swallow hard at that thought as the car arrives at the academy. It slows to a stop at the stairway that leads to the entrance. River thanks the driver then opens his door and leaves it open for me to climb out. I scoop over and get out, the cool air wrapping around me and dancing through my hair.
River leans in to collect the bag of milk and cookies then shuts the door.
“I’m sorry,” he sputters as we ascend the stairs.
“For what?” I grip the railing as I walk.
“I feel like I bummed you out by saying that stuff about your father.” The bag brushes against his leg as he takes a step. “I don’t know why I brought it up.”
“It’s just the truth. And you didn’t bum me out. I’m just thinking about if there will ever be a time when I won’t have to think about him, you know.”
“I wish I could envision a time when I didn’t have to talk to my father, but that’ll never happen.” He sighs. “He’ll be in my life for an eternity, constantly reminding me that I have his blood running through my veins.”
We arrive at the top of the stairs then and veer right toward the grass area.
“He’s never been that way with Finn?” I wonder, hugging my arms around myself.
“Honestly, he’s been pretty neglectful toward Finn. I think that’s why he is the way he is.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, my twin brother is a total attention whore.” He points his finger toward the gate that leads to the track. “You want to go sit at the bleachers?”
“Sure.” I follow him as he starts in that direction. “You think that’s why he is the way he is?”
“I’m not positive, but it’s my theory.” He opens the gate and moves to the side to let me go first.
Once I’m in, he steps in beside me and shuts and locks the gate behind us.
My gaze takes in the surroundings, the shadows of the trees in the distance, the occasional light glowing against the darkness. Not a single person is in sight and, instinctively, I get nervous about being alone. In northside, walking like this is asking to get jumped. And it’s not that I believe Royal City is a completely safe place—look at the note that was left on my door.
However, I trust River, and that is so weird.
“You good?” River asks as he steps up beside me with worry creasing his features.
I realize I’m standing motionless near the entrance, staring into empty space.
“Yeah, I was thinking.” My boots scuff as I start toward the bleachers. “About how, if I were in northside, I’d never voluntarily walk around alone like this.” I step up onto the metal stairs that lead to the bleachers. “I did it like when I got off work, but that was out of necessity.”
As I reach the first row of bleachers, I plop down into a seat and let out a whimper as the cold metal presses through the thin material of my tights.
