“Come on, call me Florence. I think we’re past the Mrs. Stevens stage.”
I nod, but my stomach churns. There’s so much going on and I’m not sure I’m ready for any of it. Florence waves Hayley and Reed forward, and Reed smiles as he approaches, while Hayley’s not so calm, throwing her arms around my neck, squeezing the life out of me.
“Choking here.” I jokingly cough and she pulls back, gasping when she sees my neck.
“Bloody hell. What happened there?”
“A fight with my dad.” I shrug. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“Oh, right.” She bites back a smile. “That’s mostly why we’re here.”
“Mostly?”
“We’re giving our statements in person now that Landon’s, you know…” she trails off and I don’t hesitate to fill in the blank.
“Dead?”
“Yeah. How are you doing?”
“Ah, you know… I’m peachy.”
Hayley rolls her eyes while Reed cups my arm, drawing my attention. “You’re not allowed to blame yourself for his death, okay? If it hadn’t played out the way it did, I would have done it myself.”
“While I don’t necessarily believe that, I appreciate you trying to help.”
“You don’t think I’d protect Hayley?” He stands taller, affronted, and Hayley laughs.
“That’s not what I said. You definitely would have protected her; you just would have gone about it in a better way.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Zane—”
“Thank you both for coming,” I cut in. “I haven’t exactly been the greatest friend, but I guess I can promise to try harder.”
It’s obvious Reed wants to say more, to dive deeper, but he’s also the type of guy that knows what his friends need. And since I’m one of those friends, whether I want to be or not, he smiles. “We’d be grateful for you trying at all.”
Hayley giggles, and I have to admit, I feel a little better knowing they’re here for me. But more than that, I trust that they’ll be there for Blair, if and when she needs them.
“Have you seen Keeley and D’Angelo?” I change the subject before Reed gets all mushy. “I want to thank them too.”
“Ahh. I think D’Angelo had to make a call, and Keeley asked the receptionist if they had a spare office. She needs to make a statement.”
“Fuck.” I cringe as dread fills me. I knew the media would be all over this, but didn’t think it would hit so soon. “Do you know which office?”
“I’m pretty sure it was that one.” Reed points toward the door I thought was a janitor’s closet since it looks more weathered than the rest, and I nod my thanks.
“Are you two heading back tonight?” I ask them, despite assuming they are. Why would they stay?
“We’re all heading back. I’m sure D’Angelo will tell you, but there’s a spot for you and Blair. If you want it.”
My eyes flit to where Blair’s talking to her parents, and my chest burns.
“Last week I would have jumped at that offer—anything to get me away from this place. But now… I think I need a little more time. Even just a night. I have seven years of assholery to make up for.”
“And another two years of that when you get back to San Francisco,” Hayley adds, her sassy grin making me laugh as she pats me on the back.
