Once I’m in the car, I drive straight to Willowbrook High. This place used to be my second home. Now it’s as foreign as the expression Everett has pointed at me.
“Why are you here, Ivy?” He throws the ball and grabs another. “I have to concentrate We don’t all have endless options after moving to a preppy school.”
“The night of my mom’s accident, was my dad there? Was he at the scene? You said no one could reach him? Was it possible that he was nearby?”
Everett drops the football to the ground then pulls me to the sideline, “Ivy, I can’t do this right now.”
“Please. He knows what I said to her. How would he know that unless he was at the accident scene? Did you ever hear that? I didn’t even tell you, right?”
“No,” Everett replies. “You’re going to drive yourself crazy with questions if you read into every little thing.”
“That’s not a little thing, Everett. I just want to know the truth. Is that too much to ask?”
He glances out to the field. “Did your boyfriend not want to help you investigate?”
“Oh my God, this is not about him. And he’s not my boyfriend. I really need y’all to stop.”
“Even if you don’t think of me like that, I thought we were at least friends. But you’ve ditched me every chance you’ve gotten.”
“I promised I’d be at the game tomorrow, and I meant it.”
His head drops, his shoulders slump forward as he digs his cleats into the grass.
Once again, I try to be a good friend. But I get why he wouldn’t believe me. “I’ll be here. Promise.”
He smiles and bumps his knuckles against my chin. “I’m counting on you.”
I’m counting on Mercy not to have really bad timing again. “Let me know if you think of anything else. I just want to know what happened.”
Everett questions, “What if it’s too much? What if he did it?”
“I want to know.”
“Be careful what you wish for, Ivy. Some answers come at a high price.”
I agree. But I feel like I’ve paid the ultimate price—my mom. And the regret that I’ll never get to apologize to her for what I said. What else could that accident possibly cost me?
58
LUCA
“Are you coming to the field tonight?” Micah asks. “I hear Ivy is going to be there cheering on the enemy.”
“Yes. I heard.” And my brother is enjoying the fact way too much.
“I could give you a lift if you want,” he offers, and I stop and look up from my sketchbook.
“Fine. Just trying to be brotherly.” He’s full of shit as usual. There’s no ceasefire. We’re still adversaries as he drops down on the chair across from me.
I ignore him, going back to my drawing. It’s an easy feat until the chirping parrot arrives and repeats the question, “Are you coming to the game tonight?”
“Yes, Brooke. I will be there. Ivy will be there. She’s cheering for dipshit.”
“She’s cheering?” Brooke jumps out of her chair, but Micah explains, “Not officially.” He pulls at her skirt and she slaps his hand away before they bicker on their way out of the room.
After a few minutes, I give in and head to Willowbrook’s stadium. This is definitely the first time I’ve attended a football game at any field.
Cain and Remy are already running drills when I spot them on the field. As I scan the bleachers, I spot Ivy down on the field talking to her former teammates.
