“Well, I imagine there’s some kind of falling involved to go so far down.”
Despite everything, a tiny, broken smile tugged at my lips.Toby exhaled like he’d been on the edge of his own panic attack until I finally smiled and he was able to relax and truly believe I was okay.
“Come on,” he murmured, standing and pulling me up with him.“We’re getting out of here.I’m buying you an ice cream or a pie or something stupidly sweet until you hate sugar forever.”
“That’s impossible,” I whispered.
“Good,” he said, stepping close enough for me to lean into him.“I’m going to take care of you.”
I smiled at his determination to make the rest of the day go by more smoothly, and I was more than happy to go along with that.
“And Toby.Despite the end...I-I did have fun.”I swallowed hard.“And I hope that maybe someday we can come back with everyone.I think it’d be fun to shoot my friends.”
Toby stared at me in surprise before breaking out into loud laughter.He slung his arm around my shoulder, tucking me into his side.“And I’ll gladly take any bullet you shoot while holding them all down for you.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Backstage at schoolsmelled like dust, floor polish, and years’ worth of stage fright as everyone hustled around for the talent show.
Students hurried past carrying guitars, props, a literal cardboard sun someone had spray-painted recently, the paint still looking wet.I stood off to the side, guitar strapped across my chest, fingers tapping an anxious rhythm against the frets.Every time the auditorium door opened, a burst of chatter and laughter rushed in and made my stomach tighten more.
Mrs.Odera passed by with her clipboard and gave me a quick squeeze of the arm.“You go on third, sweetheart.”
The words hit harder than they should have.This was just a performance.A talent show.I’d done plenty of these and in front of tougher crowds than adoring parents.But today, everyone I knew had shown up and that made it harder.
When I peeked through the side curtain, the crowd almost overwhelmed me.
Micah was front and center with Hazel and Lillian.Hazel already had her camera ready to take pictures.Margo was seated between the twins, animatedly whispering something that made Lillian elbow her in the ribs.
The guys were sitting not far down from Micah, one row back.Justin was scanning the stage, waiting patiently.Bryan was beside him, posture stiff.Seth was in the aisle, talking to one of the teachers.I smiled, relaxing slightly seeing them there.I almost knew where everyone was.Toby was backstage somewhere, preparing for his own performance.
My chest tightened sharply when no amount of scanning revealed Paxon.I swallowed hard and forced myself to step back from the curtain before the ache turned into something embarrassing.I shouldn’t have been surprised.Not at this point.And yet, it still hurt.
“Cadie.”
I turned, breath catching.
