PROLOGUE
BIANCA
Eight Years Ago
“You okay, Freckles?”
I glance up at my best friend, finding his eyebrows furrowed. A hesitant nod leaves me, but he doesn’t seem to believe it as he wraps his arms around my body. It seems cliché, but every time he hugs me, it gives this serenity that I crave even after we pull away.
“Freckles?” I hear again.
I give him a small smile. “I’m sorry. Um, what were you saying?”
“Forget about that. What were you thinking about?”
Memories from years ago plague my mind, flashes of red and blue turning up more than once. A soft breath leaves me as I remember my small, trembling hand reaching out as they carried him away. My eyes flick down to my arms, and it’s almost as if the pieces of glass are still in my skin. I blink to rid myself of the thoughts, given it wasn’t the only thing weighing down on me today. “Nothing important. Don’t worry about it,” I say to reassure Liam.
He squints, but lets it go, thankfully, still giving me another one of his hugs regardless. “It’s okay, you’re safe. I’m here.”
I sigh, hugging him harder with his statement. We pull back and his eyebrows are pinched together. “I hate that you went throughthat. If we had met earlier, maybe you would’ve—I don’t know—not felt so alone?” he states. It sounds as heartfelt and genuine as ever, but that doesn’t surprise me because that’s all Liam is. At my lack of a response, he continues, “I’m sorry, Freckles. I’m here now, okay? If you want to be sad, I’m here with you.”
I turn slightly to put my head on his shoulder, us both sighing in unison as he slides his fingers through mine. Today was our weekly cloud-watching day, and we were up in the tree house Dad had built for me. There is a soothing silence, and I relish it.
I love spending days with him; he always makes everything feel so much better, and I was going to miss that.
I was going to miss him.
The eviction notice we got a couple weeks ago hangs above my head, wanting to tarnish the moment. Mom has already gone through the trouble of telling everyone, but I asked her to let me tell Liam. The only problem was, I could never find the right time.
Now, I’m moving in less than twenty-four hours and my best friend has no idea.
“Liam?”
He looks at me with those captivating, forest-green eyes, and for a moment, I lose my train of thought. With determination, I shake my head, knowing Ihaveto tell him today.
“Yeah?” he answers, and I falter.
How could I tell him? It was going to break his heart.
“Um, never mind. Hey, you promised me a movie and popcorn.”
His pearly whites show and he stands, pulling me with him. “That I did, Freckles. Race you to my house?”
I climb down the ladder, not giving him an answer, before taking off running. He groans in the distance, and I laugh at that. Making it to his front door faster than ever, I triumphantly walk upstairs to hisroom. My jaw drops when I find him already comfortably sitting on his bed while I’m basically gasping for air.
“H-how?” I stutter out.
“You took the long way, dummy.” He pats my head in a condescending manner, and I swat his hand away. His little smirk turns into a full-on laugh, and after a bit, one leaves me too. His gaze connects with mine, and I revel in the look. I wish for my mind to always remember him like this. The sweetest kid who would never do anything to hurt me.
Liam
Five years ago
My bag hits my back as I weave through the crowded hallway. I push open the boys’ locker room door, getting ready to change into my football uniform. A special vibration comes from my pocket and I check my phone, smiling. Bianca wishes me good luck with my game, my reply being I’ll call her later to wish her a proper happy birthday.
Despite her being my lucky charm, I’m still antsy. It’s the homecoming game, the most important one we have, and I might be called in. Nerves trickle through me at the thought.
“Parker, let’s go!” Hands grip my shoulders as we crowd the entrance, getting ready to run onto the football field. A shaky breath leaves me as we rip through the paper banner. Shrieks and cheers drown out my thoughts, albeit temporarily. The sun is out, blisteringly so, and my body aches at the heaviness of my gear. I turn back, searching for my parents through hundreds of faces, hopingthat they’re there. Shaking my head, I jog over toward the huddle of burly players as we get the same speech from our coach.
