“Evan’s in the truck,” I say. “I . . . I can’t pick him up. I’m hurt and—”
“Savannah?” Cameron’s face pales when he appears behind his mother. “Christ, what’s happened?”
Kendra jogs out of the house toward the truck, yanking open the passenger door to get Evan. Cameron’s eyes look me over, trying to take in all my injuries.
He notices how I hold my arm.
“I’m hurt,” I whisper.
He nods, licking his lips as his expression darkens. “I can see that,” he says.
Kendra murmurs in Evan’s ear as she carries him into the house. Watching her hold him like that makes me feel so much better. The relief is overwhelming.
I swoon.
“Savannah!” Cameron grabs me, steadying me as the world spins out of orbit. I break down.
“They’re taking him away,” I say, starting to cry. “They’re taking him away from me.”
Cameron puts his arms carefully around me, and I rest my face against his neck. I’m not sure how much longer I can stand this. Stand my life.
“Evan?” Cameron asks. “Who’s taking him?”
“My father is giving him away. He’s giving him to my aunt. She’s coming to get him today, so I brought him to the mall—”
“Who did this to you?” Cameron asks, stroking my hair as we stand in front of his house. “Your dad?”
“My wrist is broken.”
“Yeah. How’d that happen again?”
“Patrick,” I murmur. “I should have just apologized to that bastard. I should have.” I start to cry, letting myself because it hurts too much to hold it in anymore.
Cameron makes a sound low in his throat at Patrick’s name, and rewraps himself carefully around me. He’s quiet for a moment, and then he sniffles. I wonder if he’s crying too. Cameron rests his cheek on the top of my head.
“I think I should take you to the hospital,” he says. “You need a doctor.”
“Probably.”
“Hey,” he whispers, leaning over to my ear. His breath is warm and comforting. “I need to get my keys from the house, okay? My mom will watch Evan so I can take you to a doctor.”
But I don’t want to let him go. I cling to him, and he has to reach to gently take my arm. He pulls back to look at me, bending down to meet my eyes.
“Stay right here,” he says, and he’s close enough to kiss me. “I need my keys.” Cameron looks over my face, studying me. When I murmur okay, he runs quickly into the house.
I want to be with Evan, but I can’t let him see me like this. I feel faint, and lean against the house. The pain is dulling, but my hand has swelled. I can’t even bend my fingers. My eyes flutter; I need to rest for a second.
“I’m here,” Cameron says, putting his arm on my back. He leads me toward the Beamer. “My mom’s giving Evan a bath and washing his clothes.” He helps me into the car.
I sit and stare out through the windshield, happy that Kendra will care for him while I’m gone. Guilty that I put my brother in this situation in the first place. The driver’s door opens, and Cameron drops in.
He reaches over, running the back of his fingers over my bruised face. Then he leans toward me and kisses my cheek softly. I try to smile because it’s nice. But I’m too tired.
Cameron starts the car, and I’m lulled by the engine. A headache starts; I might have a concussion. I close my eyes and rest back in the seat.
“Don’t worry,” Cameron says. “I’ll take care of it,” he says. “I’ll take care of you.”
And before I can say anything in return, I fade away.
