“What do you mean? I wouldn’t. We’re so close.” I shake my head, blinking hard.
“We don’t spend time together, Stevie. We don’t talk. We barely ever even sit in the same room.”
I try to process this. Try to imagine me just drifting away from her. But I can’t. Does it have something to do with me lying about work and ditching Savannah and Rory? Is it all connected?
“Mom,somethingmust have happened. I wouldn’t just…”
“You grew up, Stevie. That’s what happened. I mean, I knew it had to happen eventually, but…” She shrugs. “You just… you wouldn’t talk to me. I tried so many times. You have no idea how many times.” She pulls her sleeve over the end of her thumb to wipe a tear off her cheek. “I’m sorry. I know more questions isn’t what you need right now. I know you’re trying to get back on track so I didn’t want to say anything.”
“No, I want you to be honest. Ineedyou to be.” I reach across to squeeze her forearm, hoping she’ll look at me, but she doesn’t. And even if I can’t remember why, I can feel it in my chest, how deeply I’ve hurt her. Guilt washes over me.
“But whatever it was, it’s in the past,” she replies quietly. “We can start over.”
I genuinely can’t imagine a scenario that would cause me to completely stop talking to my mom, but even just thinking about it scares me. I’ve been trying so hard to get the past back, because I thought it would solve all of my problems, but maybe I’m wrong.
Maybe some things are better left forgotten.
CHAPTER 17
WHAT IN THE SAM HILLis that kid driving? Looks like a monster truck,” my dad says, looking out the front window at Jake Mackey’s pickup truck pulling into the driveway. Good Lord, and he’s still got his gigantic and offensive Confederate flag hanging off the back. Not that Confederate flags are particularly hard to find around here, but most people don’t have flagpole-sized ones billowing from their mode of transportation. It looks even bigger than I remember. I absolutely should’ve insisted on just driving myself, but it’s too late now.
“See, I could be going on a date with that guy instead of Ryan,” I say, standing up next to Dad.
“At least he would then have the balls to pick you up himself and shake my hand.”
“Dad, he doesn’t even know you want to meet him. We’d already agreed to just meet there,” I tell him, rolling my eyes.
“Well, I’m sorry that I don’t trust some guy I’ve never met to not break my daughter’s heart.”
“Your dad’s just having trouble letting his little girl go on her first date,” my mom says from behind me. Then she turns me around and wraps me in a hug. “But if you want to leave early, justtext and I can come get you, andnocrazy rides, okay? Just take it easy.” She gently touches my head before letting me go. It’s been almost two weeks since I woke up in the hospital. My stitches haven’t quite dissolved yet, but I can tell they’rereallyclose.
“Got it. See you guys tonight,” I say before heading out the door.
“Text me when you get there!” my mom shouts while I barely manage to yank myself up into the backseat of Jake’s truck.
“Hey, bitch,” Savannah greets me as Jake turns around to look at me.
“Hi, my name’s Jake,” he says over a lower lip full of dip.
“Yeah, I know, we’ve been in school together since preschool, Jake,” I reply, squinting at him.
“Itoldyou. She just can’t remember the last two years, dummy,” Savannah says, slapping her hand into his chest.
“Oh, word. Okay. ’Sup, Stevie.”
Something tells me this is going to be a long ride.
“You ready?” Savannah asks, smiling back at me and shimmying her shoulders. I laugh and throw my hands up in the air.I guess so.
“Kind of cute that the only two Chinese kids in Wyatt are dating each other,” Jake says, his blue eyes finding me in the rearview.
“I’m Korean,” I tell him, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.
“Same thing.” He shrugs and then turns his country music up.
Definitely going to be a long ride.
Venturing out to the county fair on opening night is a little bit like being caught in the middle of the Black Friday stampede at Walmart. Except people aren’t after flat-screen TVs or the newest PlayStation. They’re just after a shred of excitement, since the fair is pretty much the only novelty that goes on within a thirty-mile radius of Wyatt. It’s the event of the year, and tonight, everyone and their cousin are here and on the move.
