“Fuck,” I curse, and Brax winces.
Somehow, I know that when he sees Roman, he’s going to hug him extra tight.
“Do you know where Laurel is?” Brax asks.
Marcus shakes his head. “I tried to reach out to her after I heard about his accident. She didn’t reach back,” he says and then turns his phone around to show me a picture of the three of them dated just a couple weeks before the accident. “This was the last time we were together.”
My eyes linger on Laurel. Her blue eyes twinkle against her freckled skin. Her strawberry-blonde hair shines as the sun hits it from behind.
She seems so much happier in the photo than when I met her the night she was wasted.
“The necklace she’s wearing in the photo,” I say, staring at the golden leaf charm resting on her maroon jumper. “Elliot was wearing it when he came home.”
“I was there when she gave it to him,” Marcus says.
“Were they a couple?” I ask.
“Yeah,” Marcus confirms. “They got clean together. Built a life in Florida. Elliot was teaching kids how to skate and play hockey, and Laurel was taking night classes to become a journalist. They were happy. When Elliot decided it was time to go home and make amends, Laurel went with him. Judging by your face, you don’t seem to know that,” he says.
Because I didn’t.
“Why are you really asking about them?” Marcus asks.
“I met Laurel once,” I tell Marcus. “She told me Elliot was her ex and was repeating old patterns. That he got into trouble and left her to clean up his mess,” I say, careful not to give too much away. “She didn’t seem to know who I was.”
“That doesn’t make sense.” Marcus’s confusion is clear as he shakes his head. “Elliot wasclean. Laurel knew who all of you were,” Marcus says as if the whole thing is ludicrous and he’s trying to find a way for it to add up.
“He was intoxicated when he was found,” Brax says.
“I know, but hewasclean. Maybe he wasn’t that day, but Elliot wouldn’t have fallen into old patterns. He wouldn’t have compromised what he had with Laurel. And there’s no reason why Laurel would willingly lie. So, if she did, it’s because…” He stops for a moment. “Someone threatened her and she didn’t tell the truth to protect herself and your brother,” he says, looking at me.
“Who would do that, though?” Brax questions.
“I heard what Elliot did to your friend. The Elliot I knew wasn’t violent,” Marcus says, his tone hushed. “For Elliot to dowhat he did, to break his sobriety, his whole world must have crumbled. Laurel was everything to your brother.”
“Jack wouldn’t hurt anyone. Maybe you’re right and someone did hurt Laurel, but it wasn’t Jack,” I say with absolute certainty.
Marcus moves to stand. “I truly am sorry for your loss. I think there’s more to this than what you’re telling me. Hell, maybe there’s more to this than you even know. It’s clearsomethinghappened while Elliot and Laurel were in Huxley Bay,” he says.
That much we can agree on.
“They were my friends, and maybe I’m a shitty one for not doing more, for not wanting toknowmore, but I need to protect my sobriety. I can’t compromise it. I’m afraid the more I know, the more it’s at risk.”
“I understand.”
“Whatever it is you’re looking for, whatever it is youthinkyou need to find so that you can rest easier at night, you have to understand that sometimes the truth doesn’t always bring you the peace you hope it will. Sometimes living in the unknown and accepting that we can’t reverse what has already happened is the best chance we have at survival,” Marcus says as if he’s been through a similar experience.
“You’re saying I should let it go?” I ask.
Marcus shrugs. “I don’t know you, but somehow, I know you won’t. That you’ll keep digging until you hit the truth, so I won’t waste my breath.”
The truth doesn’t always bring the peace you hope it will.
Marcus’s words echo in my mind as he walks away, leaving me staring into emptiness.
What if finding the truth only makes everything worse?
Even as the thought crosses my mind, I know I can’t stop looking. The unknown might be safer, but that’s not enough to stopme.
