“I’m trying tohelp,” my mom replied. “Again, isn’t that why I came?”
“I’m just going to head out.” Angela began inching down the stairs. “See you all soon.”
I took the opportunity to exit as well, heading to my room. Despite the door and distance, I could still hear every word.
“Let’s just all take a breath,” Liz was saying. “There’s no need to come to blows here.”
“Says the person who, less than twenty-four hours ago, claimed to befuriousabout Cat showing up with no notice.” That was Kasey. “But sure, yes. Let’s breathe.”
It was quiet again. Were they actually doing it?
“I think what wecanall agree on,” Liz ventured, after a moment, “is that this isn’t just about the house and land.”
“It is to Cat,” Kasey muttered.
“It’s about,” Liz continued, over this, “that spot on the beach where the Judge lined us up with our little matching fishing poles. Mom and Dad getting married here, then renewing their vows summers later. That one spot on the back porch that turns gold when the sun sets.”
My mom sighed. “You sound like a commercial.”
“You,” Kasey shot back, “sound like a bitch.”
Whoa,I thought.
“So keep it! Keep it all,” my mom was saying now. “Repeat those wonderful stories. That’s all they wanted anyway.”
“What’s wrong with having memories?” Liz asked. “I don’t understand!”
Bang!went the door. Moments later, the one to Juvie did the same.
“And that’s where we always end up,” Liz said. “Something, everything, all our fault. The end.”
Chirp!I had a video call. Colin! I clicked on the green button and there he was, a porthole showing water behind him.
“Hey!” I said. “You would not believe everything that’s happened. I havesomuch to tell you.”
He bit his lip, then looked to the side. Something was wrong: I felt it in my heart, sharp, even before he spoke.
“Yeah,” he said. “We need to talk.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
How long’s she been like this?” I heard a voice say.
“Since noon or so.”
“Oof. Yeah. Probably should check in.”
I opened my eyes, slowly. They were sticky and swollen. Around me the room felt warm, sun coming in strong through the window onto my back. Still, I didn’t move. It was like if I stayed where I was, I could pretend none of this was happening.
Colin had broken up with me.
“We’ve just been a couple for so long,” he’d explained when I’d asked for a reason. In the small square at the bottom of my screen, my face was pale, my hair mussed. I looked like I’d been in a car crash. Blindsided. “I mean, there’s a whole world out there besides each other. I feel like we should experience it.”
“I don’t understand,” I’d told him. My voice was tight, fighting over the lump in my throat. “It’s been, like, one day.”
He’d bit his lip. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I wanted to say something, but—”
That breath. My head on his chest.We’ll be okay, right?
