Well, it must be pretty fucking obvious. And everybody knows about everything from everyone in this fucking minuscule place.
“Fuck yeah,” I tell him. I hope Ethan is there. I hope it makes him cry and regret being born.
"Good," Reed says. He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder, his hand is warm, heavy, and he lets it rest there a moment longer than necessary. "See you out there."
He pushes off the wall, gives Mason a nod, and walks away. Mason looks at me, upset.
"He's..." Mason starts, then trails off.
"Yeah," I say. "I know."
We walk in silence for a few steps. I miss Ethan so bad now that I don’t know what to do. I realize I don’t fucking care at all if Reed wants me or not. But I’ll go with it. Not smart, I know.
But I’m not exactly known for being smart. Ask anyone.
Chapter 19. Ethan
The rec room buzzes with the usual chaos. I lean against the wall next to Jack, arms crossed, pretending to listen to him describe some TV show. My eyes keep drifting to the entrance. When Liam walks in, hair still damp from the showers, something in my chest clenches. I force my gaze back to Jack. I'm not listening. Normally, I wouldn't even be here. But I can't seem to stop tracking Liam's movements like some kind of psychopath.
"You're not even listening," Jack says, punching my shoulder. "What's going on with you?"
"Nothing. Admin stuff." The lie comes easily after days of practice. "Sorry. What were you saying about the zombie show?"
Jack launches back into his description. I'm half-listening. From the corner of my eye, I track Liam. Our eyes meet for a second. I can't believe I'm reckless enough to let him catch me staring. He hesitates, one foot pointed in my direction. I deliberately turn my body toward Jack. Making it clear.
When I look again, Liam has changed course. He's heading toward the far corner where Reed and his crew have claimed the best table.
My gut twists.
Reed sits on the table, legs spread, taking up as much space as possible, his friends on the benches around him likesubjects at court. That predatory smirk. Mason is there too, the kid from the hallway. That's the connection. Liam befriended Mason, and Reed saw an opening.
Now he's got Liam.
"Hey, bro," Jack waves his hand in front of my face. "Seriously. What's with you today?"
"Nothing," I mutter.
Reed tells some story, hands gesturing wildly. Everyone hangs on every word. His voice carries across the room: "So I told the guard, 'You can write me up if you want, but we both know I can fuck your life up.'" Sharp laugh. Half the room turns to look.
Liam slides into an empty space at Reed's table. Reed's face lights up. He shifts to make room, leans in close, mouth near Liam's ear. Liam says something I can't hear, and the whole table erupts. Reed reaches out, arm around Liam's shoulder, letting it linger. Too close to his neck.
That smile on Liam's face. The one that used to be for me.
"Are you even breathing?" Jack snaps his fingers in front of my face.
I exhale. Didn't realize I'd been holding my breath. "Just noticed something."
"Yeah, no shit. You've been glaring through Reed's skull for five minutes." Jack knows Reed and I have history. Before I became a leader, we'd argue, fight, end up in detention together.
I look at the floor. "I wasn't glaring."
"Sure," Jack says. "And I'm the pope."
Reed's voice rises again. Some story about a fight he won against three guys at an MMA competition. Hands miming punches, face animated. Bullshit. But everyone eats it up.
Including Liam.
I watch him lean closer, body angled toward Reed, laughing at all the right moments. That eager attention. My fists curl atmy sides.
