But he couldn’t promise me that.
“Simon?” Mom’s voice was gentle. “You okay, honey?”
I nodded, though I knew it wasn’t true. “Yeah. Just... tired.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Your father’s probably pacing a hole in the floor by now. Let’s go inside.”
We walked up to the front door together, stepping into the familiar warmth of my own home. It should have been comforting; should have been reassuring having my parents close.
But all I felt was the weight of everything pressing down on me.
Dad was in the living room, standing by the window with his arms crossed. He turned when he heard us come in, and the tension in his shoulders eased slightly.
“There you are,” he said, walking over to pull Mom into a hug. Then he looked at me, his expression softening. “How’d it go at the salon?”
“Fine,” I said, setting my keys on the counter. “Busy. Mom helped.”
“She always does.” Dad smiled at her, then looked back at me. “Any word from Tony?”
I shook my head. “Not yet.”
The silence stretched between us, heavy and uncomfortable.
I was about to say something to fill the quiet whenheadlights swept across the front window, and I heard the rumble of a motorcycle.
My heart jumped into my throat.
I moved to the window and looked out, my pulse hammering.
Sadie’s car pulled into the driveway and stopped, Keys’ motorcycle behind her.
“Oh my God,” I breathed.
I was out the door before I even realized I was moving, my feet hitting the driveway as Sadie turned toward me.
“Sadie,” I said, my voice breaking.
She took a step toward me, her eyes filling with tears. “Simon.”
I closed the distance between us and pulled her into my arms, holding her so tight I was afraid I might hurt her.
But I couldn’t let go.
“You weren’t supposed to come home yet,” I whispered in her ear.
She sobbed against my shoulder, her hands clutching the back of my shirt. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said, even though it wasn’t. Even though nothing about this was okay.
Behind me, I heard footsteps, and then Mom’s voice, choked with emotion. “Sadie?”
Sadie pulled back from me, wiping at her eyes, and looked past me to where Mom and Dad stood on the porch.
“Mom,” she whispered.
Mom was down the steps in an instant, pulling Sadie into her arms. Dad followed, wrapping both of them in a hug, and for a moment, we all just stood there in the driveway, holding each other like we could keep the world at bay.
But we couldn’t.
