Now I offered her everything. Every detail. Like it might be the last time I could tell her who I was.
I glanced briefly at Grandma, who sank her teeth into her lower lip, staring at the floor. She swallowed hard as tears filled her eyes.
“Wrestling is going well,” I said. “I made the team.” I quickly pulled my sleeve over the bruise on my lower arm so she wouldn’t notice. The one from my fight with Dad.
“Dad is doing good too,” I said quickly, worried she might have seen the lie and suspected something. “Oh, and soccer is going well too.”
Mom just stared past me, not even blinking.
“The last match we had, we won. And I kicked the winning goal.”
My hands moved more as I talked. More animated. More effort for her.
“And there’s this new girl on the girls’ soccer team. She’s kinda cute.” A faint smile tugged at my mouth. “And she’s, like, doing work with the homeless and stuff. You know. Good heart and shit.”
I glanced at Mom, waiting for something. Anything. But nothing came, so I continued.
“I might ask her out once things are over with Amelie.” I shrugged again. “We’ll see.”
There was an awkward silence. It was kinda hard to hold a conversation for two. When it got quiet, Grandma jumped in.
“Oh yeah,” she said in an excited tone as she straightened in her chair. “Dylan got an A in math.”
“Like, what the fuck, right?” I added.
“Language,” she scolded me.
I waved it off. “You’d think with everything going on—” I stopped mid-sentence. Swallowed. Reset.
“I mean … anyway. Grades are good. Girls are still going. And soccer needs me so bad they’re basically begging me to come to practice.” My voice softened. “And the little monsters are doing well too. Ethan’s using the potty now. Well, kinda. And Lila wants a horse.” I paused, thinking hard. “Let’s see, what else—”
“Five minutes,” the guard reminded us.
“Dylan.” Grandma reached out and placed her hand gently on my shoulder. “Could I have a moment alone with your mom?”
I looked at her. Then at Mom. And nodded.
“Well … I’ll see you next week, Mom. Make sure you eat more. I love you. A lot. I always will. Okay?”
I stood up quickly, just in time before the first tear might roll, and handed the phone to Grandma.
Then I left without looking back. To make sure she wouldn’t see me cry. To make sure my visit helped her. Not make her feel worse.
* * *
Nicole
My instinct was to run after Dylan, to make sure he didn’t fall apart the second the door closed behind him. But I stayed. I needed to talk to Lacey. So much depended on it.
Quickly, I grabbed the phone and scooted my chair closer to the glass.
“Lacey,” I said, leaning in. “Listen to me.”
My eyes flicked toward the guard. She was distracted, watching another family two stalls down.
“I found him,” I whispered. “I found the man who killed Zach.”
I tapped my own forehead. “The man with the scar. Right here.”
