It was Nolan who took my blood pressure once a day, who listened to my heart. He was the one who made sure I took my meds, who asked about my circulation.
He was also the one I’d talked to the most, because the hours he’d spent monitoring my AVS over the last month meant we’d spent a lot of time together.
Plus, hehadapologized for what he’d done to me in high school.
It didn’t make it right, but it was something.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“We know someone,” Jude said, threading his pencil between his fingers. “Someone who can get access to the cameras.”
I sat up straighter. “Really?”
Jude nodded. “Really.”
“Will they do it?” I asked.
Part of me wanted to run away and never look back. Leave Blackwell Falls and the Dive and especially the Bastards — the three men who’d become the biggest unanswerable question in my life — behind.
But I couldn’t leave Matt. For better or worse, I needed to figure this out, get clear of Vic and Mr. Suit so I could rescue Matt from my mom.
“Already done,” Rafe said, getting up.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Our contact’s been working on it,” Jude said. “We’re headed to talk to her today.”
I stood. “I’m going too.”
“No, you’re not.” Rafe was almost to the hall and didn’t bother looking back.
“Yes, I am,” I called after him.
Jude looked at Nolan. “Are you getting the boards or am I?”
22
LILAH
Off the mountain,it looked like spring, the roads and fields clear of snow. Sun shone brightly overhead, the sky a cerulean blue that promised longer, warmer days.
Still, it was cold by my standards, which was why I was still shocked by the fact that we were barreling toward Blackwell Bay with Rafe at the wheel and three surfboards strapped to the back of the Jeep.
In my new upside-down world this was apparently perfectly normal because when I’d asked what the boards were for in April Nolan had answered patiently, like he was explaining something obvious to someone a little behind the curve, by saying they were going surfing of course.
The “of course” wasn’t snide the way it would have been coming from Rafe. The fact that the Bastards were going surfing was just a fact.
Becauseof coursethe Bastards were going surfing in April, the same way they jumped off buildings, out of airplanes, and off cliffs. The same way they did shady shit for work, leaving the house at all hours loaded down with all kinds of gear.
“Are you sure this cyber… person found something out?” I asked from the back seat with Nolan.
They hadn’t given me any information on the alleged expert, but it was starting to seem less like we were going to the beach to get information and more like we were going so the guys could surf.
“She wouldn’t have texted if she didn’t,” Jude said.
He was sitting in the passenger seat next to Rafe, both of them looking sexy and a little windblown, Rafe’s dark hair tousled from the cracked front windows.
“Can’t she just tell you over the phone?” I asked.