“What?” I gasp, taking another hit. “Landon Turner is telling me tomarrysomeone.”
“Because that’s the kind of guy you are.” His eyes search the starless night, scanning the horizon with a dazed gaze.
“Yeah? What kind of guy am I, Jung?”
He barks a laugh. “The marrying kind. When you find someone you like. Obviously, that’s a rarity, but I’m happy I’m in that camp.”
I snort, smoke flowing freely from my nose in white clouds. “You’re proposing to me?”
With a sharp shove, his broad shoulder taps mine. “No, bitch. Don’t think you could handle my dick anyway.” He grabs the monster in his jeans, giving it a shake.
It’s impossible to contain my eye roll. “Gods.”
“But you take care of me.” His grin fades as he passes the cigar back. “And you’ll take care of her.”
I snap my head toward him. He’s serious. Dead serious. He even nods once. Slow and solid.
“Aiden, for real.” His voice drops as he stares at the bare treeline. “You’re all…responsible and protective. Everything I wish I were. For you to think you fucked up beyond repair? Too much. You’re who I look up to so Idon’tfuck up.” The white cloud of smoke seeps through his teeth, eyes focused on the darkness in front of us. “You’re wrong.”
The word slams through my skull like a bell.Wrong.
“Wrong?” I echo, already high, sucking in the ghost of his exhale.
“Yeah.” Thick fingers tip the cigar toward me after he takes a final puff. “So go marry her.”
“Dad’s looking for you,” Bo’s deep bass cuts through the void of the night until I jump about ten feet.
“Hey! Can I have some?” Henry dances up, trying to grab the roach, but Lan holds it above his head.
“You’re too young, prick. Get inside.”
They shuffle off as Lan gives me one last look, and I wave.
“Just a minute,” I tell him, stuffing my hands in my pockets.
Maybe he’s right. If Lan can see something in me worth saving…maybe she can, too.
Lifting my head, I take a dizzy inhale of the crisp, fresh air. The stars don’t show through the clouds, but I don’t need them. I know where I’m heading.
If she’s still mine, I’ll prove it. If she’s not…I’ll make her remember.
thirty-six
“You’re free.”
Am I free? Aiden leaves me alone. The door to the cell flung open, the dust flying inside the room I’ve been kept in. Like a comforting cage.
Out there is worse. Away from him, my thoughts scatter. I can’t hold them still. I knew if I told him, he’d leave. If I’d confessed back then, he would’ve destroyed his own life trying to save me.
Now I’ve destroyed mine.
And any hope I had for our future.
Sniffling, I somehow gather up the blanket and some clothes. Itwouldbe Henry that I’d see in the hallway, looking like he doesn’t know what to do with his hands.
“Can you…give me a ride?” I whisper.
He shoves the metal chair he’s sitting in back so hard, it falls over. “S-Sure!”