Her voice softens.
“What’s going on? You’re not quitting because of that Kingsley boy, are you?”
“No, of course not.” I snort and roll my eyes, even though I can feel some tears building.
She hesitates, studying me closely.
Before she can say anything more, Coach Burns yells for us to get outside for our warm-up laps.
“I have to go,” I say, turning away quickly.
“Think about it, okay?” she calls after me.
“I already have.”
“Don’t listen to Lindsey,” Harry says, dropping his arm over my shoulder as we walk toward the track.
“You do you.”
A mountain of a man walks up.
This is Jock-yes, that’s his real name.
He whistles lowly.
“Harry, did you hear that Mason has gotten in mad shape this summer?” Jock says, looking at me like he’s surprised to see me.
“Hey, squirt. How long have you been there?” He smiles.
“Don’t call me that,” I snap, wanting them to keep talking about Mason.
“Who said that?” Harry asks.
“I can’t see him getting into shape. He doesn’t even take games seriously.” Harry shakes his head.
“He doesn’t?” I ask, surprised.
“No. He’s always joking around-even his team gets annoyed at him,” Harry answers.
“But we’re still gonna destroy him either way. I fucking hate that guy.”
I glance at Harry-he almost never looks this angry.
He really does want to destroy Mason.
? ? ?
“Mom! I’m home!” I call out, dropping my keys onto the side table and dumping my bag.
I run up the stairs calling out to her, even checking her room, which is empty and clean, as if she’d never even returned.
If it wasn’t for the faint smell of her perfume lingering in the air, I would’ve thought I’d dreamed her showing up.
I go back downstairs and call her.
“Hey, Mom, where are you?” I ask.
“I’ve had to go meet Dad,” she says, not even sounding sorry.
“Oh. It’s okay,” I reply, clearing my throat.
“When are you back?” I ask.
“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know when I know,” she chirps before hanging up without even a goodbye.
The words echo in my head: I’ll let you know when I know. I realize I’m gripping the fridge door harder than I should.
I like my freedom when my parents are gone, but I realize how much I miss and need them too.
I walk into the living room and sink into the couch, curling my legs underneath me. I drum my fingers against the armrest.
I need to talk to someone, but Ava always makes things more dramatic and Harry’s at practice.
Should I text Mason? Why hasn’t he reached out? He knows how worried I was about going back to school.
He must be at practice right now too.
I flip through a few movies, paint my nails, and keep checking my phone for a message from Mason.
Long after practice would be over, still nothing. So I text him.
Lily
Hey, so my mom just bailed again. Like, showed up for five seconds and then dipped without even saying goodbye. Said she’s ‘meeting my dad’ like that makes it okay. Oh, yeah, and my dad, he didn’t even come or call-wtf? I don’t even know when they’re coming back. I’m so over this.
It’s basically a trauma-vomit, but I hit send before I can second-guess myself and stare at the screen, waiting.
A moment later, the three dots appear, and my heart jumps. But then… nothing. The dots disappear, and no message.
Maybe the rumors about him being a player are true? I don’t want to believe it.
Maybe he’s busy, I tell myself. Maybe he doesn’t know what to say.
I fall asleep that night with my phone propped on the bed beside me, staring at the screen, wanting a message to arrive, but he doesn’t send anything.
I fall asleep wondering if I let myself believe in something that was never real.
LILY
It’s been three weeks and five days since I last spoke to Mason. It’s been three weeks and three days since I last saw my mom.
I don’t even know how long it’s been since I saw my dad.
I miss all of them.
But I miss Mason the most.
Why hasn’t he texted? I want to hate him, but I can’t.
I’m back at our running spot, hoping I’ll see him. As I jog, my eyes keep scanning the trail ahead, looking for him.
I’ve picked up my phone to call or text him more times than I can count, but I never do it. If he wanted to talk, he’d reach out… right?
The trail is empty. No Mason.
I finish my run, drive home, and head to school.
As soon as I step inside the front hall, I can feel the energy. Tonight Ridgewood is playing Greendale for the first game of the season, and everyone is hyped.
There are posters hung everywhere. I see a janitor taking down one that says, “Fuck Greendale.”
“Are you okay?” Harry asks me as we walk to the cafeteria together.
“I’m fine,” I fake-smile. Over the past month, I’ve perfected it.
“You keep saying that, but I don’t believe you,” he says, stopping and leaning against a locker.
“Is it Olly?” he asks, and I roll my eyes.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.