Chapter 18
“ B o!” I rush down the upstairs hall the moment he steps on the landing, my heart hammering. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Turning around to face me, he shrugs.
He’s not fine. I see the truth in his eyes.
“What did my dad say to you?” Knowing how mad my dad was outside, I stop in front of him and trail my gaze over him, searching for cuts and bruises.
“My dad or yours?” he asks.
“Both.” I need to know everything so I can fix it.
“They both hold the same low opinion of me.”
“I’m sorry I fell asleep. It’s my fault, not yours. I’ll tell him. I’ll tell both of them. I?—”
“Stop taking the blame for my shit!” he yells, his voice sharp, cutting like a blade.
“Okay.” Hurt, I stagger backward.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have shouted. It’s just that…” Trailing off, he rakes a hand through his brown hair. “You gotta know I’m a piece of shit. You need to forget about me, forget you ever knew me. It’ll be better for everyone, okay?” His voice cracks on the question.
“No way.” I shake my head. “You’re my friend. I made you a promise. I intend to keep it.” I narrow my gaze. “Don’t you?”
“Don’t be stupid, Peace.” He glances away.
“Don’t put on me what they said to you.” I curl my fingers into fists, refusing to believe he suddenly changed his mind about being my friend. “They want you to stay away from me. They said something. That’s why you’re acting ugly like this, isn’t it?”
“PJ.” He sighs and his expression softens. “Yeah, of course they did. And they’re right. We should let it go. I’m leaving. I live too far away.”
“Do you not want to talk to me anymore?” Tears threaten, the pressure to release them burning behind my eyes.
“Fuck yeah.” He comes close. “Of course I do. I just don’t want to be the reason you get hurt.”
“Then don’t hurt me,” I whisper.
“I wish it were that simple.” He reaches for a strand of my hair and gently tucks it behind my ear. I shimmer in response to his touch.
“It is that simple.” I capture his hand before he can withdraw it. Threading our fingers together, I squeeze. “We’re friends, Bo. Friends who have promised to be there for each other.”
“I know, it’s just…” He glances down at our joined hands, then up at me. “I’m not sure a boy and a girl can be friends.”
“Your dad was with Lace.”
“Interesting example.” His expression lightens. “Since my mom determined way back then that Bryan was her Prince Charming, and they’re married now.”
My cheeks burn, realizing what I unintentionally implied. But I don’t care since it removed the darkness from his eyes.
“Can’t we try?” I plead, gazing up at him through my lashes. I want us to continue being friends. I need a friend, and I think he needs one too.
“Yeah.” His gaze softens, the gray becoming less thunder and more like wispy clouds on a mostly sunny day. “But I’m only agreeing because I’m not strong or good enough to do the right thing.”
“You’re not bad and you’re not weak.” I shake my head.
“Glad you don’t think I am.” He leans in and presses his lips to my temple. Warmth rushing through me, I breathe in cedar and feel like a bud in a forest unfurling for the sun. I don’t want him to go, but I’m determined to be there for him, to be the best friend ever, to help him see himself properly. If he were weak, he’d make the easier choice and buckle beneath the pressure from our dads. Instead, he’s doing the harder thing. He’s defying his dad and mine. He’s choosing me, and I’m choosing him too.
Bo
“Bo!” Peace calls, and I remove my foot from the SUV’s running board. Turning around, I see her. She runs toward me outside like she did inside earlier.
“Come back here, Peace!” War shouts, but she completely ignores him. I only have a moment to brace before she launches herself at me.
“Bo,” she breathes out, hugging me.
“Peace.” Disregarding my dad’s scowl and my mom’s curious glance, I return her embrace, breathing her rose scent in and squeezing her tighter. “You’re going to get yourself into trouble.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do.” Digging deep, I find the strength to do the right thing and release her. “You should care,” I say low, my gaze lifting and meeting War’s. “If your dad thinks he needs to punish you, he might take away your computer and we won’t be able to talk.”
“I didn’t think of that.” Her pretty eyes go wide as she takes a step backward. “But I had to say goodbye one more time. I don’t know when I’ll see you again, and I’m going to miss you. So much.” Tears make her eyes shine like gold stars dusted with sand.
“I’m going to miss you too, PJ,” I rasp.
“Come here now, Peace Addison Jinkins,” War orders.
“I have to go.” And yet she stays right where she is, her gaze on mine.
“Bye, Peace.” I force the words out. “Go.”
“Bye, Bo.” She nods sadly.
Throat tight, I watch her walk away from me, each step echoing within the emptiness inside me.
When she reaches him, War throws his arm around her and leads her into the house.
“Bo,” my dad says in a warning tone, and I rip my gaze from Peace. “Time to go.”
I nod tightly. Getting in the vehicle, my gaze snags on my mom. In the rearview mirror, her expression is troubled, which isn’t reassuring. I glance away, putting on my seat belt.
As the SUV begins to pull away, I shift and glance back at the Jinkins’ house. But the door is closed. Peace is gone. Sadness grips my heart, knowing from now on, we’ll only have online chats and phone calls to maintain our friendship.
I remind myself that our promises bind us. Facing forward, I press my lips into a determined line. We’ll also have a chance to see each other at the Seattle concert when our dads battle Brutal Strength for the title of best rock band. I plan to be there no matter what.
I plan to keep my promise to Peace. I trust that she’ll keep hers to me. But with both our dads against us, will those promises prevail?