Chapter Sixteen
Thomas
Ipace my room, my heart lodged in my throat as I run through the events of the past twelve hours. What the fuck is going on right now?
Summer’s gone and Lainey… I have no idea what’s happening with Lainey but whatever it is, it has my stomach in knots and my heart clenched so hard it might break me. She was crying, that much I know, but was it me? I wanted to ask, but then I thought I heard someone and… fuuck. I’m so messed up I couldn’t even process it all. I still can’t.
But Lainey wanted me gone, and the last thing I ever want to do is hurt her.
The air around me thickens as I wipe at my eyes, stopping the tears in their tracks when they threaten to fall. I suck in a breath, but it’s no use. I can’t get enough air in to calm myself, and it’s only getting worse. This is so fucked-up.
The two people I care most about in this world are hurting, and I have no idea how to help them. I don’t even know what’s wrong.
I pick up my phone to call Summer again, since I at least have her number. But I can’t get Lainey’s sobs out of my mind for long enough to contemplate what I would say, and deep down, I know Summer won’t answer, just like every other time I’ve called her phone.
After a few shallow breaths, I drop to my bed and run a hand down my face, while the other clutches my cell, the device burning my palm with what I’m about to do.
I know who I have to call, but I don’t know if I can hold back my feelings, and I don’t want to get Lainey in trouble if I say something I shouldn’t. But I have no other choice. I need to know Lainey’s okay, and visiting her house is no longer an option.
Luke answers on the first ring, but when he does, I feel worse. “Man, shit is crazy here and I can’t really talk.”
“What’s going on?” I rush out before he can hang up on me. “Is there anything I can do?” I try not to appear panicked while my pulse races.
“Nah. Nothing you can do. Everyone’s okay. It’s just my sister’s leaving for some ballet school in New York and… Ah, fuck, I gotta go. I’ll call you soon.”
He hangs up without letting me speak, but I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. I wouldn’t know what to say if he hadn’t. Lainey’s leaving? She’s disappearing just like Summer and she couldn’t even tell me? Couldn’t even yell out a goodbye.
Does she hate me for what I did? Or is it something else?
My mind whirs as an anger wells inside me. Anger for what, I’m not sure, but I can’t just sit around and wait for answers anymore. Why won’t anyone talk to me?
Grabbing my wallet and keys, I rush downstairs and jump in my truck, ignoring my mom when she calls out. Setting off toward where I think Cory’s house is, I pray my memory serves me well while also hoping like hell that Summer’s there. She has to be. Because if she goes any farther, like Logan’s, it’s going to be that much harder to convince her to come home. And that’s what I plan to do. Even if I have to beg.
When I pull up at the house I remember as Cory’s, her dad, Rob, is in the garden, and when he sees me, he smiles warmly.
“Thomas,” he says, standing to his feet as he dusts off his hands. “It’s been a while. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
From the ease of his gaze and the lightness in his tone, I’m going to guess he doesn’t know what’s going on, so I try hard to keep the concern from my voice.
“I’m just looking for Summer. I’ve been ignoring her lately, and thought it was time I gave her some attention.”
Rob laughs, until he gestures toward the house and we both turn to find Cory already waiting with a sympathetic expression. “Ah…I’ll leave you two alone,” Rob says with a frown as he walks inside, kissing Cory’s head when he passes her.
The second he’s gone, the air turns cold along with Cory’s expression.
“What do you want, Thomas?”
What?Her curt tone completely throws me until I see her swallow and realize it’s a front. “I want to see Summer,” I say calmly, forcing a smile. “Can you grab her for me?”
“She’s not here,” Cory lies, her hands clenched by her side.
“Please, Cory.” I drop the pretense, no longer hiding my pain. “I don’t know what happened… Mom doesn’t seem to know and Dad’s not talking. I just want to make sure she’s okay. Did they have another fight? I think I heard yelling but—”
“She doesn’t want to see you.”
“What?”
“Please leave. If she wants to talk, she’ll get in touch, but for now, I need you to go.”
I take a step forward, ignoring the way my muscles tense, but Cory shakes her head as tears well in her eyes. “Please don’t make me get my dad,” she whispers, her voice cracking. “Just go.”
A tightness forms in my chest, and I have to fight hard to keep my shit together. Cory’s just the messenger and you don’t kill the messenger, but what the hell is going on? “Cory, please. It’s me. I’m begging you. Just let me see her.”
“I can’t,” she snaps, shaking her head again. “Goodbye, Thomas.” She turns around, and I swear I hear her whisper that she’s sorry, but when she keeps walking, I assume it was my mind playing tricks on me. Because how can she be sorry? If she felt any sympathy for me, she would have let me inside, given me the chance to hear the words from Summer herself.
I’m pissed off as I drive home, but I try hard to understand where Summer’s coming from, wanting to give her some grace. Whatever happened is obviously fresh in her mind, and she just needs a moment to calm down before she can talk about it. I hope.
When I walk inside, I come to a stop at the sound of my parents’ raised voices. While Summer and Dad fighting wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary, Mom and Dad fighting is something of concern. “How are we supposed to live?” Mom yells between sobs, her tone panicked. “We can’t afford to survive paycheck to paycheck. What about Thomas’s tuition for the rest of college?”
My what?
“What’s going on?” I say, stepping into view, unfazed when my dad’s angry gaze flits my way. “What about my tuition?”
“It’s Summer.” Mom sucks in a breath. “We—”
“She stole all our savings, Thomas,” Dad says, cutting Mom off, his anger increasing. “Don’t let your mother sugarcoat what she’s done. Your sister’s taken everything from us, likely run off to be with one of her men, and she has no plans of coming back.”
She what?