Page 136 of Lilly

"Dad, I'm going to hang up now. I think they left."

"I'm sure they took his mother, but there's probably still an officer there, questioning Reed."

Just then, he knocks on the door. "Lilly?"

"Dad, it's Reed. I have to go."

"I'm almost there. Don't go anywhere."

"I won't." I end the call and open the door.

Reed's standing there, his face pale, his eyes red.

"Are you okay?" I ask, but I know he's not.

He pulls me into his chest and I hear him hiccup a breath. "He's dead."

Oh my God. His dad is dead. And he saw him get killed.

I hear Reed quietly sobbing as he holds me tighter.

"Reed, I'm so sorry."

"My mom shot him. She was..." He sniffles. "She was jealous he had money. She told him to give her some, and when he wouldn't, she shot him."

"How did she get here?" I shouldn't ask these questions. He doesn't want to talk about the details. Not now. "I'm sorry. Forget I asked."

He lets me go and takes a deep breath. "She told me some guy came into the bar where she was working and offered to give her a ride. She found a gun in his car and stole it. When she got here, she went to my dad's office and was making a scene so he left with her, just to get her out of there."

"How do you know all this?"

"She told me." He wipes the tears from his eyes. "She was rambling on after she shot him. She was drunk, and high on something. I think that guy who drove her here gave her something. She was so out of it I'm not even sure she knows what she did. When the police arrived, she asked what they were doing there, like she didn't even know."

I hug him again. "Reed, I'm so sorry."

"My family is so fucked up. I thought I was actually getting somewhere with my dad. I thought we could have a real relationship, but then he gets himself involved in whatever shit he's involved in and my mom shows up and shoots him. Now my mom will be in prison the rest of her life and I'll have no one."

"You have me," I say, realizing I no longer have to break up with him, at least I don't think I do. If Dean is dead, he won't be a member, which means Reed won't be either. I guess I'm not sure if that's true, but for now, that's what I'm choosing to believe.

Reed pulls back enough to see my face. "I thought you were breaking up with me."

I shake my head. "No."

"Are you only saying that because you feel sorry for me after what happened? Because if that's the case then—"

"That's not why. Let's just forget about all that. I don't want to talk about it. You're my best friend and I love you. That's all you need to know."

He rests his forehead on mine. "I love you so much, Lilly."

We hear talking in the living room. It sounds like my dad, but who's he talking to?

Reed glances down the hall. "Sounds like someone just got here."

"It's my dad," I tell him. "I called him. Right after I called the police. But who else is here?"

"The police officer. He wants to ask you some questions. I told him I'd come get you."

"Do I really have to be questioned? I didn't see anything."

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