Page 113 of Rules

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“Care to explain to me why we’re here again?” I ask, breaking the silence that settled upon us.

My eyes are glued to the house on the other side of the street. I’m not sure what Andrew’s deal is, but it must be really important if he dragged me all the way here instead of going back home to celebrate our win and qualification for the Ice Globe Tournament.

“You could have gone with Derek. Nobody asked you to come with,” Andrew says in a hard voice, not sparing me a glance. His whole body is stiff; I don’t even have to look at him to know it. It radiates off of him.

“And watch him grope Lia the whole time?” I joke, hoping to ease the tension “No, thank you.”

Andrew tilts his head to the side. “Jealous?”

I expect to feel the stab of pain at his question, but there is nothing.

“Of what? Derek and Lia? Please, I knew they were destined to be together from the first day of school.” The words come off of my tongue easily. There is no usual heaviness in my heart that used to accompany every mention of Lia. “I think it was the way Derek stared at me like he wanted to launch at me and break every bone in my body when Lia and I entered the classroom. But don’t go getting off-topic here. We were talking about you.”

Andrew scratches the nape of his neck but stays quiet.

Once we got back to Greyford, the last thing I expected was for him to say he needs to go back.

Back to face my demons.

His words ring in my mind. His expression was so serious when he said it, I knew no matter what it was, it was important. And my feelings toward his relationship with Jeanette aside, I couldn’t let him deal with it alone. He’s my friend, and I stick by them no matter what. So no questions asked, I got in his car and we were on our way.

“I’m here to ask my mother why she left and never looked back,” Andrew says, breaking the silence.

I turn around to look at him, surprised by his confession. I didn’t know much about his family since Andrew rarely talks about them. His dad is some fancy-ass lawyer who plans to run for mayor. His mom’s not in the picture. That’s about it. And since he never talks about them, I kind of assumed he doesn’t care one way or the other, but I guess I was wrong.

“Andrew, I…” I start, but really, what is there to say?

“You don’t have to say anything. You’re not from here, and it’s been ages, so I suppose you haven’t heard.” He shrugs nonchalantly. “I don’t need nor want your pity.”

“Pity you?” I force out a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re too big of a douchebag for anybody to pity you.” But when my laughter dies, I can’t help but ask: “You don’t visit her?”

He chuckles, but there is no amusement in his expression whatsoever. “As far as everybody else is concerned, I don’t even know she’s here.”

His gaze returns to the house. It’s like he can’t look away.

“You didn’t want…?”

“She took her shit and left,” he interrupts me. His tone is even, but I can see the hurt in his expression. Not that I can blame him. What kind of person leaves her kid behind and just walks away? “She left, and she never looked back. I found out by coincidence later on that she moved back here.”

“Why visit her now then? You resent her so much, blame her for leaving you and fucking up your life, so why now?”

“I want to know why. Why did she leave? Why did she never look back? Did I…” Andrew shakes his head, dismissing the last question. “It doesn’t matter. I came to get my answers so I can move the fuck on and forget about her.”

I open my mouth, but Andrew doesn’t even let me think of what I want to say before bursting out, “I’ll be right back.”

The door flies open, and he’s out in a second. It shuts behind him, and I watch him stride toward the house like a man on a mission.

My gut clenches uncomfortably.

What now?

I know the guy but not that well. Should I go with him? Try to stop him? Or just let him do what he thinks is right? I mean, it’s not like he’s going to do anything stupid. He just wants to ask a few questions and be done with it.

Still, I watch him carefully, looking for any sign of trouble Andrew might get into.

As soon as he steps onto the front porch, he presses the doorbell. It’s like he knows if he doesn’t do it instantly he’ll change his mind, and that’s not an option. A few long seconds pass as he waits. The whole time I have a lump in my throat. I can’t even imagine how he might feel.

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