Page 104 of Only Fate

“Exactly!” I cut him off. “Before. You should’ve told me the moment you knew I was involved.”

“I won’t work with him.”

“You think this is about you working with him? You lied to me!”

The distrust is rooted there now.

It can’t be pulled.

“Essie,” he pleads.

I hold up my hand when he attempts to come closer. “Don’t. I need to process this.”

Adrian slumps his shoulders. “Let me take you home at least.”

I check my phone when it vibrates.

River: I’m at Down Home. Checked your location on your phone. Be there in 3 min.

Everyone in our circle has location share on our phones.

“River is on his way,” I tell Adrian, walking in the direction of downtown. The faster I get to River, the faster I get out of continuing this conversation.

“I don’t want to lose you again,” Adrian says, smacking his hand across his chest. “Ican’tlose you again.”

“The trust is gone. Years ago, you disappeared on me.” I stop walking, as if letting these words out need my full attention. “Now, you hide this. You’re just not honest.”

“You can always trust me.Please, let me drive you home, and we can talk.”

With perfect timing, River pulls up next to us in his black BMW.

I immediately open the door, peer at Adrian for a moment, and get in.

Adrian turns, facing us, and his pained eyes are on mine as we drive away.

“What happened?” River asks.

“If I tell you, promise you won’t turn around and do something stupid?”

He only stares at me with curiosity, not promising anything.

Knowing my brother, I figure he won’t agree to that promise.

I blow out a long breath. “Adrian’s mom works at the Prison Exoneration Program.”

“Shit,” River hisses through suddenly clenched teeth.

“And she asked Adrian to help with his case.”

“To which Adrian said no?” He brakes at a stop sign.

I shake my head. “He looked at the case and visited Earl.”

“What are you going to do?” He keeps driving. “What’shegoing to do?”

“He said he’d tell his mom he didn’t want to help, but he’d already involved himself. I told him what happened, and he sat there, acting like he had no idea.” I cross my arms, a pang in my chest. “Other than a therapist, he’s the only person I’ve told who didn’t know from the beginning.”

River switches his hands on the steering wheel to settle one on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Sis. I really am.” He peers down at his lap and shakes his head. “Fuck, I wish this’d never happened to you.”

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