Page 82 of Genesis

“That isn’t for you to decide.”

“No, it’s not. But I think you’re messing up here. I know you’ve been looking at schools away from here. I’ve seen the pamphlets. Don’t let that guy stop you from living your life. If you want to go somewhere besides here, then you go. Live your life. Your mom would want nothing less.”

I look over at him at the mention of Mom. “She liked Danny, you know?”

“She only saw the boy. She’s not here to see what he’s become.”

“And what has he become?” I ask as anger fizzles my nerve endings.

“From what I hear around this town, he’s a criminal. He’s done some things.”

“What things?”

“He’s been seen beating up people. He’s been seen riding around in that gangster car of his with guys who look just like him. There was a bar that caught on fire with some gang members in it a couple years back. I heard Danny was brought in for questioning on that, and you never said why he had to get a new car, so I can only assume it was his car that got shot up all those years ago.”

I heard about the bar on the news, but Danny never mentioned the police had questioned him. I swallow, my eyes going to the coffee table as steam twists in the air from Hale’s cup.

“You don’t know about any of this, do you?”

My eyes bounce back to his. “Some things are better left unsaid.”

His face turns crimson. “That’s bullshit. See, I told you. He’s a goddamn criminal, and here you are going to prom with him and acting like all of this is okay. You deserve better than this, Bexley.”

Jesus Christ. Don’t we all deserve better at some point with every relationship? People fuck up. We aren’t a perfect race, and at times there’s going to be one of you who gets it wrong.

So what?

You just walk away?

You just give up?

Who wins from that?

I shake my head, looking to the floor. Danny didn’t just forget to call me or forget it was date night, though. Danny shows up with blood on his clothes and busted knuckles. I have this angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, and I’m sick of it.

“Stop it,” I say. “Please stop. You’ve said your piece. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“I wish you would stop seeing him. I don’t want you mixed up in all of that.”

“Well, I’m not.” I stand up, grabbing my food from the table. “If you won’t accept my relationship with Danny, then I’ll move out.”

“What? And go where?”

“I’ll figure it out, but I’m not going to listen to this every day.”

He throws his hands up in surrender. “I’ll drop it. I don’t want you moving out.”

“Promise me you won’t say anything else about it.”

He runs a hand down his face. “Yeah, I promise. It’s your life. You live it how you see fit.” He gets up, too, walking over to grab his keys. “I’m going for a drive. I’ll call Trinity about your hair. Eat your food. Have the house to yourself for a bit.”

With that, he shuts the door behind him, and I release air I didn’t even know I was holding.

I flop back down on the couch, and I can’t control the tears that fall. I know Hale is right, and I hate everything about it.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Bones

---