Page 101 of Ripple Effect

“Eventually, yeah. After a few wake-up calls from my family, I got clean, and I distanced myself from that life. But it’s always been looming over me, and the guilt has never really gone away.” He hesitates, pain flashing in his eyes. “When I was on the phone with my mom the other day, she brought up Jacks, and everything came flooding back.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“When I was eighteen.” His expression darkens. “He overdosed and ended up in the hospital. I was there with him, but he checked out AMA and didn’t bother to say goodbye. Just fucking vanished on me.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He laughs, but there’s not an ounce of joy in the sound. “It was for the best, anyway.”

“So why is your mom bringing him up now?”

“I guess he came to our fucking house. Talked with her, asked her about me. She told him I was up at school. Gave him my phone number and everything.”

A tight knot twists in my stomach. “Oh no.”

“Yeah, I don’t think she realized the damage she was doing, but I can’t really blame her. She doesn’t know all the context, all the history there is between us.”

“Was this just last week when we were gone?”

“No, apparently, it was weeks ago now. I’ve barely spoken to my mom since the two of us got together, and I guess sheforgot to mentionit somehow.”

“And he hasn’t shown up again since? Hasn’t reached out to you at all?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

I play with our linked hands, absorbing the weight of his revelations. I was partially aware of his sobriety but hadn’t grasped its full scope until now. His willingness to share his past struggles means a lot to me, and it doesn’t change my feelings for him in the slightest.

If anything, it proves just how strong he’s always been.

“So, what are you going to do now?” I ask. “Are you going to respond if he reaches out?”

“I don’t know,” he says, averting his gaze. “For now, I’m trying to ignore it. Part of me wants to tell him to fuck off and never come back. But another part of me wonders if maybe there’s a reason he tracked me down after all these years.”

“Well, whatever you decide, I support it.”

“Thank you,” he says. “And thank you for just listening, for not judging.”

“Of course. Thank you for telling me.” I give him a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. “Though, it’s kinda weird, all these shady people vying for your phone number lately. Does your mom know Sapphire, too?”

He snorts, shaking his head in disbelief. “Oh God, don’t even joke about that. Knowing Ma, she’d probably give that woman my social security number and my childhood teddy bear if she asked.”

“You’re telling me you have ateddy bearthat I don’t know about?”

“Figure of speech, Daze.”

“Mm, I don’t believe you,” I tease, tapping him on the nose. “I’m searching your bedroom over Christmas.”

“Go right ahead,” he says with a smirk. “I’ve got nothing else to hide.”

37

ELIO

An unsettled feelingsits heavy in my gut as we make our way to my family’s house, Bentley sprawled out in the back seat.

Finals had been brutal on us. Nights spent hunched over textbooks, brain fried and herbal tea gone cold, the stress stretching Daisy and me thin. But we rallied around each other.

We both buried the unpleasant memories of Thanksgiving and the gnawing dread of Jacks’ visit. But now, with the pressure of exams gone, the suppressed emotions and memories are surging back.

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