Page 104 of Not Made to Last

“I bet he didn’t tell you that’s how we met…”

A breath catches in my throat, and I freeze in the middle of my room. “You were in juvie?”

“Yep,” he says, patting the spot beside him.

I don’t think twice. I just lie down beside him and let him take my hand, and sure, it should feel weird to have a boy in my bed, a boy who isn’t Rhys, but there’s nothing between Oscar and me. At least nothing physical.

“My stepdad used to beat on my mom, and I got tired of it,” he says, and I squeeze his hand, let him know I’m listening. He keeps his eyes on the posters, adding, “One day, I went to his work and beat the fuck out of him with a massive wrench. Almost killed him. I had to do time because they said it was unprovoked.” He rolls his head to the side so he can face me. “It could’ve been self-defense if I’d done it mid-him-attacking-her, which I knew, but I didn’t want my mom to see me act as horrible as he does.”

I flip to my side, give him all my attention. “I’m so sorry, Oscar.”

He shrugs. “I thought that was the worst of it, you know? But it was just as bad in there…” He clears his throat, eyes downcast. “The same guard who used to beat on Rhys did the same to me. Until one day Rhys intervened. I guess the guard took it personally, and the day after… Let’s just say I’m the reason Rhys can’t bend all his fingers fully…”

“Oscar…”

“Don’t cry,” he tells me, and I wipe my eyes against my pillow to rid the tears. “It’s not all bad. Rhys took me under his wing, and Curtis and Belinda took both of us under theirs. You ever hear Belinda tell me the days when she greets me?” He heightens the pitch of his voice to mimic her. “Good morning and happy Wednesday, Oscar!”

I nod.

“She started doing it when I told her that one of the worst parts of being in there was that all the days merged into one, and it felt like life was never moving forward. Now, she reminds me it’s a new day, every day.” He laughs, and I don’t know how he does it while talking about something so devastating. “Thanks to Rhys and his parents, we created a family. Our little family. And it’s awesome.”

“I’m glad you have them,” I say.

He nods. “Me, too.” Then he inhales a sharp breath, focuses on the ceiling again. “But sometimes, I still have that fear, you know? Of men like my stepdad. Of that guard. The new coach…”

I recall the way the coach yelled at him the first time I met him, and I wish I could’ve done something about it then, but I didn’t know…

“That’s why Rhys is working at the school,” he continues. “I told him I was scared, and he found a way to be there for me. He saved my ass. Like he did in juvie and like he’s done every day since.” His eyes meet mine again. “Ollie… when Rhys loves, he loves with everything inside of him.”

I lower my gaze. “So, what you’re saying is that I’m not worthy of that love?”

“No. What I’m saying is that now, it’s his turn to be loved. And that love better come with everything inside of you. Because he deserves nothing less.”

58

Rhys

“This is a decent view,” Dad says, looking through the window of my office and out onto the basketball court beneath. He turns to me, his smile from ear to ear. “You ever just go down there to play?”

“All the time,” I answer, half sitting on my desk.

The day after what I’m now officially referring to as the longest day in history—the rooftop with Liv, then the playground, followed by my phone call with Dad, and we can’t forget Drunk Delgado and Liv’s laundry room—Dad called me again, and we spoke for another two hours. He mentioned he had some business to take care of, but he was clearing a few days off his schedule so he could come down and spend time with me.

He flew in last night, a few days post-longest day in history and, as sappy as it sounds, his presence means the world to me. And my mom—she couldn’t be happier.

Dad and I spent last night poolside, while I caught him up with everything that had been going on with me.Everything. And he listened to every word, giving advice only when I askedfor it. He didn’t have a lot to offer—mainly to do what makes me happy, which…

I don’t really know what that looks like right now, but I’ll figure it out.

Eventually.

“Alright,” Dad says, “I better go check in on the restaurant.”

I push off the desk. “No days off, huh?”

He chuckles. “I’m trying.” My dad has always worked hard, no matter the job. It’s his work ethic and dedication that allowed my mom to live out her childhood dream of owning a one-of-a-kind cake shop. Smashed cake, served in a cup, with your choice of icing and toppings. It was the Subway of cakes, and they appropriately called it A Cup of Cake. Simple and to the point, sure, but A Cup of Cake has over 170 locations within the U.S. and even more worldwide, so while my dad got the ball rolling, my mom is the one who took that ball and turned it into what it is today. They now spend their days buying and selling businesses. My job, should I have taken it, would have been to expand their portfolio into the sports and tech space. I chose, instead, to be an assistant coach of a high school basketball team. But I have my reasons, and now that Dad is fully aware of those reasons, he backs me a hundred percent.

“Call me when you’re leaving here so I can meet you at that building of yours,” Dad says, stopping at the doorway. “Good job on snapping that one up. The things you can do there are endless.”

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