Page 64 of The Significance of Moving On

“Vulnerability means we’re weak.”

“That’s where your wrong. It means you’re strong, strong enough to say you’re willing to take a chance despite the possibility of getting hurt.”

“It’s more than a possibility in my life. My mom woke up one morning and decided she didn’t want us. Luke thought death was better than sticking it out with his brother. I’ve just been preparing myself. This is how it is for me, Tally. I tried to tell you this is how it is for me.”

“And hit after hit you found the strength to keep going. With D, with Jesse, withme. I’m an orphan just like you, Casey. And in this huge messy life, we found each other. You,” I jab my finger at his shoulder, “helped me find my strength when I was at my weakest. So now you’re going to pull your head out of your ass and stop talking nonsense.”

He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind, and maybe I have. But I’m not going to let him destroy us with his self-destructive thoughts any longer.

“Look at me,” I say to him. Grabbing a hold of his chin I adjust it to turn him toward me again. “Look. At. Me.”

And for the first time he really is, looking at me. I sense it. He’s really, honestly looking at me and I feel the full weight of sadness and concern and it’s suffocating but he has to know, has to understand.

“We are in this together, Casey. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not letting you go, either. We are in this together.”

Tears glisten his eyes. I know I’ve struck a nerve there. Right now, there are no more questions, and not a whole lot of answers. Right now, there’s only us. And for right now it’s enough.

Casey lifts me to sit me down on his lap wrapping his arms around me. “Home,” I whisper, leaning against his chest, my head resting in that warm spot between his neck and shoulder.

For now, this is enough.

Chapter Thirty

Daniel shows up everywhere since the wedding—at the house, at D’s apartment, even at the grocery store like it’s a completely spontaneous meeting. And even creepier, he acts like nothing happened, like he didn’t get the crap beat out of him in front of a reception’s worth of people.

Up until now, I’ve just remained standoffish, keeping a safe distance because even though there’s no actual proof that he drugged us, that’s not the point. He left us. With the state Kelsey was in, he just left us. For that, I don’t think I can ever forgive him. And Casey has expressed his position on the Daniel subject loud and clear. He’s not wanted.

What I don’t expect is for him to show up here today. At my school. He sits on the hood of my Rabbit with his feet resting on the front bumper. Girls pass by him there, checking him out. And I can’t blame them; Daniel always looks good. Today in all in black. Dangerous, but good. Black and blue and yellowing bruises, but good. I guess that’s his appeal. High school girls are so naïve. When he sees me, his slack posture becomes rigid, hardening his face.

“What are you doing here?” I ask with a feigned confidence, one that I hope to god he can’t see through.

“You have to talk to him.”

“Daniel, just go.”

“I’m not kidding, Chantal. Casey won’t talk to me. D won’t talk to me. You fix this and you fix it today.” His eyes, those enlarged pupils, they show every bit of his hatred. Despite my best effort I have to look away. A show of weakness I can’t afford but it happens. He’s holding a silver handled switchblade that he flips open and shut, repeatedly opens and shuts. He means for me to see. It’s an intimidation technique and it’s working.

“He won’t change his mind, there’s too much bad blood between you.”

“Bad blood?” His nostrils flare when he speaks causing me to take a step back. “You have no idea the mess I can make with bad blood.” Then Daniel springs up from the hood gripping my wrist, holding me in place. With a veteran quickness he shoves the knife back in his pocket before any bystanders can see it.

“Everything okay here?” Able Mackey saunters up to my side, draping his arm around my shoulder.

“Just visiting an old friend,” Daniel says standing with his hands still in his pockets, gripping that knife, I’m sure.

“Well unauthorized visitors aren’t allowed on campus, sorry dude.” Able gestures with his eyes behind him. “Security’s on its way.”

“Sure, thanks for the heads up.”

Able and I watch him back up and slowly turn. When Daniel is far enough out of earshot, I throw my arms around Able, crying into his sweatshirt. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“He’s been hanging around here the past couple of days. I had to tell the office.”

“No. Thank you.”

Unwinding my arms, he steps back, squeezing his car keys in his hand. “Does your boyfriend know?”

“Well yes… andno.”

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