Page 289 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5
“Thanks.” I looked over to the school. “The side doors are unlocked if you guys want to head in. I have a few things to clean up.”
Mason grabbed Bee’s hand and guided her away from the stadium, like he couldn’t wait to get out of here. The school brought back more memories, though. He’d figure that out soon enough.
Penny gave me a small wave before James put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her away.
“I’m going to stay and help Matt clean up,” Daphne said. “You go ahead.”
Penny was easy to talk to and we always laughed together. Bee was encouraging. It was hard to leave a conversation with her without feeling motivated. And Daphne? It was like she could somehow sense pain from a mile away. She always wanted to help. And she was normally really good at it. But I think I was like a puzzle she couldn’t solve. Like she knew that I needed her, but I’d never tell her why.
Rob kissed her cheek. “Hey, wait up!” he called to the others as he ran after them.
I didn’t really have anything to pick up. There were no practice balls, and Jefferson hadn’t brought snacks again this week. Because they hadn’t been well received. Another thing to add to my list of recent failures. I busied myself by looking at my clipboard even though I had all the plays memorized.
“All the guys were quiet on the drive over here,” Daphne said.
I nodded but didn’t look up.
“I’ve looked at Rob’s old yearbook from senior year. He got Class Clown. And you got Most Likely to Succeed.”
I remembered trying to get out of taking pictures for the superlative. I didn’t want to be Most Likely to Succeed. It felt like a sick joke. Being nominated for something pertaining to my future was meaningless when my real future, the only future that mattered, had been cut short the second Brooklyn took her last breath.
“You were all popular. So why does Rob never talk about his time here? Why don’t any of you guys?”
I sighed. “Because high school sucks for everyone.”
She laughed. “For people like me. Not for people like you.”
Penny had said something similar to me the other day. And I hated when any of my friends’ wives said shit like that. “You’re one of us.” I’d never gotten a chance to make Brooklyn my wife. But Daphne got to marry Rob. Bee got to marry Mason. Penny got to marry James.
“You know what I mean. I was a nerd in school, Matt. I didn’t get any superlatives. But I still have good memories of high school. It’s like none of you do.”
That was a lie. Because for just a few months somewhere lost in those years…I’d had everything I’d ever wanted. Before it was taken away.
“I know Rob’s always joking around. But he worries about you.”
I froze, even though I wasn’t doing anything.He’d told her?My heart started racing even faster.He’d fucking told her?
Daphne held up her hands like she knew what conclusion I’d come to. “He didn’t want to come tonight. He never talks about Empire High. And I have no idea why. He just brushes it off. And I’ve asked James about it too. I know they both had a rough childhood. My mother-in-law has taken…some time to get used to.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. Mrs. Hunter was the worst.
“But Rob and James always speak so highly of your parents. Your mom told me she felt like she helped raise the Hunter boys. So I don’t really get why you and Mason don’t like talking about your childhood. It sounded like it was really great.”
“It was great.” Besides for that one thing. That one momentous thing that haunted me every day. That one thing I’d never get over.
“So why does it seem like you’re scared to go into the school?”
“I’m not scared.”
She smiled. “Fine. Apprehensive.”
I took a deep breath. “There are just a lot of memories I don’t feel like reliving.”
“Okay.” She seemed to sense that she wasn’t going to get anything out of me. “But if you ever do want to relive them? I’m here, you know.”
I knew she was. And I stupidly felt my eyes water. I blinked fast and pretended to cough. Daphne understood loss better than anyone else I knew. She’d understand. She was someone that would be so easy to open up to. But if I told someone…they’d want to help me move on. I didn’t want to move on. That was the whole point. And no one would ever understand that.
I looked over at the school and sighed. I hadn’t stepped foot into Empire High ever since graduation. Maybe walking around would help. Somehow. There were really only two things that could happen. It could make me feel farther away from Brooklyn than ever before. But I already felt her loss every day. I was more scared of the other option. That it would make me feel closer to her. If I walked through those doors and felt her presence? I’d be more stuck than ever. I’d never get away from this fucking school.
