Page 125 of Redemption
“Pass,” I say, yawning into my hand.
She stops clicking, turning so that she can see my face. “That bad, huh?”
“Nah, just a little crazy. Plus, my sleep schedule hasn’t adjusted to the night shift yet.”
Another yawn, and I lean my head back against the couch cushions, closing my eyes.
“I can go if you need to rest.” She’s being nice, but what she doesn’t get is that I would spend a hundred nights without sleep if it meant I could keep her by my side.
“I’m fine. You stay.” I don’t open my eyes to answer her, keeping my head tilted back.
“Okay.”
The room goes quiet except for the sound of the television.
I’m nearly asleep—in the land between dreams and reality—when MJ jumps up, startling me.
My arms fly up, trying to gain my bearings, and when I finally do, she’s staring down at me with amusement playing on her lips.
“Stay right here,” she says like I had any intention of going somewhere else. Then she’s running out the door, returning moments later with a book.
“What’s that?” I ask, my interest piqued.
She sits back down beside me, tucking her feet underneath her and leaning into me. My arm is slung across the back of the couch. I bring it down, wrapping it over her shoulder and pulling her close.
“It’s Langston’s journal. My mom gave it to me. I thought we might look at it together. I’ve only looked at a couple of entries.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to just keep it for yourself?”
Swiping the hair out of her face, she says, “I’m positive. I want to share this with you. Here, take it.”
My fingers tremble as I take the leather-bound book from her hands and open the first page. Langston’s handwriting is neat and smooth, filling the page with his emotions.
I flip through the pages, skimming over the content. When I reach the fourth page, MJ’s hand shoots out, stopping me.
“That’s where I left off. Will you read it to me?”
I nod, emotions threatening to smother me.
Focusing on the page in front of me, I begin to read.
July 8th.
Today was a good day. I spent it at the falls with my best friend and little sister. Even if we had to cut it short because I had lost my cool. I don’t regret it, though. MJ always protects me, and it’s the least I can do to protect her from guys who aren’t good enough for her—not that I think any guy will ever be good enough for her. Although, my best friend might be if he ever gets his head out of his butt. I see how he looks at her—well, I see how he looks at her now. I didn’t see it in high school, and I said some awful things to MJ. I should apologize to her. I should apologize for a lot of things, but will it mean anything if I continue to make the same mistakes? I’m stuck in this cycle I don’t know how to get out of.
My stomach rolls, and it takes all my effort not to puke.
He knew—Langston knew that I was in love with his sister, and he would have been okay with it.
We spent all that time hiding it from him, and he knew.
Flipping the book closed, I lean forward and sit it on the coffee table. With my elbows on my knees, I try to process.
MJ’s hands fall into her lap. “We messed up more than we realized, didn’t we?”
Turning my head, I look at her over my shoulder. “Not you. Me.”
“No, Hayes.Wescrewed up together. I hid it from him, too.”
