Page 66 of We Thought We Knew It All
He feigned shock - he’d already been told. “You mean you wrote an entire book about her and didn’t reveal it.”
“That would have involved changing my life, Riley. And that of my brother.”
“Then why tell us now?”
“It’s time.” I looked into the camera. “My name is Callie McCoy.” Looking back at Riley, I began to explain. “I have a new book coming out. It’s one that I hope everyone reads, but it is being published under my real name.”
“The rumblings are that this book is about the Gulf City School shooting that happened about a decade ago.”
I nodded. “I was there.”
Gasps in the crowd.
“That story is still a little far off, but can I ask you a question, Riley?” I leaned in conspiratorially.
“Aren’t I supposed to be the one asking questions?”
The crowd chuckled. Now or never.
I shook my head. “Do you like romance?”
26
Jamie
Dinner went longer than I’d planned. I was missing the Riley King show. That didn’t seem like a big deal, in fact it probably made me look a bit pathetic, but it reminded me of the guys. I’d been thinking about them a lot ever since I requested to stay in Tampa instead of going to Fort Benning.
I’d received a lot of calls from the boys when they’d heard. They asked me why I stayed, and I didn’t have an answer. Ok, that was a lie. I stayed for her. She’d called me a coward and that word sunk in deep, rooting itself in my psyche. I wasn’t a coward, but I didn’t have the courage to face her yet either.
My team sat around the table, finishing their burgers. Lance was a burly fellow who’d been in special forces like me. He was heading up to Georgia tomorrow. Mindy was a wisp of a girl with a biting attitude. Will was taller than just about anyone else I’d ever met. I was the youngest on the team by far and the least experienced and they treated me like it.
Will and Lance left first, leaving me and Mindy to pay with one of our company cards. I stood up from the table and helped her with her coat when I caught the eye of a young boy who was sending daggers my way.
“I’ll be right back,” I said to Mindy. I’d driven her directly from the office, so she couldn’t leave without me.
Jackson’s eyes narrowed as I got closer. “Soldier,” he said.
“Hi Jacks.” I moved to ruffle his hair, but he ducked out of my reach. Liam, Declan, and Noah were seated around the table, but none of them spoke.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Jackson.”
“Stop saying my name,” he yelled.
Noah put a hand on his arm to calm him down as we’d gained some onlookers.
“What’s wrong?” I directed that to Noah.
“You left.” Jackson’s voice grew small.
“Where’d you go?” little Liam asked.
“Boys…” Noah started, but even he didn’t know what to say.
“I told you not to make Mom sad and you did. You did.” Jackson was crying now, but trying to hide it.
My feet were rooted to the spot and only two words passed my dry lips. “I’m sorry.”
