Page 156 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

Me: I know you hate me right now, but I could really do with my best friend coming to bail me out, otherwise I’m going to have to sleep in my car for the night.

I didn’t knowif he would take the bait, but I hoped he would.

A minute passed, and another.

I was ready to give up and get the fuck out of here. I could ask Deacon if I could stay at his house for the night, or maybe I could call Ezra and ask to stay at the Bennets’. If not, then I could always—

A reply came through and I opened it, nervous anticipation coursing through me.

Aaron: I’ll be there in ten.

Well,okay then.

He didn’t sound thrilled about seeing me.

But it was a start.

* * *

Aaron’s carpulled up alongside the sidewalk, and I climbed in.

“Going somewhere?” He eyed the duffel bag as I slung it in the back seat.

“Me and my dad got into it. I can’t stay there tonight… maybe not ever,” I murmured.

“That bad, huh?”

“He said some things… about Sofia.”

Aaron flinched, his hands tightening on the wheel.

“They’re all worried about you.” I sighed. “Your mom said you took off and didn’t tell anyone where you were going.”

“I needed some space.”

“How’d that work out for you?”

“Ask me again later.” He met my stare and it hit me how wrecked he looked. His eyes were rimmed with red circles, puffy and sore.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to believe it… It’s Sofia. She can’t be sick. She can’t—”

“She needs you,” I said.

“Fuck, you think I don’t know that? You think I don’t want to beat my ass at the fact that I ran? I do. Trust me, I want to beat some fucking sense into myself. But every time I think about seeing her, I panic.”

He’d made no move to pull the car onto the road, which was fine by me. Even if my old man was watching from the house. My best friend needed me right now, and the truth was, I needed him too.

Aaron dragged a hand down his face and inhaled a ragged breath. “This is so fucked up. She kept telling me she was fine, and I believed her. What the fuck is wrong with me that I didn’t see the signs? That I didn’t—”

He broke.

Aaron pounded his fist into the steering wheel, his emotions spilling over.

I reached over and grabbed him, hugging him. He collapsed against me, crying into my shoulder.

“I can’t lose her, Cole. I can’t fucking lose her.”

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