Page 63 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

Because although she said the words, although part of her probably believed them, there was still that small part that knew it might not go down that way.

And the reality was, even if the treatment worked, even if the doctors got a handle on the cancer, it wasn’t the end.

It would be a dark cloud hanging over me always.

Something I had to learn to live with.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Cole

“No Sofia today?”I asked Aaron as we headed to the weight room.

“No, she wasn’t feeling so good, so she stayed at home.”

“But everything went okay yesterday, didn’t it?”

I was fishing, but she hadn’t texted me back last night or this morning, and when I’d realized she was a no-show at school, my mind instantly went to bad places.

“Yeah.” He shrugged. “They said it did. The anemia is kicking her ass.”

“Yeah.”

Fuck. I hated lying to him. Hated that I knew the truth while he had been kept in the dark.

Sofia was his sister, his twin, his blood. I understand that she wanted to protect him, but Aaron would want to know.

He deserved to know.

But I couldn’t betray her trust, not again. Not if there was any chance of her letting me in again.

“So me and Poppy were thinking we could go out Saturday. Kacie is free, I already checked. But she’d probably appreciate an invitation directly from you.”

“You still want to do that?”

“Yeah, I thought we agreed.”

“No, you agreed, and I murmured some half-assed reply.”

He grinned at me. “You need to lighten up… and get laid.”

“You know, it’s worrying that you spend so much time thinking about my sex life.”

“You mean your lack of one?”

I flipped him off, jostling him as we entered the weight room.

“Hey,” Ezra greeted us.

“E. Tell this one.” Aaron pulled me into a headlock and ruffled my hair. “That he needs to get laid.”

“Not my business, man.” Ezra went back to his free weights.

“Dylan, man, back me up. Kacie Hutton, would you tap that?”

“Fuck yeah, she’s hot.” Dylan and a couple of the other guys high-fived.

“Why don’t you go on the double date then?” I arched a brow.

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