Page 87 of Lucky Shot
I read the four words over and over again. Then I call.
“What do you mean, he doesn’t exist?” I ask as soon as he answers.
“My friend says he doesn’t exist. Whoever he is, that’s not his name.”
My mouth opens and closes a few times as if I’m a fucking fish. “I’ll call you back,” I tell him as I walk down the hall to my brother’s door.
“Okay.”
With the call ended and my phone stuffed in my pocket again, I knock. There’s no sound inside and I wonder if they’d made it to the backyard yet. Gabe had been kicking a soccer ball around with Roux for the last few days, which I think my brother has really enjoyed.
Roux opens the door. Fully clothed, thankfully.
“We need to talk,” I tell him.
He nods and steps out of the room, closing the door behind him. I don’t take him far from his room, but I place both my hands on either side of his face. “I don’t want you to ask questions. Just tell me something.”
“Something specific? Oh, that’s a question.”
I narrow my eyes at him, but fucking love that he’s joking. It’s not just a ruse. Not a mask to hide what he’s going through. It’s him; my baby brother.
“Did you give me Trevor’s real name?”
The hint of a smile on his lips fades into a frown. “Why?”
“What did I just say about questions?!”
He huffs. “Yes. I didn’t lie to you.”
“Did you see his name on anything?”
Roux tilts his head to the side. “Uh… I don’t know,” he says carefully.
“Was he a student at Marley Coast?”
He hesitates. “…Yes?” I can see the moment panic starts to build in his eyes. “Lix.”
I pull him close and wrap him in my arms.
“Why are you asking this?”
“Trevor McAllister doesn’t exist,” I say quietly.
He stiffens. “Yes, he does. I didn’t make him up. Lix, I didn’t lie! I—"
I hug him tighter, and he stops. “Shh. Not what I meant.”
Roux’s trembling now.
“I think he gave you a fake name,” I say. He winces and then stiffens. “Do you remember hearing anyone call him something else?”
He’s quiet for a second. “No. Fuck, Lix. I don’t remember anything! I never actually saw him go to class. I never even saw him do schoolwork or have books! If he ever spoke to someone else, it wasn’t in my presence! Oh, my god!”
His fingers dig into my back. “Shh,” I say again, rubbing his back. “It’s okay. I promise. I’ll find his real name and make sure he stays far away from you.”
It’s not enough. I’m going to be worried fucking sick until this guy is found. “Do you have any pictures of him? On your phone? Social media?”
“No. I deleted everything on my phone. And he refused to let me put his face on social media. Fuck, I was really had. Wasn’t I?”
