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“You don’t have to tell me where you’re going,” he says, arching an eyebrow, also glancing at mom as if expecting her to take his side.
I gesture at his crutches. “I also didn't get shot in the leg.”
He jerks his shoulders up. “Can’t deny that.”
I can’t help the bad feeling knotting up in the pit of my stomach. Something about this whole situation doesn't feel right, and maybe it's because it reminds me of when he left before he got shot. He has that same air of purpose and arrogant attitude.
“So, where are you going?” I ask, moving toward him.
“Out,” he says, an infuriating grin on his lips. “I’ll be fine, Lila.” With that, he makes his way toward the door, the thud, thud, thud of his crutches echoing like gunshots in the sudden quiet.
He leaves without another word, and I turn to Mom.
“Where do you think he's going?” she asks, her concerned eyes meeting mine.
“I don't know,” I say. “But I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Maybe we should follow him.” Mom sounds serious. “I could go for some fresh air, anyway.”
“Mom, no. That's a terrible idea.”
She doesn't seem convinced by my response. “Then what do you suggest we do? Just sit here and wait for him to come back? Maybe get shot in the other leg? Or worse?”
I sigh, knowing she might be right. Alex doesn't always make the best decisions. “Fine. Let's go.”
I help her into her coat, then take her wheelchair. “I can walk,” she grumbles.
“Only a little ways before you get winded. You’re still healing, Mom.” I begin to push her toward the door.
“No time to heal,” she says. “Too much going wrong in our lives.”
Her words break my heart, but it’s hard to argue with her.
We make our way outside, but I don’t see any signs of Alex anywhere. He can’t move that fast... where could he have gone?
“Damn it, Alex,” I mutter the words under my breath.
“Someone must have picked him up,” Mom says as I continue walking her along the sidewalk.
“But who?” I ask. Who would come pick up my brother?
“I’m not sure.” Mom sounds worried, then speaks again. “So, tell me how your date with Fredrick went. You never told me.”
I sense she’s trying to take her mind off her troubles, but I’m not sure I can say much. “We got sushi. Laughed a lot. Talked. I tried new things.” As I say the words, images of our date flash in my mind, bittersweet.
“Are you okay?” Mom asks, breaking me out of my thoughts as she looks over her shoulder and up at me.
“Yeah, sorry. Just remembering.” I force a smile to my lips.
“Okay,” she says, but the thin line of her lips tells me she sees right through my lies.
And as I walk her back toward the front door in silence, I can’t help but think about Fredrick. The look in his eyes when I said those words... it might have been kinder to rip his still-beating heart out of his chest than say that to him.
I deserve what he’s doing, shutting me out. But I don’t like it.
I want to fix things with him, but I don't know how. All I know is that if he walks away again... I don’t know how I’ll get through it.
Chapter Twenty-One
