Page 2 of Fractured Hearts

No. It won’t be because I won’t let it. Ezra is my future. I know that deep in my soul. Just like I know tonight is going to change everything for us.

“You need to pack. The semester starts next week.”

I look up from my quickly cooling breakfast. My mom stands in front of me with a concerned look on her face. She’s been overly kind since Ezra went missing. When I got the call from Belle letting me know that Ezra had been declared dead, she held me as I cried. She’s been the mom I wished I had, and I hate it. I shouldn’t have to have my heart ripped from my chest for my mother to hug me.

I nod, more in acknowledgement that she spoke than in agreement, but she smiles and digs back into her grapefruit. I don’t know if I can go back to the place that holds so many memories of me and Ezra. I can’t stay here either. I don’t know what to do.

“Why is Malikai Irons walking to our front door?” my dad asks, folding the newspaper he was reading and looking out the dining room window. I turn around in time to see Kai climb the front steps.

“I don’t know. I’ll see what he wants.” Pushing my chair out, I walk as quickly as I dare to the front door, opening it right before he pushes the doorbell.

“Hey,” Kai says, stepping back as I step outside with him, shutting the door behind me.

“Has there been an update?” I ask, failing to keep the hope out of my voice. Kai’s eyes hold a sadness that I know reflect back at him from my own. He shakes his head and looks down at his feet.

I just watch him. I know it’s strange and probably makes him uncomfortable, but I can’t help it. I look at the hair that’s the same color as Ezra’s, but it’s longer. The blue eyes that should be identical are harder. Their facial structure is the same, but somehow the identical twins aren’t identical to me. I stare at Kai every time we interact, trying to pull out the pieces of him that are Ezra.

But he isn’t Ezra. Ezra is gone.

“If this is about the band again,” I start. Kai has been texting me about joining his band, recording an album, and then going on tour with them. It all sounds like a fantasy come true. Except they need me to play bass. They need me to replace Ezra. I can’t do that. Kai doesn’t understand. He thinks Ezra and I are just friends. We never got the chance to tell everyone about our relationship, and as dumb as it may sound, I’m going to stick to the plan and tell them together.

Ezra isn’t dead. He can’t be. It’s something I refuse to accept.

“I was at Cal’s house last night. I overheard his mom talking about your parents setting you up on dates. She wants to do that for Cal, but he’s leaving, so she can’t. You can leave too.” Kai lifts his head, his blue eyes burning into me, saying so much more than his words. He’s offering me an escape. He can’t stay in this town either.

“I can’t replace him,” I whisper.

“So don’t. Be Maverick. No one is asking you to be Ezra.”

I sigh and look up at the sky. It’s cloudy today, the rain should start at any minute. I swear it’s rained most of the summer. Like the sky is just as sad about Ezra as I am.

“The song they want us for was written by Belle and Ez. Without you, this is dead in the water and Ezra’s work dies with it,” Kai says, not looking even a little sorry for the guilt trip. He glances over my shoulder and frowns. I follow his line of sight and see my dad watching the whole exchange from his seat at the table.

“I think we all need to get away from here,” Kai says. He was there plenty of times when I hung out with Ezra at school and has overheard enough conversations to know how controlling my parents are. So his comment was less than subtle.

I glance back at my dad and see he’s back to reading the newspaper. He won’t approve. Neither will my mom. I’m supposed to go to law school after I graduate. I’m supposed to marry some girl my parents pick and have children while running for a political office I don’t care about. My breathing quickens and my heart races.

I can’t do it.

I can’t be what they want me to be without sacrificing what I have left of myself.

“When do we leave?”

Kai smirks. It’s not a full smile. I don’t think he’s capable of doing that anymore.

“The label is sending a limo tomorrow. We’re meeting on our street, but I can have them come get you first.”

I shake my head. “Can you come get me and pretend we’re moving into the dorms early? I’ll tell my parents I’m riding with you. Otherwise, they’re going to try to stop me.”

“You got it. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I watch Kai as he quickly makes his way back to his car, trying to escape the raindrops that have just started to fall.

Walking back into the house, I’m stopped by my mom the moment I get to the base of the stairs.

“What was that about?” she asks.

“Kai offered me a ride back to the dorms. He’s leaving in the morning, though, so I need to go pack.”