Page 57 of Best Man on Campus

Kace knocks on my door and comes in as I toss the phone on my bed.

“I heard from Dad.”

Chapter 13

Ben

“What did he say? Did he find Sarah? Is she in jail?” Wishful thinking.

Kace shakes his head. “He found a couple of Killian’s old band members. They were questioned during the initial investigation but they didn’t say anything to the police. He thinks they might talk to us, though. And they’re local.”

“How local?”

“Turns out they have a gig at a bar ten miles from here. tonight.”

My face smiles and we high five, but I don’t know why because in my gut, I’m terrified. In spite of that, something in me pushes me forward. Hell, I know it’s my need to save Jazzy. No matter that finding the truth could be at the cost of our relationship, such as it is. Am I really going to sacrifice our future to make her whole?

It’s a false question. Because I can’t really have a future with her unless she’s whole. Maybe there’s no way to win, but I’m going to try like fuck to make it work for us.

“We’ll leave after dinner.”

“Why are we doing this?” he says.

“To find out the truth.”

“You already know the truth.”

I nod. I know what I’m going to find out about Killian and that night, but Jazzy needs the confirmation, needs the solid reality that can’t be denied or glossed over. I’m afraid she’s glossing things over in her head right now. She’s struggling to hide from the truth, grappling with the pain of uncertainty, the open wound of unfinished business. I can stand with her, help her through it, so that we can have a functional relationship. Or none at all.

“Maybe you should be a psychiatrist.”

“Maybe you’re right. No blood. After I get past med school and my internship.”

“I was kidding. You still going forward with that med school shit?”

“Of course.” My answer is automatic, like I’m a parrot singing the lines that have been fed to me all my life.

“You have agents chasing you around to sign you. You have a chance to play pro fucking hockey, man.”

“I have a chance to save lives as a doctor.” I do want to save lives. That’s no fucking parrot talking.

“You know there’s more than one way to skin a cat, right?”

“Where’d you get that saying?” I scoff, needing to get off the topic of med school.

“From Majik. She’s full of badass sayings.”

“You up for a night at a sleazy bar?”

“That’s the plan,” he says.

“You don’t have to do this,” I mean it.

My door swings open and Stone walks in. I clamp my mouth shut. He sits on my bed like he always does.

“Don’t have to do what?”

I exchange a long look with Kace and then at Stone. “Nothing.” I feel bad leaving him out, but it’s too private and I can barely justify sharing Jazzy’s shit with Kace. Stone’s face immediately tightens and I know he feels slighted. He sits a few more seconds until my continued silence convinces him I’m not answering his question. Anger flares on his face, his first instinct as he flips me his middle finger and leaves.