Stevens, Court - The June Boys by Stevens Court

Author:Stevens, Court [Stevens, Court]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2020-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

21

MAY

Nick’s making the dumb mistake of trying to make me feel better, and I’m picturing the little heart Char drew on the receipt and slid in his direction. I’m at peak insecurity. I’ve betrayed my father, again, and I might lose my boyfriend. Here, Dana, take this incriminating photo. Here, Char, take Nick.

“Why are you being difficult?” Nick asks. “Your dad’s getting out tomorrow. I thought you’d be happy.” When I say nothing, he says, “You’re the one who showed Dana the photograph.” This is Nick’s I told you so. Before I can argue, he grabs my fist from the air and tugs my hand into his lap. “And you have good instincts. You told Dana because you could. Please trust that.”

I snatch my hand away. I am ready to eat him and he sees my nostrils flare, my teeth nice and pointy.

“Stop before you say something you don’t mean.”

“Something like Why is kissing me so hard lately? Don’t think your reputation can survive ‘dating the murderer’s daughter’?”

“There it is.”

I wrap my arms around my knees and tuck into a tight cannonball. “There what is?”

“Exactly what I expected to happen with you.”

“Which is?”

He shakes his head like he’s already said too much. I prod hard. “No, don’t stop now. Not when I need enlightenment. What did you expect to happen with me?”

“I expected you to retreat. To find your next big thing and for it not to be me.”

“Oh, please.” I give him the go-ahead gesture, unsure if I can hold my tongue. “Because my dad retreats?”

“I’m saying our relationship would confuse anyone. Anyone, Thee. I mean, come on, we met during a missing persons case. Neither of us has had answers or closure for a year. Every time I’m with you I wonder if this—you and me—would have happened if Aulus hadn’t disappeared. Do you like me or am I your latest project? Then I start thinking I’m one of those sad sacks who capitalize on hardships.” He lays his palms flat against the steering wheel, his fingers hyperextended with stress. “Oh, my best friend was kidnapped and his cousin is hot. Who does that? And then every time I’m in the group, the three of you look at me like I’m the replacement guy. I’m sorry I don’t write people letters or work part-time or stop going to college because Aulus disappeared.”

“Stop,” I say.

“Stop what? Feeling sorry for myself? Because don’t you think I’m telling myself the same thing?”

Tears spill onto my cheeks.

“I want you to want me,” he says. “I even, man, I’m not proud of this, find myself thinking that if we find Aulus, you’ll ditch me, and sometimes I don’t care if he—”

“Don’t say—”

“Doesn’t come back. So, see? You should dump me.”

“Nick, stop.”

We don’t say anything else until we reach Gladys’s house. Our hearts are no calmer. He levels his voice. “If your dad does come home tomorrow, you shouldn’t stay with him.”

“Nick—”

“Regardless of what you think of me right now, Tank would kill me if I didn’t warn you.

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