“CJ, Skye—” Mattie started.
“Is leaving,” CJ inserted.
“Professor Billson told me I needed to talk to you,” Skye said nervously. “He…I…a big part of our grade is the science project and…and—”
“And nothing,” CJ snarled. “I told him I can do it on my own.”
Mattie inserted herself in front of CJ. “Text me your contact info. I’ll make sure CJ gets it, but it might be best if you go back to school for now.”
“Go with her, Mattie,” CJ said after Skye walked off. “CJ—”
“Molly’s coming back, Matilda. I’m not interested in befriending a new girl on the cheer team or partnering with her in Billson’s class.”
“Just like you didn’t have a choice in teaming with Molly for the science project, you don’t have a choice in this,” Mattie reasoned.
“Accepting another girl in Molly’s place means I’ve given up on her.”
“No, it means you recognize you can’t halt your life,” Grant told him. “You’re making your life harder and that of everyone else’s because you can’t accept that continuing your life isn’t giving up on her or even disrespecting her.”
“Molly wouldn’t want that for you,” Rory said.
“This bullshit right here is another reason people are doubting your ability to be in the fucking club, cuck,” Ryan spat.
“We don’t know where Molly is, CJ,” Mattie said softly, though she glared at their cousin. “The longer she’s missing, the less of a chance she’ll be found alive. If she isn’t already—”
For days, CJ had been on the verge of a breakdown, butthis…? Mattie’s words undid him.
“She’s not fucking dead, Mattie,” he yelled, falling apart inside and out.
He picked up his backpack and threw it, blind towhere, only wanting to destroy something. Mattie’s face blurred in front of him. Arms encircled him, but it wasn’t hers. Rory had placed himself partially in front of her.
Slapping the steel railing, he screamed at the top of his lungs and broke down in gut-wrenching sobs. His heart hurt so bad, he thought it had literally broken.
“CJ,” Ryan said, his voice shaky, his arms around him and holding him tightly, comforting him.
CJ didn’t care. He was worn out. Exhausted. He sagged against his cousin and wept. Accepting the unacceptable—the unimaginable.
Mollywasprobably dead. He had to stop waiting for her. He had to remember her as the sweet girl she was and move on with his life.
The roar of a Harley reached him. Fuck, if Bash was coming to fuck with him, he’d just surrender. Life was short and fragile. The hope of another day could end in tragedy.
Nothingwas guaranteed, except death. Maybe that was the freedom he needed. He didn’t know who or what he was anymore. He missed his mother’s guidance but she saw him as Outlaw’s son.
CJ cried harder. Spurs jingled and broke through his tears.
Not Bash, but Dad, who took Ryan’s place.
“Molly’s gone, Dad,” CJ sobbed. “How did I get to live and she didn’t? How’s that fair?”
“Life ain’t fair, boy,” Dad said gruffly. “Life’s a game only the strong survive. You got to be strong, son. No matter the road you choose.”
“You know she’s dead, don’t you?”
“I ain’t able to find her. Unless she in Salt Lake City with Bash, yeah, CJ, she’s gone.”
CJ started shaking and his stomach twisted. “I…Jesus, she must’ve suffered.”
“You can’t think about that.”
