Because of You (34 page)

“Um…” Evan points a finger gun at me and pretends to shoot. I look at Kyle. “That’s okay.” I walk a little faster, pulling away from his hand. “I’ll see you in a few days. ‘Kay?” My uncle gets out of the car and opens the trunk. A big smile is plastered on his face. I notice his dark hair is thinning in front. He’s wearing a brown leather jacket and tan pants. I’m so happy to see him.

But then I panic. Walking over to my uncle feels like betraying him. Giving him up. Allowing Evan to know who he is. Although I immediately realize he probably already knows. Still, I pretend not to see my uncle.

“Maddelena Eleanor Martin. Where are you going?”

I skid to a halt. “Uh, sorry. I didn’t see you.” The words sound as lame as they are.

Gina gives me a strange look. I’m about to give her an excuse when her phone chirps. She pulls it out of her pocket and looks at it. Then spins in a circle, like she’s lost something.

“I’ll be right there,” I say to my uncle, holding up a finger. Then help Gina search for whatever it is she’s looking for.

“Hustle. Your aunt is anxious to get home. Something about an
I Dream of Jeanie
marathon.”

I see Collin the same time Gina does. She drops her suitcase. Runs. And jumps into his outstretched arms. They kiss. Their hands roaming all over each other’s bodies, like they can’t get enough. You’d think it’d been years since they’d seen each other, instead of hours.

Collin says, “I changed my mind. My parents can suck it. I can’t leave you.” He glances at the bag she dropped. “Unless you have other plans?”

“Oh.” She steps from his arms. “I-I…” She looks at me, her eyes pleading. But I can tell she doesn’t want to be one of those girls. The kind who choose the boyfriend over the best friend. So I save her.

“Gina’s so sweet. She was helping me with my bags.” I pick up her bag and whisper, “You owe me.” I smile.

She smiles back. Mouths, “Thank you.” Puckers her lips in an air kiss. Out loud she says, “I’ll see you when you get back.” She hugs me. “Love you, Maddie. Thanks.” She pushes me back, looks at my face. “You’re like the best person I’ve ever known.”

I hug her again. “Ditto, Gina.”

She glances at Kyle, who is having a heated discussion with Evan. “Don’t do anything.” She stops. “What am I saying? Do lots of crazy stuff.”

I laugh. “Thanks. I will.”

She sidles up to Collin and kisses him like they’re alone—or should be. They walk away together. Arms around each other. It’s really sweet.

My uncle grabs the bag off my shoulder and tosses it in the trunk. I roll over the other one. “This one, too.”

He throws it in, and then hugs me tightly. “Missed you, kid.” He ruffles my hair like I’m five.

I pat my hair back into place. “Missed you, too. Thanks for coming to get me.”

He guffaws. “Of course.” Uncle John opens my door. I slide in behind my aunt.

“Hey, honey,” Aunt Eliza says.

“Hi.” I get buckled, and my uncle starts the car.

“Did you need to say good-bye to that boy?” He looks at me in the rear view mirror.

I peek out the back window. See Kyle’s looking my way. I wave. Either he doesn’t see me or he’s mad. He turns away and climbs into his Jeep. The wheels squeal as he pulls away from the curb.

“I guess not.”

My room looks the same as it did the day I left. Pale green walls, cream curtains, shelves full of books. An antique desk and chair and my queen-sized bed. I toss Gina’s bag on the bed and set my suitcase next to it. Unzip it and pull out my music. The first thing I want to do is play piano. My piano.

I climb down the stairs and head straight for the black baby grand. Lift the top and push back the lid.

Scales first. I play for a few minutes, then alter my bench. Play more scales. Then I run through the duet I’m going to play with Kyle.

When I finish, there’s clapping from the kitchen.

“That’s beautiful, Maddie.”

“Thanks.” I fiddle with some chords, playing the melody that’s been rattling around in my head the past few days.

“Dinner’s ready.”

I stand. “Did you need some help? I can set the table,” I say, entering the kitchen.

My aunt wipes her eyes. “No.” She hugs me tightly. “It’s good to have you home.”

My uncle is already waiting at the small oak table and I sit across from him in my regular spot. Aunt Eliza brings over a plate of burgers. They are covered in melted cheese and bacon. Instead of buns there are glazed donuts. I raise my eyebrows in question.

“A celebration dinner,” Aunt Eliza says.

Uncle John puts two glazed donuts on his plate. Stabs a hamburger patty with a fork and places it on top of one of the donuts. Slaps some lettuce, tomato, and catsup over the top. Sticks the other donut over it. Lifts it to his mouth and takes a bite. A little catsup squishes out the side of his mouth. He wipes at it with a napkin. “Not bad.”

I shrug. Repeat the process. “Alrighty then.” I take a bite. Chew. My uncle’s right. It isn’t bad. It’s actually kind of tasty. I take another bite.

Eliza laughs. “See, John dear, she likes it.” She grabs a cookie sheet full of fries and dumps them into a bowl. Brings them over along with a container of caramel. “Would you like some fries with that?” She smiles brightly.

I giggle. “Most definitely.”

Uncle and I give the caramel fries a taste. The combination is actually surprisingly delicious. John seems to agree because he’s nodding.

I can’t help a surge of love for these two amazing people. For years I held on to anger over the fact that they hadn’t helped me punish Kyle’s father, but over time I realized they were doing what they thought was best for me, and I couldn’t be angry at them for that. In their house there was strange food and awkward movies, but more than that, there was love. I felt it strong, stronger even than the memories of my parents. I grab their hands and squeeze. “I’m so glad to be home.”

Kyle

“Kyle. You ready to go, man?” Evan bursts into my room as I’m throwing a pair of socks in my bag.

“Yeah, almost.” I zip the duffel bag and throw it over my shoulder. “Ready.”

He laughs, and something about it sounds strange. “Cool. Let’s go.”

I shrug. Evan is weird, and he’s been extra jumpy lately. I figure it has to do with his shady business dealings, but I don’t want to know what’s going on there. Punching out that guy had put me in danger. Evan had told me to watch my back. But I hadn’t seen those guys since that night and was glad of that. Evan was an idiot to get caught up with them. But it was his idiot choice. We walk out of my apartment and I lock the door.

“Let’s take my car,” Evan says.

“You sure, man?”

“Get in, asshole.”

His red SUV makes a double beep sound. I pull open the back door and toss my bag in the seat. Evan’s bag is back there as well. We live ten minutes away from his parents’ house, but it’s easier to have our stuff there. Especially since they want us to stay with them. Evan revs the engine, and we take off.

“So, what’s up Maddie’s ass? I thought you and her were a thing? She can’t even talk to you. Too good for you? What a bitch.” He pulls out of the parking lot and onto Decatur Street.

“Shut up, Evan. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” But he’s got a point. Why did she blow me off? I thought we were past that. I’m so mad and getting so sick of her whiny shit. I mean, I have problems too. My parents are dead, but I don’t act all hot and cold from one second to the next. “Damn.”

“Exactly, man. I mean, what the hell?”

I turn on his radio. No longer interested in listening to Evan. Heavy Metal screams through the speakers. It rips right through me and pushes out all the shit brewing inside.

Evan misses the turn that’ll take us to the house, and I look over. “You stoned?”

“No. We need to make a stop first.” He seems nervous. Too smiley.

I look away. “Fine. Whatever.” After several more minutes, we pull up in front of an old worn-down warehouse. There are buildings on either side of it and across the street. One looks like an airline hangar. “This isn’t creepy. What do you have to do here?” I ask the question but I think I know. More shady shit.

Evan grinds his teeth together. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

He puts the SUV in park and climbs out. I follow. He’s walking toward a set of rickety stairs that leads up to an even ricketier old door. When I step on the bottom step, it creaks. The wood banister shakes under my grip. Evan produces a set of keys from his pocket and unlocks the door.

He opens it. “Let’s go. I’m in a hurry.” I follow him up.

As soon as he closes the door, I feel a slight prick in the back of my arm. I turn, thinking he’s poked me with something, and realize he has. It’s a needle.

“Lights out, bro.”

I feel myself fall, unable to control my limbs or my mouth. If my fists worked I’d kick my cousin’s ass.

As it is, I’m suddenly beyond tired.

Maddie

y pajama tank top smells like Kyle and I can’t help but inhale, enjoying his scent. I pull out my phone, wishing I could text him. It’s only been eight hours since I’ve seen him, but it feels like forever. He’s the last person I think about before I fall asleep and the first person I remember when I wake. If I had to choose to spend a lifetime with one person, it would be him. Without question. And it really hits me. I’m not in love with the boy Kyle was when we were eleven. I’m in love with the man he’s become. The man who could so easily have anyone, but chose me.