Race held his hands up, and Jordan took out a pocket knife. He began cutting the tape away.

“You guys did all that just to ask me why I’ve been nice to you?” Race asked.

Cross moved to my side. “Truth comes out if people are scared.”

When the last of the tape was cut from his wrists, Race leaned forward and pulled at the tape around his ankles. Jordan handed him the knife, and he cut it himself, handing it back when he was done.

Rubbing at his wrists, Race looked around the room. “What are you guys going to do then? About my cousin?”

The guys and I shared a look. Alex had gone after me, and now if he was dealing drugs? He’d gone from being our problem to being a problem for all crews.

The truth was, we’d probably tell my brother, see what he had to say. But for now, Jordan only said, “He’ll be dealt with.”

“I’m telling the truth.” Race kept looking around at us. “I mean it.”

“We know,” I said.

Jordan left first.

Zellman was second.

I was going to wait, but Cross moved behind me. I stopped at the door.

Race’s mouth was slightly open, like he couldn’t believe what had just happened.

He wanted to be in. He wanted to know what we were going to do, but that’s how this worked. Race wasn’t crew.

Cross touched the small of my back. He leaned forward, dropping his voice. “He’ll be fine.”

And I felt what I’d started to become accustomed to feeling when he touched me.

I felt that same tingle again.

Jordan dropped us off and Cross snuck inside with me. He slept on the floor of my room. He was gone when I woke this morning—my head pounding and my ribs sore—and I knew it hadn’t been a ghost that turned my alarm clock off.

I had to bite my lip to keep from crying as I made my way to the bathroom. I hadn’t wanted to take a painkiller again—I didn’t like my foggy thoughts—but I needed it this morning. I was sore, and I hated that.

This confirmed my plan to stay home from school for the day, and I found Heather in the kitchen when I padded out of the bathroom. She was dressed, grabbing some coffee. When she saw me, she nearly dropped the coffee pot.

“You stayed home today!”

I paused, the fleeting thought that I was in trouble fading once she broke into a wide smile. She came over, her arms out, then seemed to remember why I was at home. She stopped herself, laughing sheepishly.

A tear slipped out, and she flicked it away.

“Channing’s going to be so happy. It’s like you’re normal.” She waved to the kitchen table. “Sit, sit. What do you want to eat? I’ll make you something.” She opened the fridge door, then shut it. “I’ll buy you whatever you want.”

I rubbed my eyes. They didn’t want to open this morning. “I’ll just have coffee.”

“Just have coffee, says the seventeen year old.” Heather shook her head as she picked up the pot and cleaned off the bottom. She poured me a cup, adding a little milk before bringing it over. “I know I’m officially old because I keep thinking no teenager should be drinking coffee like an adult.” She grabbed her cup and slipped into one of the other chairs. “What am I saying, though? My father would still be horrified at me.” She slapped a hand on the table. “Change of subject. What’s your plan for the day?”

I gestured to the living room. “I’m going to be a lazy teenager today.”

“Oh!” She silently clapped. “I used to be cool, believe it or not, so my past teenaged self is incredibly embarrassed by how I’m acting, but I almost feel proud of you.” She pushed herself up from the table. “Okay. So what do you want? I’ll grab your blanket. I’ll get all the remote controls for you. Food. Drink. Kleenex, because you never know. Movies—no, we have the DVR. Your phone? Where’s your phone?”

This wasn’t the Heather I was used to dealing with. She was being motherly, which should’ve made me feel all sorts of edginess, but today wasn’t normal. She was right. I was recuperating. Tomorrow I’d go back to being normal Bren.

“Weren’t you going to work?”

“I was.” She’d been looking around the kitchen, but now she stood up straight. “I have to call in your absence. For once, you’re skipping with permission. I’ll do that right now.”

“Hey, Heather.”

She started for the hallway, but stopped.

I said softly, “You’re still cool.”

Her mouth snapped shut. Her cheeks bulged out. She blinked rapidly, and then a small cry escaped her mouth. “Oh, Bren.” She flicked a hand to her ear, blinking again, a whole bunch. “I’ll, uh… I’ll—Oh! I need to call.”

I almost made her cry.

No. I did make her cry.

It was a weird feeling, not just knowing she cared, but feeling it.

After she kept getting things for me, I finally waved her off.

“Go to work.” I had everything I needed around me—my phone, a blanket… I wasn’t even sure if I would watch television. “I’m fine. Really.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m sure. Go.”

She still wavered, but then grabbed her phone and purse. “Okay. I’m going to go. I’m going to call your brother. He’ll check on you this afternoon, and Bren?” She paused in the doorway. “Please stay here tonight. Don’t go out. Just for one night.”

I stared at her a moment.

I was used to hard, smart-ass Heather Jax, not this one. I got a glimpse of what she’d be like as a mother, and feeling a lump form in my throat, I nodded. “I’ll stay.” My voice was a bit hoarse, but she didn’t seem to notice.

“Okay.” I heard the back door open, and she yelled, “And call if you need anything. Please.”

Her car started a minute later. I breathed a little easier once she was gone. It was overwhelming when all of her attention was focused on me, but already I missed it.

It was a lot, but it was a good a lot.

And that felt weird too.

I heard someone coming, but I didn’t move.

I had become one with the hill, the trees, the grasshoppers chirping. I felt like I was up above, staring down at myself. I was there, right next to my mom, and I could almost hear her laughing in my ear.

“What have you gotten yourself into now, Bren?”

She would’ve laughed. She would’ve shaken her head at me, but there would’ve been a twinge of concern and fear in her eyes. She would’ve worried she was to blame.

It was nighttime. I’d stayed home all day until the restlessness kicked in. Heather had called a couple times to check on me, and she’d been right. Channing had brought food for a late lunch, but he’d had to return to the bar. Jordan texted and asked if I needed anything. I was tempted to have them skip and hang out with me, but I didn’t. I tried to be a good influence, for once.

When I said I was fine, Jordan replied that he and Zellman were going to kick it at his house after school. That was fine with me. It was in the back of my mind to join, but I’d told Heather I’d stay the day, and that’s what I did. Cross texted a few times too, but he wasn’t a big texter. I hadn’t expected a lot. I hadn’t heard from him since school let out, so a part of me already knew what the plan for the evening would be.

At eight, Channing texted that he was heading to Manny’s. Heather had to stay for closing, so I knew what their hours would be. He’d stay till she closed, which would be late.

I took that as my cue.

I’d headed out, and I knew who was likely to be standing over me soon.

I opened my eyes now as a shadow fell across me, and there he was.

I smiled. “How’d I know you’d come?”

Cross grinned back. “You’re my best friend.” He sat next to me, drawing his knees up, his arms hanging over them.

“You okay?” His fingers touched my skin where my shirt had ridden up. He wasn’t just asking about the Ryerson fight.

I jerked my head in a nod. My voice wasn’t working. Things were changing with Cross and me.

He had touched me again, and I liked it.