Chapter 36 (1/2)

Yes, they still do more drugs than humanly possible, but they’re not the same malicious delinquents they were when I left London years ago.

“Stop by the chemist, and you’ll be good to go.” The doctor gives me a quick nod and leaves me alone in the exam room.

“Fuck.” I tap on the hard surface of the stupid cast. This is such bullshit. Will I be able to drive? To write?

Fuck no, I don’t need to write anything anyway. That shit needs to stop now; it has gone on long enough, and my sober mind keeps fucking with me, slipping thoughts and memories in when I’m too distracted to keep them out.

Karma keeps fucking with me, and true to her bitchy reputation, she continues the mockery as I pull my phone from my pocket to find Landon’s name across the screen. I ignore the call and shove the thing back into my jeans.

What a fucking mess I’ve made.

Chapter twenty-one

TESSA

How long will she be like this?” Landon says to someone somewhere. Everyone is acting like I can’t hear them, like I’m not even present, but I don’t mind. I don’t want to be here, and it feels good to be here but feel invisible at the same time.

“I don’t know. She’s in shock, honey,” Karen’s sweet voice answers her son.

Shock? I’m not in shock.

“I should have gone inside with her!” Landon chokes out through a sob.

If I could look away from the cream-colored wall in the Scotts’ living room, I know that I would see him in his mother’s arms.

“She was up there alone with his body for almost an hour. I thought she was just getting her stuff, and maybe even some closure—but I let her sit up there with his dead body for an hour!”

Landon’s crying so much, and I should comfort him; I know I should, and I would if I could.

“Oh, Landon.” Karen’s crying, too.

Everyone seems to be crying except me. What is wrong with me?

“It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known he was there; you couldn’t have known that he left his program.”