Instead of answering, I crane my head, motioning that we go outside. “I think I need a quick swim.”
They all nod and we head toward the lake. Watching Colt and Cass here was a sight. The pure joy on both of their faces brought me an amazing sense of peace.
I’d fought for his safety, his eventual freedom, his life, and seeing them reconnect, watching as the light that had left them both come back again… it was beautiful and worth every sacrifice.
Because in the end, I got the girl too.
I take off my shirt, socks, and shoes, then remove my phone from my pocket before jumping in. Ten, Ross, Lux, and Jordan follow me soon after.
The water hits me and somehow, so does the calmness I’d missed. There’s something in silence that allows your brain to focus.
When I resurface, the rest are shaking out their hair. We circle the lake like the old days and for once, it feels like that. Like we’re still just kids, enjoying the presence of one another.
Before the lies.
Before the secrets.
Before the deaths.
“Got room for one more?” Cassidy’s voice hits my ears and we all turn. Ross’s eyes widen and he blinks several times before freaking out.
“Did I die?”
We all laugh and realize that it would be heaven, wouldn’t it? Reuniting with those who have been lost to the disaster that is the Vestige.
“Cass?” he asks, his voice completely breaking.
“Yeah, loser. Think you could get rid of me so easily?”
He chuckles but it’s halfway a sob, something so insanely heartbreaking. The reuniting of us all feels odd. So much has changed, yet in the expressions of all of our friends, not a single thing has changed.
We’re still fighting the devils.
We’re still running from them too.
The only difference is knowing how far they’ll go.
Now, it’s up to us to fight dirty, not hold back.
Cassidy jumps in and Ross is rushing him for a hug. Only a few seconds pass before he’s yelling. “Group hug, might as well get this touchy shit over with.”
Collectively, we laugh and hug, reminding me of the last time we were all truly friends. It was the spring before sophomore year at Arcadia.
“Last one in has to ask Tara to the homecoming dance!” Cass yells, and we all race to the water. Our goal is to hit the rock in the center of the lake and climb it.
No one wants to take Tara Alveceo to the dance. She’s too clingy. Since middle school, she’s had a weird obsession over dating us.
But that’s the thing. My heart is stuck on one girl. One who is only here for the summer every year and simply forgets me.
I hit the water and cringe. It’s still too cold to be swimming in. Arctic and fucking numbing. As we swim, my heartbeat feels like it slows while trying to quicken with my pace in the water.
Unlike the others, I swim. That’s my sport. They all play rugby—well, most of them—and I swim.
Once I hit the platform before the others, climbing the rock is simple. After I reach the top, it’s a race for the others. Lux next in the lead, Jordan right after him. Ross, Cass, and Ten are battling the most. Lux and Jordan begin climbing when the last three hit the rock.
I sit comfortably at the top as they slowly start their ascent. Once we’re all awkwardly on the big boulder in the water, we laugh.
“I’m going to miss these days,” Lux muses. Unlike us, he thinks he’ll be able to run away with Maxim. Too bad that will never be the case. Not just because Maxim is a player but because he’s an Emerald. We aren’t given choices.
“We’ll always be best friends,” Ross argues. “No matter what.” The way Ross looks at Lux tells us all what we need to know. He’s in fucking love.
“I have so many plans,” Cassidy murmurs. “All you fucks are involved in most of them, anyway.”
A myriad of hoots and chuckles leave us. “So, who’s taking Tara-touches-too-much?” I mock, knowing it won’t be me.
“Unfortunate luck of the draw for me,” Ten grumbles. “Fuck school dances.”
A smack to my head bounces me from my memory. “Dude, the fuck did your head go?” Jordan curses, his eyes wide. “You wouldn’t let go.”
“Memories,” I reminisce, “the ones before life sucked.”
“Ah, pre-Emeralds.”
Nodding, I swim toward the dock, climbing the ladder.
“Did you tell the cooks to make some food?” Lux asks, and before I get a chance to respond, my phone vibrates.
Don’t hate me…
I’m serious. Please don’t be mad.
I’m immediately calling Colt, wondering what her ominous messages mean. She doesn’t pick up and I redial. Again, she doesn’t pick up.
“What’s wrong?” Cassidy asks, already sensing that something is wrong.
“I got two texts from Colt,” I explain, showing him the messages. Right then, my phone vibrates with a new text.
I really fucked up, Bridger. Tell him I’m sorry but I had to save Noah.
When he picks up the phone to call her, then grabs his phone to do the same, he pulls at his hair. The obvious distress on Cassidy’s face makes my stomach sour.
“No, this can’t be happening,” he hisses. “We had a plan.”
Author Note
This book was so hard to write.
Don’t get me wrong, these characters live inside me, but my head isn’t the best. Writing Ross and Ten next will be hard, they’re sad boys. Damaged.
While writing this book, there were so many times I found myself wondering where they could take me.
As you all know, I’m a pantser, so while the idea is there, the imagery is blurry.
I’m sorry for postponing, I hate that I did that, but I didn’t have the book anywhere near where it needed to be.
Bridger deserved more, so I gave it to him.
I do hope you love his kind of emotionless, the learned kind.
There’s so much more to come.
Thank you, readers. For giving me a chance, this series, and trusting me.
Also, if you’ve been looking for me on social media, I’ve been absent. It’s for my own sanity, believe me.
If you ever want to drop a message or anything, my email is open and I’m on TikTok! That’s a nice platform for me. (The only social platform for me) I’ll be hosting giveaways there and just enjoying the interactions.