LOGINTyler’s POVI have never driven this fast in my life.My car roars beneath me as I tear through the familiar roads toward Monty’s Cliff. Every few seconds, my eyes flick between the road and the little blue dot on my phone mounted beside the steering wheel.I grip the steering wheel harder. “Please be okay,” I whisper. “Please.”The road begins climbing toward the coast, and a line of parked cars comes into view. My pulse spikes at the sight of people gathered near the cliff’s edge, pointing and shouting.Before I can think of stopping the car, someone runs into the middle of the road, waving both arms. I slam on the brakes, the tires screeching across the pavement as Jake reaches my window before my car has completely stopped.“Jake?” I ask, rolling down my window. “What are you…?”“It’s Lila!” he shouts, breathing hard.My eyes widen. “Have you seen her? I know she’s here somewhere.”“No.” He shakes his head violently. “She’s in Noah’s car!
CHAPTER 113The sun is beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Normally, I would stop and admire it.But I just shove my hands into my jacket pockets and keep moving.The argument with my parents keeps replaying in my head as I walk. Every time I think about my mother’s face, guilt twists inside my chest. Every time I think about Tyler’s father sitting in my living room, anger follows right behind it.My phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my pocket. I stare at Tyler’s name on the screen, unable to press the answer button.I cannot do this right now, even though there’s no denying that I love him. I love him so much that it physically hurts sometimes. But if what my parents are saying is true, if his father really has been interfering with my college applications... I don’t even know how to process that.The phone stops ringing, and a text appears a second later.Please answer.My throat tightens, but I look away and keep walki
Tyler’s POV Football scouts still haven’t called, but I’ve pretty much given up on that happening anymore. Yet, despite the fact that my future hasn’t magically sorted itself out, I feel like I can breathe for the first time in a long time. Jake and I finally talked, and when I told Lila everything, she didn’t look at me differently. The weight of guilt I’ve been carrying around for years feels a lot lighter now, and it makes walking into the house easier. It’s unusually quiet when I walk inside, and then I hear laughter coming from the backyard. I drop my overnight bag at the foyer, follow the sound, and find Mom kneeling beside a flowerbed while the twins chase each other through the grass. She looks up when she hears me. “There he is.” A smile immediately spreads across my face. “Hey.” The twins practically launch themselves at me, and I barely have time to brace myself before they’re hanging off my arms. “Tyler!” “You’re back!” “Is Lila here too?” Lucas doesn’t waste tim
I should feel like things are finally falling into place. After all, the school trip is over, and with it is Tyler and Jake’s long-standing beef. Northbridge has also officially confirmed the details of my scholarship while we were away. Yet, the knot sitting in my chest as our bus rolls into the school parking lot doesn’t ease up. Maybe it’s because my mother has barely answered my texts all weekend, and the last time we’d spoken, she’d been furious about Northbridge. Or maybe it’s simply because life has taught me that every time something good happens, something else isn’t far behind to ruin it. Honestly, all I can think about is getting home and collapsing into bed. I feel like I’ve lived an entire month in forty-eight hours. Tyler’s lips softly brush my ear as he whispers, “You’re overthinking again, aren’t you?” I glance over at him, cheeks warming. “No, I’m not.” “Liar.” A smile tugs at my lips despite myself, but it doesn’t ease the feeling of dread growing by sec
Tyler’s POVThe room Ms. Teagues forces me and Jake in is barely bigger than a closet.She points between the two of us. “You two are staying in here until you can communicate like adults and figure out your issues,” she says, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’m serious. If I come back in an hour and you two are still trying to kill each other, I’ll make sure neither of you sees graduation.”I’m too exhausted to argue, my knuckles and jaw hurt, and judging by the split in Jake’s lip, he isn’t doing much better.The door shuts behind us with a loud click after Ms. Teagues leaves, and neither of us moves for a while.Jake drops into one of the chairs surrounding the small table in the center of the room while I remain standing by the window. Outside, I can see students moving between buildings as the rest of the trip continues without us. Meanwhile we’re trapped in a room like angry children.Somewhere out there, Lila was probably worried sick. And the t
The class tour starts almost immediately after we settle into our destination, though “tour” feels generous for what is mostly Ms. Teagues talking, while seniors scatter in every direction like they’ve already mentally checked out.Tyler stays right beside me, close enough that his shoulder keeps brushing mine as we walk. The problem is, I can’t enjoy it.Not with the way everyone keeps whispering.Their voices follow us through the paths between the old buildings and through the courtyards, even as Ms. Teagues explains the historical significance of the town.I glance up at Tyler more than once, and each time, he looks calm. If I didn’t know him, I’d think none of it is reaching him. But I feel the tension coiled under his skin, even when his face doesn’t show it.At some point, his hand finds mine, and he laces our fingers together without looking at me. We’re halfway through the tour when I see Jake.He’s walking with a few students behind us, but his
Thirty seconds… that’s how long it takes for happiness to turn into embarrassment.I wish for the ground to somehow open up and swallow me whole as I wait for a response that never comes.Maybe I’m misreading his silence. Maybe he’s about to smile, say it back, or pull me closer and
Tyler’s POVBeneath the fluorescent lights, Lila looks ethereal.Her pastel-colored dress shimmers like the rainbow, and her soft, brown curls fall softly around her shoulders, making me itch to run my fingers through them.I watch her pick at the food she absentmindedly ordered.
“Careful with that, honey.” “I’m being careful,” I mutter, adjusting my grip on the box that is definitely heavier than it looks. My dad snorts beside me, effortlessly balancing two larger boxes like they weigh nothing. “That’s what you said right before you dropped
You’d think I’d have gotten used to the stares and whispers by now, but when I walk into the cafeteria holding Tyler’s hand, it’s like stepping onto a spotlighted stage all over again.Tyler, as usual, just doesn’t care. He squeezes my hand gently, leaning slightly closer. “Relax, Garcia







