Page 57 of F*cking Shattered

* * *

I’m lounging across my bed, doing homework and listening to music when Katie bursts into my room. She looks pissed as hell as she slams the door behind her and paces the floor.

I pull my earbuds out and drop them onto the bed as I sit up, watching her. “What’s going on?”

She spins around to face me. “I think my parents are going to get a divorce.”

“What? Why?”

She walks across the room and sits down beside me. “Do you remember last year when my dad came home and him and my mom got into a fight in the kitchen?”

I nod.

“Well things have been strained since then. They’re hardly ever in the same room, when they are, they don’t talk, and sometimes at night, I hear them fighting. They never used to fight before that day.”

“So what are they fighting about?” I ask, pulling my legs up underneath me.

“I don’t know. All I can get is that a man named Josh showed up, asking for money.”

“Who is Josh, and why would he show up asking for money?”

She shrugs while picking at the skin around her fingernails. “I don’t know. But my dad wants to give him the money, and my mom doesn’t. I heard her say that my dad made his choice, and he can’t take it back now.”

“Then what happened?” I ask her.

“He stormed out of their bedroom and left. I tried to sit up and wait for him to come home, but I fell asleep before he made it back.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “I’m sure everything will be fine, Katie. You’re parents are just going through something. They’ll work it out.”

“I hope you’re right.”

* * *

I’m sitting on the couch with my list when River walks in.

“What are you doing?” He plops down beside me.

“I just marked off ‘get arrested’ from the list. So what do I want to know about you now?” I tap my finger on my chin.

“Ask away.” He lies back on the couch, propping his head up on the arm, looking at me.

“I don’t know what else to ask you. Just tell me something.”

He shakes his head. “Nope. You have to ask the questions.”

“I don’t know what to ask. Tell me something that nobody else knows about you.”

His blue eyes glaze over. “I’m in love with you.”

I quickly turn my head away, starting at the floor on the other side of the room. I don’t want to leave him hanging, but I’m not there yet. I can’t say those words. I haven’t even let myself admit how I feel about him yet. I was hoping to have this conversation at the end of the summer, when we get back home. I feel the couch move as he sits up.

“Jovi,” he says almost in a whisper.

I don’t answer him. I’m lost in my endless thoughts.

“Jovi.” He places his hand under my chin and tilts my head in his direction so I have to look at him.

“I didn’t say it to make you say it back. I know this summer is about finding yourself, and I’m not trying to confuse you. I just wanted you to know. I loved you the second you looked up at me with those big, brown, puppy dog eyes of yours.” His lips move to mine. They are so soft and moving slow. He’s trying to tell me something with this kiss, but what?

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