Page 76 of Repairing the Wreckage

How is my body still moving?

How do I have any blood left to roar through my ears?

I’m pretty sure I left my heart back there.

My feet keep moving forward through the wet, dewy grass, but the ache in my chest keeps begging me to turn around.

Torch takes my hand. Guilt crawls over my skin. What am I doing?

“Hungry?” he asks.

“Sure.” I could choke down a burger. Anything to try and appear normal.

He steers me toward the patio and his uncle’s grill.

Uncle Pax smiles wide when he sees me. “How you doin’, sweetheart?”

“Pretty good.” I force a weak smile, wishing I’d opted for a full face mask tonight. “I like the costume night.” I tap my bunny ears. “It’s fun.”

Or it was fun until Griff showed up.

“Ella’s idea.” He grins wide. Eraser always jokes that his uncle likes Ella more than him. “School’s good?”

“So far.”

“Well, eat a burger or two, you’re gettin’ too skinny.” He drops two greasy patties on a plate and passes it to me.

My stomach tightens as I stare at the food. How can I eat when my stomach’s twisted into one giant knot?

Torch carries our plates. He tries to move toward one of the picnic benches near the back. Nope. That’s where Griff and I sat on my eighteenth birthday. If I sit at that table I’ll unravel, for sure.

“How about there.” I point out a table with two chairs closer to the bleachers. “So we’re not interrupted.”

“Sure.” He sets our plates down. “I’ll be right back.” He clasps my shoulder. “You all right?”

“I’m fine.” I slide into the metal chair, wincing at the chill on the backs of my legs.

I nibble on the plain burger and squishy bun, barely tasting a thing. My gaze scans the racetrack. Not for Griff. Nope.

Did Remy know Griff would be here tonight? Why didn’t he warn me?

All sorts of muddled feelings converge in my chest as I spot Griff crossing the asphalt, heading toward the stands. He didn’t bother to put his mask on again. Why was he wearing it in the first place? To ambush me? As if some cheap mask would stop me from recognizing the man I loved with all my heart.

Two girls approach him. Slim and blonde—Heather? The other blonde I recognize as Lyla, a ring girl who hangs around the guys. They giggle, fawn, play with their hair, and touch him in a shameless display.

And he’s not exactly telling them to get lost.

Why should he?

A larger crowd swarms toward him. Oh, great. That stupid show made him some sort of celebrity.

Griff turns his head, and across the distance our eyes lock. No joy or spark lights up his face. If anything, he looks tired and annoyed. His jaw tightens and he tears his gaze away, focusing his attention on the blondes.

A bottle of ketchup drops on the table. Torch slides into the chair across from me. “You all right?”

I blink and swallow hard. Did he catch me staring at Griff? “Yup.” I grab the ketchup and squirt a big dollop on my burger. “Thanks for getting this.”

“No problem. Never seen you eat a burger without it.”

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