Page 20 of Remember Us This Way

“Exactly.”

“Speaking of Noah,” Abby chimes in, her tone hitching as though she’s got the gossip of the century. “I heard something about him today.”

“Ooh yeah,” Tarni says, hanging off Abby’s every word. “What is it?”

“So, apparently he used to have a little brother, Landon or Logan . . . something like that, and I don’t know . . . five or so years ago, Noah killed him, and that’s why he’s so fucked up.”

I suck in a horrified gasp. “Who the hell told you that?” I demand, anger rolling off me, not only for the disrespect of talking about Linc like that but for spreading such a horrendous rumor. When Noah hears what they’re saying, it will tear him to pieces. “That’s not even a little close to what happened.”

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger,” Abby says as hot, rage-filled tears spring to my eyes. “That’s just the rumor that’s going around. Heard it from some guy in the school parking lot.”

Throwing myself off my bed, I pace the length of my room, unable to find control. “His name wasn’t Landon or Logan. It was Lincoln, Lincoln Ryan, and he was the sweetest boy I ever met. He was hit by a drunk driver three years ago, and it destroyed his family and mine. Noah adored his little brother and still hasn’t come to terms with his death. So do yourselves a favor and don’t even mention his name. Shit,” I huff, needing to take a breath. “How could you be so cold as to say such a thing?”

“Jesus Christ, Zoey,” Tarni says. “Lay off. It’s not like she was suggesting Noah did it, just telling us the rumor she heard today.”

I shake my head, unable to believe that Tarni is defending Abby right now, especially considering she was there to see the way Linc’s death crushed me. She saw the devastation tear through me and experienced it secondhand. She’d even met Linc a handful of times, and now she’s just going to pretend like she doesn’t even remember his name?

Fuck. I’ve never been so upset and angry.

Without another word, I end the call, throw my phone on my bed, and get back to pacing. When a knock sounds at my door, I glance up just in time to see Mom poke her head through the opening door. “Everything alright in here?”

“Yes. No,” I spit. “I don’t know.”

Mom walks right in and takes my shoulders, forcing me to stop and meet her eyes. “What’s going on my sweet girl?”

“It’s only been one day, and the rumor mill is already starting to spin.”

“About you and Noah?” Mom questions, sadness in her eyes.

“Well, yes,” I say with a heavy sigh. “But that’s not what this is all about.”

“What’s going on?”

Letting out a breath, I collapse onto the edge of my bed and lower my gaze to my hands, Abby’s words leaving a sharp sting deep in my chest. “Apparently people are starting to put their own theories together about Linc, and the things they’re saying . . . it’s horrible, Mom.”

“Oh, honey,” she says with a sigh, dropping down beside me and pulling me into her arms, the same way I’d done with Hazel. “Usually, I’d tell you to keep your head down and ignore nasty rumors, but you can’t ignore this, especially now that Linc isn’t here to defend himself. Speak up where you can. Don’t let people say nasty things about him. He was such a sweet boy. I couldn’t stand the thought of people talking ill about him.”

“It’s not Linc they’re saying bad things about. They’re suggesting Noah was the one who did it.”

“What?” she gasps.

“Yeah.”

She holds me even tighter. “I suppose Noah didn’t take that very well.”

“I wouldn’t know. He took one look at me this morning and acted as though I was dirt under his foot. He said he didn’t want anything to do with me, and if I see him in the hall, to walk the other way.”

Mom lets out a heavy sigh and rubs my back. “Oh, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. That must have been hard.”

“It wasn’t my finest moment.”

“I bet.”

“He’s not the boy I used to know,” I murmur, my heart falling to pieces. “He’s different.”

Mom shakes her head. “You see, that’s where I think you’re wrong. The old Noah, the one we all know and love, is still in there screaming for someone to help him. He’s just lost his way, and I have to have faith that he will come back to us. Don’t give up on him, Zoey. I know it hurts, but he needs you now more than ever.”

“Why does it have to be me?” I say, tears brimming in my eyes. “He doesn’t want me around him. He pushed me away three years ago and left me. I had to heal all on my own, and now, seeing him at school, acting as though I never meant anything . . . It sucks. I can’t do it.”

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