Page 78 of How We Fooled

“You good?” he asks.

“Yep.” I give him a firm nod, thankful that he cares enough to ask, but knowing I could never tell him what’s really going on.

“Cool.”

He gives me knucks, and I head back to my truck, knowing I need to talk to Liza, no matter what I have to do in order to make it happen.

I get in the truck and call her once more. My chest tightens when she finally answers.

“Hi …” she says timidly.

“Thank you for answering.”

She lets out a slow breath. “Thank you for continuing to call. I’m sorry I haven’t answered, but it helped me, seeing them come through.”

We sit in silence for a few breaths, not really sure what to say, so I start with the obvious.

“Maya has kept her promise. She hasn’t even said a word to me about it.”

“Yeah. I was terrified to go to school every day, just thinking today would be the day, but with every day that passed, it got a little easier.”

“Is that why you finally answered my call?”

“Yeah …”

“I’ve missed you.”

“I miss you too,” she whispers.

“We’ll make it through this.”

Her voice cracks as she replies, “I know.”

“Have faith. Faith in us.”

“I do,” she says, trying to hide her tears, but I know they are there.

“I wish I could hold you right now.”

“Me too.”

“It will all be worth it. I promise. We. Are. Worth. It.”

“I know. I have to go though. My aunt just got home.”

“I love you, Liza. I always will.”

“I love you too.”

She hangs up, and I drop my head back against the headrest. Knowing we’ll get through this is the only thing I can possibly hold on to because hearing her voice so sad breaks everything possible inside me.

We made it through Thanksgiving even though there was this feeling in the air that wouldn’t go away. Holidays should be spent with the people you love, and not being able to include Liza in our family gathering made the entire event unbearable.

I put on a fake show for my grandparents, but my mom knew I wanted Liza there with us. I could feel her sadness for me with every glance. The holiday I normally love since I get to eat a feast was ruined without her there, and I couldn’t wait to get it over with.

The thought carried with me throughout the next week at school, and for the life of me, I couldn’t get over the bad mood I was in unless I was getting to talk to her.

It was hard, having to keep up the facade in front of Maya, but she must be pretty into this new guy because this is the second time I’ve hung out at Ben’s place since Thanksgiving and she’s nowhere to be found.

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