Page 72 of All My Broken Pieces

“Get in the fucking car.” He grumbles, climbing back behind the wheel.

Ready to be home, I clamber inside despite the desire to fuck with him more. We’re silent as he plugs in the address and throws the car in reverse. After several minutes of tense silence, I can't keep back my curiosity any longer. “So, not that I’m not grateful, grandpa.” My lips twitch at his frustrated noise. “But why isn’t Andrew picking me up?”

Killian doesn’t respond, his focus on the road. Rolling my eyes, I resist the urge to prod him more, deciding I’ll just ask Andrew when I see him. To my surprise, Killian releases a sigh and rubs the back of his neck. “Andrew is a little busy.” My eyes narrow at his words.

Too busy to come pick up his best friend?

Crossing my arms, I huff and glare out the window. “I see how it is, I go to prisonone timeand now I’m not good enough anymore.”

Killian scoffs. “Petulant child.” He grumbles, shaking his head.

Huffing again, I ignore his snide comment and let my mind wander.

Seriously, what could be so important Andrew wouldn’t come himself? It’s not like I’ve been away at day camp.

Unable to think of a single logical reason, I push off the annoyance and decide a distraction would be great right about now. Reaching over, I turn on the stereo.

The cab immediately fills with the last song on Killian’s playlist and I bark a laugh. He shoots me a glare in response, moving to turn off the music.

“Nu uh.” I singsong, snapping my hand out to guard the power button. “I never knew you were a Halflives fan.” He scowls at me, slapping his palm back onto the steering wheel. “Old man’s got good taste.” I hum, leaning back in the seat and closing my eyes, letting the song ease the remaining tension in my body.

“It’s Avamarie’s playlist.” Killian mutters, but I don’t miss the way his fingers tap along to the beat.

I smile to myself and don’t call him on it, focusing instead on our destination. Even though it’s only been months, it feels like an eternity since I’ve had my baby in my arms, and as the distance between us lessens, I can feel the emptiness inside of me lessening as well. Ready to be whole once again. To have my missing other half.

Chapter 32

Fallon

Bestie *double pink heart emoji*

You still coming?

I stare at the text, unsure how to respond.

In the weeks since my parents pulled their financial support, I’ve been in a bit of a freefall. The nights and days blending together as I find I’m aimless for the first time in my life.

I never had a total endgame in mind, I just knew whatever I was going to do, it would involve writing. My lifeline. Now, without the promise of words to keep me going, I don’t know what comes next.

Just another college dropout getting a job as a barista or something.

I blink back the tears in my eyes and glance up at the stack of books resting on my dresser.

I haven’t so much as cracked open one of my books in months. The thought of reading someone else’s love story while mine seems to be falling apart was too much.

Pushing to my feet, I cross the room and gently pick up one of the novels. I run my finger down the worn spine, carefully opening to one of the many marked sections.

No matter what we may faceout there, in here? In here it’s just the two of us. Us against the world.

I don’t know when he became my person, when our lives became so intertwined that I don’t see amewithouthim.

Glancing over at his sleeping form, my lips pull up into a soft smile and I trail my fingers through his soft curls. My soul flies as I realize I’m not alone. I’ll never be alone again.

I lose the fight with the tears as they slip down my face.

I’m all alone.

My chest aches as I stifle a sob.

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