Page 47 of One Step Sideways

I looked up at the voice I recognized. He seemed so still in all the chaos. “Yeah?” I got a blinding smile because I’d replied and resolved to do that more often.

“The tree’s fucked.”

I turned and looked. I saw the field and knew where I was. I saw the listing trunk, and the broken branches, and suddenly it was funny. So I laughed and kept laughing while I let Kane lead me back to bed.

And of course, when I was in my normal space, I knew exactly what had happened. Emily’s voice ringing in my ears.Pandering. Cushy. Real job.

“The branch broke.”

The arms tightened around me. “Yeah,” Kane agreed. “I saw the crack widen.”

“I was thinking about that,” I said. “Jay said your reflexes were extraordinary. Almost like you knew what was going to happen before it did. But I don’t think that’s right. I just think you see things first. That no one else has processed.”

Kane seemed to consider that. “Maybe. Yeah, it’s always a visual clue. Like I see things that others don’t.”

Excited, I carried on. “You just said you saw a crack in the branch.”

“A 0.33mm crack, to be specific, but it appeared instantly. I knew it wasn’t good.”

I tried not to sound incredulous. “Kane, no one else could have seen that. It’s not possible. Your warning probably saved Ginny’s life. She was directly under the branch.” He nodded, but then flushed.

“No,” I said determinedly. “It’s about time you started taking credit.”

“Only if you do,” Kane challenged.

“Me?” I scoffed. “What—” But Kane’s finger on my lips silenced me.

“You saw me when I’ve been hidden all my life. I’m betting none of your family knows what really happened to you because you avoid them rather than confront them.”

My gaze fell to the floor. To the mess of leaves. “Because I never told them what school was like. They never understood.” And I didn’t want to tell them what it was like in that hole. I didn’t want to remember. “I couldn’t tell my mom.”

“Which I get,” Kane said. “And I’m sorry. I know she was scared for her kid, but Emily’s entitled. She wouldn’t make it a day through what you went through.”

“Whateitherof us went through,” I reminded him.

He was silent for a moment. “You know, I never considered myself a victim.Poor me, definitely, but in some screwed-up way I thought I deserved this.” He touched his cheek. “Maybe somehow I had to come up with a reason Mom left. Then, when I found out she might not have left voluntarily, it was like my world altered, and I don’t know how to deal.”

“You seem to be dealing okay with me,” I said bitterly. Why the hell couldn’t I stand on my own two feet?

“No,” Kane said and grabbed my arms. I was startled enough to listen. “Yes, the last few years after Archie died were shit, but do you have any idea how thankful I was to be in prison?”

I gaped.Thankful to be in prison?No, I hadn’t heard correctly.

“I was fedthreemeals a day for the first time in my fuckinglife. I got a doctor. I had books. I had—” Kane swallowed “—I had a dad.” His voice was so quiet I barely heard it. And I realized how truly ignorant I was. And that I had to step up.

“I’ll face my family if you will.”

And Kane smiled. “So long as you let me take the gloves off with Emily.”

“Be my guest.” It was time. It really was.

Chapter Twenty

Kane

I left Danny blissed-out and asleep after I had eaten considerably more than would be classed as food. But it was deliberate. I had to stop hiding behind him and step up. If Danny and I had any chance of a future, then that included his family. And apart from Emily, who was a giant prick, I really liked his mom and dad. Elizabeth was soft, just like in every daydream I’d had of my own mom, and I didn’t mean soft as in no backbone. I wasn’t that clueless.

Maybe this wouldn’t work. Maybe I was making the biggest mistake of my life, but he was worth it. Danny was worth it. And if that meant me walking away, then I would do that too.

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