Page 130 of Come Break My Heart Again

Before I turn to leave, I glance at the basketball hoop by the garage that’s twice the size of the trailer I live in. “You play?”

Elle’s father follows my gaze. “Not often.”

“My dad played football with me a few times when I was a kid. Those are some of my favorite childhood memories.”

Mr. Clarke’s eyebrows bunch together as he stares at me.

He’s a smart man. He’s figured out that Elle told me her dad used to play basketball with her, and he’s trying to decide why I’m mentioning it.

“She’s a lot more than a report card, sir.”

Then, I turn and walk away.

I’m about to leave the garage when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I grab it out, hoping it’s Elle. She finally texted me back a few hours ago, letting me know she was fine and at a brunch with her mom earlier. She didn’t mention me stopping by her house, and I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad sign. What her dad told her.Ifhe told her anything.

It’s not Elle calling. It’s an unknown number, but a 617 area code.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Ryder, it’s me.”

I exhale. “Why are you calling me from some random phone, Cormac?”Again, I tack on silently.

“I, uh, I’m at a party. Can you come pick me up?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes shut. “You’re at a party? That’d better be code for playing video games at Mav’s house.”

“I’m sorry, okay? They all wanted to go. What was I supposed to say?”

“No! You sayno, Cormac.”

He’s silent for a minute. There are muffled sounds in the background. Nothing distinguishable, but enough to tell me the party isn’t a small one.

Finally, “Mom’s at work.”

I know she’s at work. She’s a night owl who always takes late shifts when they’re an option. And I know Cormac would probably call her over me if it was a choice because she’d simply tell him to make smarter decisions and that would be the end of it.

“Where are you?” I ask. “What’s the address?”

“Thirty-two Maple Avenue.”

“You’re at aOneparty?”

Maple Avenue is on the opposite side of town. A couple of blocks from where Elle lives.

“I just—we wanted to see what it was like.”

I blow out a long breath. “I’m at work, and I rode my bike here. I’m going to have to call Tuck, see if I can borrow his truck to come get you. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Okay.” Cormac’s voice is calm and contrite.

I hang up, then immediately call Tucker. He doesn’t answer. I kick the tire of the car I was working on. “Fuck!”

“What’s wrong?”

I turn. Phoenix is walking toward me, wiping his hands on a rag.

“My little brother … he’s at a party on Maple. I have to go get him, and I don’t have a car.”

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