Page 43 of Come Break My Heart Again

“You can’t?”

He’s expecting me to take off, same as Cormac. They both know how I feel about this town. About everything that went down here.

I exhale. “My mom’s sick. Lung cancer. I need to stay in the trailer so I can help her out. Cormac’s there, too, but he’ll be in the city most of the summer and then back at school in the fall.”

“Fuck. Ry, I’m so sorry.”

I rub my eyes again, trying to wake my face up. I can hear the pity in Tucker’s voice, and I don’t want to have to see it too. I get why my mom’s avoided having this conversation; it’s awful. Far as I know, she hasn’t told anyone, except me and Cormac.

“How … how bad is it?” Tuck asks.

“She’s terminal. Doctors are estimating a year.”

“Jesus. Man, I’m …”

I swallow. “I know.”

“Anything I can help with, let me know. Repairs around the trailer, time away from here, hot meals. Just let me know.”

I stiffen when he mentions food, sure that he means from Keira’s restaurant. Will he tell her about my mom? Will Keira tell Elle? I’m no longer sure what the hierarchy is. How Tuck divides his loyalties between me and his fiancée. How Keira divides her loyalties between Tuck and Elle.

Not worth worrying about, I decide. They’ll all find out at some point anyway.

“Thank you,” I tell Tuck. “I appreciate … everything you’ve done. I really appreciate it.”

As far as best friends go, I’m well aware I won the goddamn lottery. If I were Tuck, I would have given up on me a long time ago.

“Don’t mention it.” He reaches down and yanks a weed up from the path. “How’s it going with the guys?”

“Great. The whole crew is awesome.”

“Yeah. They’re a good group.” He glances over one shoulder at the house. “I’ve got a plumber and an electrician coming by later. Once they assess, should be a clearer picture on priorities.”

I nod. “Plenty of cleanup to do in the meantime.”

That’s how the last few days have gone—ripping out old kitchen cabinets, removing peeling wallpaper in the diningroom, and getting rid of the massive pile of rotting firewood in the backyard.

Tuck grins. “No kidding. I got a floor sander in the back of my truck. Mind giving me a hand with it?”

“Of course not.” I stand and drain the rest of my coffee.

“How’d you get here, by the way?” Tuck asks as we head down the walk.

“Jogged.”

He glances down at my leather work boots, eyebrows raised.

I chuckle. “My mom has the day off work. Got my license renewed, so I drove her car.”

“Where the hell did you park?”

“Around the corner,” I reply. “Didn’t want to clog up the street.”

“I own this place, man. Park wherever the hell you want.”

“Wow,” I comment, grinning. “Dating a One has really changed you. You the king of this town now?”

Tuck flips me off. “Says the guy who pulled Elle Clarke—twice.”

---