Page 63 of Into the Light

“Ember,” Rain whispered, his voice laced with sympathy. “It’s okay.” I shook my head because nothing about it was okay. I wasn’t okay.

“When he died, I thought my world had crumbled. I blamed myself for the illness that consumed his mind, for his not getting help. He fought an inner battle and lost, yet selfishly, I continued to blame myself for his death, just as everyone else on this campus did.” I scanned the room, noticing a few tear-filled eyes. “After his . . . death, I thought that would be the end of the pain I’d have to endure, but it was far from over.”

I paused there, realizing that some parts of my life were too raw, too exposed to share in a classroom. None of this was school-appropriate, but here we were.

“So, part of me is scared to open my heart again, to risk another person leaving,” I admitted, gaining momentum. “In this lifetime, I just want to know that my heart can love two people because . . . whether I want it or not, I think . . . I think I might be falling in love again.” My voice barely rose above a whisper as I finished speaking. I blinked back a few tears, then hastily grabbed my bag before anyone could respond and bolted out of the class.

I ran.

My bag moved up and down with every pounding step I took on the cold tile of the basement.

I ran up the steps and pushed the door open and was greeted by the cool drops of rain as I looked up into the gray abyss above me. His presence was felt before I heard the shuffle of his steps.

“Em,” he croaked, but I continued to look up and let the rain droplets hit me.

“Don’t come a step closer,” I told him when I finally turned around, and he stood there on the sidewalk. “Your speech in that classroom doesn’t make up for the fact you said some really mean shit to me last weekend and then ignored me.”

“No, it doesn’t,” he added. “In fact, it probably makes it worse.”

“Yup.” I rolled my eyes. “Before your attack, you were still planning on leaving me. You were the one running away.”

“What can I do? To make it up to you?”

“Start by not remembering anything you heard in that classroom.” He shook his head.

“That is going to be hard to do because—”

“Then I have to go.” I folded my arms across my chest and walked over to where my car was parked.

“I see you’re still driving . . .my car.” I turned around and stuck my tongue out at him, which only produced a chuckle. “Gimme the keys.”

“Why?” I demanded.

“I am taking you on a trip.” I shook my head and narrowed my eyes.

Rain walked over to the other side of the curb where a black vehicle had pulled up. The driver’s side door rolled down, and Santiago started to hand Rain a bag when I ran over there.

“You are in on this, too?” I looked between them. “No.”

I stomped on the sidewalk. “What if I am unsafe wherever he is taking me?” Santiago laughed now.

“Mija, you will be okay. I know where you are going. It’s safe . . . trust me, no one wants to visit that place.” Rain only punched Santiago in the arm.

“Who packed my underwear? Did you rifle through my stuff?” I grumbled as I opened the bag and realized everything was meticulously packed, including a few sets of sweaters, pants, jeans, and a dress.

“Marissa helped. I don’t touch that stuff, out of my job description.” Santiago gave me a wink, and then Rain looked between the two of us before he backed away, slinging my bag over his shoulders. I shot him a venomous look.

“Be nice. He is trying to make up for what happened last weekend.” I’d told Santiago what happened because I needed someone to help Pico carry Rain into the house.

“Blindsiding me with a surprise trip to God knows where in the spring semester that already gives me a lot of anxiety freaks me out.”

“There is plenty of security there.” He chuckled as if he was remembering something. “I promise you no one wants to be there.”

“Okay.” I paused, walking away before looking back. “Thanks for the bag . . . and, you know, everything else.” I quickly ran back towardmycar.

Rain was already on the driver’s side, the massive smirk still plastered on his face.

“Come on, mi pareja.” I jumped into the Jeep before he pulled out and headed outside of Isles.

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