Page 110 of Break Your Fall

“I almost did, but I couldn’t,” I say, my voice low as my eyes now find my father a few feet away, talking with a cop. I look back at Tommy. “I thought of you. And I couldn’t risk it.”

Tommy’s lips part, his eyes reddening and dampening, his gaze holding mine like everything inside him is crashing and leaping at the same time.

He kisses me, his hands holding my face, and I feel the crash, the leap. It’s deep and enduring. It’sI love you, it’sThank you, it’sI’m sorry.

“Yeah, yeah, you win, you win.”

Banks’s drone parts Tommy’s lips from mine, but our gazes stay locked on each other’s when we open our eyes. Tears well and I nod as his thumbs graze my cheek bones.

“Did we just witness the first kiss?” Camille asks, an awe in her voice, and now Tommy smiles at me with a slight shake of his head.

I bite my lip, smiling back.

“What have I started?”

Tommy’s hands slide from my face, and we all eye Julian at his regretful tone, his stare cast toward the studio.

“What are you talking about?” I blurt out.

“This all started because of me,” he says, his eyes connected with mine now. He’s referring to his departure from Landon’s skateboarding group, which started their feud and these string of revenge plots.

“It doesn’t matter,” Camille asserts to Julian, saying the argument for me. “You are not responsible for anybody else’s choices.”

“She’s right,” I chime in. “This isn’t your fault.”

Julian sighs as his eyes meet ours, unable to counter the determination on our faces. “Fine,” he relents. “But this ends it. We should’ve reported the fucks and ended this from the beginning,” he says pointedly to Banks who makes a face but doesn’t disagree. “I’m sorry you and your dad were dragged into this,” he says to me now. “I’m sorry for everything that led to this. I’m just so fucking sorry.”

“Hey,” I cut in right as he finishes the last rush of his words. “I know.” I nod and offer him a smile. “I know.”

“How’d they even know to come here?” Camille questions with a face.

“They’ve been watching,” Tommy concludes through a tight jaw as his fingers absently trail the back of my arm, then adds through a shamed sigh, “And we weren’t.”

“This isn’t your fault, either,” I say to him now, my fingers gliding across his chest before assuring him again. “I’m okay.”

Julian draws my stare back to him and he says simply, “Report them. Press charges. Have your dad sue for damages.”

“Well,” I stammer. “What about you?”

“Nothingabout me.”

“If I report them, they’ll report what you did.” My worrying look travels from him to Tommy to Banks, all four of us recalling the fight at the skate park, and everything else. Landon and his friends could spend a year or more in jail for this crime. And they knew this. They’ve forced us into this corner, and the only way to escape punishment for all is to keep this between us.

But Julian’s right this time. This involves more than just us now. My pieces are the only artwork destroyed, but most of my father’s supplies were added to the rubble. And I don’t want to let that slide, but. . .

“Whatever consequences there are for me, just let me deal with them,” Julian says with a look at Camille whose mouth has opened to argue.

“We were involved, too,” Tommy says with a motion between himself and Banks.

“Yeah,” Banks chimes, standing taller. “You’re not going down without me.” He says this like he just has to be included in everything, but I smile nonetheless, knowing that beneath his fear of missing out, he’s genuine in having Julian’s back.

Julian chuckles at Banks, but it’s low and falters quickly as his eyes reconnect with the rest of ours. We all know that if it comes down to it, Landon will only target Julian. And Julian will make sure Tommy nor Banks speaks up against themselves.

“Let’s not worry about it for now,” Tommy says. “It’s gonna be okay.” His hand moves to my waist and I lean into his support. “We’re all gonna be okay.”

My father and the cop return to us, the cop immediately locking his stare with mine as he starts his questioning with, “Do you have any idea who could’ve done this?”

“No,” comes out of all our mouths, except Jessa’s, and it’s decided.

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